title: School-based assessment of practical work in science education in Solomon Islands

authors: Kakai, Lionel Cliff

subjects: science education

abstract: This study explored and documented the views of one science curriculum development officer and seven science teachers about science practical work and its assessment in the School-Based Assessment (SBA) for the Solomon Islands School Certificate (SISC). Science SBA is compulsory for all Form 4 (year 10) and 5 (year 11) students in Solomon Islands to undertake as internal assessment towards the SISC. The motivation behind the research questions for this study arose from literature discussions and my personal experiences associated with practical work, teaching, learning and assessment in science education. 
Based on the interpretive paradigm, qualitative data was generated using a semi-structured interview technique, conducted on an individual basis with prior consent. The interviews were conducted in May 2009. Audio tape recording was used to record exactly what was said by the participants in the Pidgin and later translated, transcribed and verified in English. The analysis of the data was recursive with a rigorous thematic approach.
The findings indicated that participants' beliefs and views about the aims of science teaching and the roles of practical work were mainly related to the notion of science literacy, which is the main aim in the Solomon Islands science curriculum for Forms 4 and 5. However, the participants' views about the nature of science and assessment of practical work in the context of SBA were narrowly expressed. The findings indicated that the issues of reliability, validity and use of formative and summative assessments in relation to the theories of learning and the standardization of assessments for high stakes reporting are worth considering for a revision of the science SBA. 
As such, this study suggested that coherence in the aims of science teaching, the roles of practical work and the design and implementation of the SBA is necessary.  Also, the notion of science pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) is recommended, especially with regards to its inclusion in pre-service teacher education and ongoing professional development. This study was qualitative with a small sample limited to only eight educator participants. Hence, further research is recommended. This should specifically investigate students' perceptions in order to understand their standpoints on issues related to the science school-based assessment (SBA) for the Solomon Islands School Certificate (SISC).

text: School-based assessment of practical work in science education in Solomon Islands This study explored and documented the views of one science curriculum development officer and seven science teachers about science practical work and its assessment in the School-Based Assessment (SBA) for the Solomon Islands School Certificate (SISC). Science SBA is compulsory for all Form 4 (year 10) and 5 (year 11) students in Solomon Islands to undertake as internal assessment towards the SISC. The motivation behind the research questions for this study arose from literature discussions and my personal experiences associated with practical work, teaching, learning and assessment in science education. 
Based on the interpretive paradigm, qualitative data was generated using a semi-structured interview technique, conducted on an individual basis with prior consent. The interviews were conducted in May 2009. Audio tape recording was used to record exactly what was said by the participants in the Pidgin and later translated, transcribed and verified in English. The analysis of the data was recursive with a rigorous thematic approach.
The findings indicated that participants' beliefs and views about the aims of science teaching and the roles of practical work were mainly related to the notion of science literacy, which is the main aim in the Solomon Islands science curriculum for Forms 4 and 5. However, the participants' views about the nature of science and assessment of practical work in the context of SBA were narrowly expressed. The findings indicated that the issues of reliability, validity and use of formative and summative assessments in relation to the theories of learning and the standardization of assessments for high stakes reporting are worth considering for a revision of the science SBA. 
As such, this study suggested that coherence in the aims of science teaching, the roles of practical work and the design and implementation of the SBA is necessary.  Also, the notion of science pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) is recommended, especially with regards to its inclusion in pre-service teacher education and ongoing professional development. This study was qualitative with a small sample limited to only eight educator participants. Hence, further research is recommended. This should specifically investigate students' perceptions in order to understand their standpoints on issues related to the science school-based assessment (SBA) for the Solomon Islands School Certificate (SISC).

year: 2010

title: The use of self in adolescent sexual offending therapy: A autoethnographic case study

authors: Tootell, Andrew

subjects: adolescent sexual offending therapy

abstract: This thesis is a single case study of my work as therapist with four different participants from a community-based treatment programme for adolescents who have sexually offended. Using an autoethnographic approach, the study seeks to contribute to understanding of how the therapeutic use of self can work to enhance the effectiveness of the treatment process. Central to this argument is the principle of optimal responsiveness, developed by Howard Bacal (1985). Optimal responsiveness is founded in specificity theory, which argues that we cannot predict in advance what intervention is going to be effective, because of the uniqueness of each therapeutic encounter: hence the importance of the individual practitioner‟s clinical judgment. I locate the theoretical understanding of the therapeutic use of self in the tradition of judgment-based practice (Polkinghorne, 2004). The research explores two questions: How might the therapist use their experience of self (their subjective and intersubjective experience) to guide their sense of being optimally responsive? How might research into the therapist‟s experience of their use of self in therapy contribute to the integration of the personal and professional self of the therapist? The findings are expressed in the form of four autobiographic stories and four therapy stories. The autobiographic stories show how the personal life experience of the therapist is integrated with the process of clinical judgment. The findings are analysed from the perspectives of systemic-narrative therapy and relational psychoanalytic therapy. I identify a number of examples of how the use of self mediated a variety of intentional therapeutic interactions such as reflexive questions, interpretations and self-disclosures and spontaneous interactions such as playful improvisations and the experience of intimacy. I argue that self reflexivity is at the heart of these processes. The thesis shows the relevance of autoethnographic case study research to the practice of therapy in general and it shows how case study research can complement experimental research. This research also has a number of important implications for professionals working as therapists in the sexual offending fields. I argue that the risk-need-responsivity rehabilitation model will be strengthened by giving closer attention to the neglected principle of professional discretion; and that the effective implementation of evidence-based procedures is dependent upon the practical wisdom of practitioners. The research alerts therapists to the importance of paying attention to integrating their professional and personal selves as part of their ongoing professional development. The research highlights the relevance of the subjective experience of cultural discourse, in particular the social construction of masculinities, an area that often goes under-represented in the delivery of adolescent sexual offending programmes. The findings also support the argument that the experience of caring for and being cared for is central to treatment, and that self reflexivity can be both a process and an outcome goal for all therapy participants, both client and therapist. Finally, my research also demonstrates how the practice of honest introspection by the therapist can mitigate against the temptation (which is always there) to get caught up in viewing the person who committed an offence as the “other”.

text: The use of self in adolescent sexual offending therapy: A autoethnographic case study This thesis is a single case study of my work as therapist with four different participants from a community-based treatment programme for adolescents who have sexually offended. Using an autoethnographic approach, the study seeks to contribute to understanding of how the therapeutic use of self can work to enhance the effectiveness of the treatment process. Central to this argument is the principle of optimal responsiveness, developed by Howard Bacal (1985). Optimal responsiveness is founded in specificity theory, which argues that we cannot predict in advance what intervention is going to be effective, because of the uniqueness of each therapeutic encounter: hence the importance of the individual practitioner‟s clinical judgment. I locate the theoretical understanding of the therapeutic use of self in the tradition of judgment-based practice (Polkinghorne, 2004). The research explores two questions: How might the therapist use their experience of self (their subjective and intersubjective experience) to guide their sense of being optimally responsive? How might research into the therapist‟s experience of their use of self in therapy contribute to the integration of the personal and professional self of the therapist? The findings are expressed in the form of four autobiographic stories and four therapy stories. The autobiographic stories show how the personal life experience of the therapist is integrated with the process of clinical judgment. The findings are analysed from the perspectives of systemic-narrative therapy and relational psychoanalytic therapy. I identify a number of examples of how the use of self mediated a variety of intentional therapeutic interactions such as reflexive questions, interpretations and self-disclosures and spontaneous interactions such as playful improvisations and the experience of intimacy. I argue that self reflexivity is at the heart of these processes. The thesis shows the relevance of autoethnographic case study research to the practice of therapy in general and it shows how case study research can complement experimental research. This research also has a number of important implications for professionals working as therapists in the sexual offending fields. I argue that the risk-need-responsivity rehabilitation model will be strengthened by giving closer attention to the neglected principle of professional discretion; and that the effective implementation of evidence-based procedures is dependent upon the practical wisdom of practitioners. The research alerts therapists to the importance of paying attention to integrating their professional and personal selves as part of their ongoing professional development. The research highlights the relevance of the subjective experience of cultural discourse, in particular the social construction of masculinities, an area that often goes under-represented in the delivery of adolescent sexual offending programmes. The findings also support the argument that the experience of caring for and being cared for is central to treatment, and that self reflexivity can be both a process and an outcome goal for all therapy participants, both client and therapist. Finally, my research also demonstrates how the practice of honest introspection by the therapist can mitigate against the temptation (which is always there) to get caught up in viewing the person who committed an offence as the “other”.

year: 2010

title: The biology and general ecology of the Koaro (Galaxias brevipinnis) in some tributary streams of Lake Taupo

authors: Kusabs, Ian Andrew

abstract: The ecology and general biology of Galaxias brevipinnis were studied in three tributary streams of Lake Taupo between May 1988 and April 1989. Adult koaro were found in relatively high densities in the Waipehi and Omori streams but in low densities in the larger Waiotaka stream. The results of population estimation studies suggest that the distribution and abundance of koaro is negatively correlated with that of trout. There was a general decline in the population density of stream-resident koaro in the winter months. Juvenile koaro were found to migrate into the tributaries from August to December, with migrations being at a peak in October and November.

Population length-frequency distributions and otoliths used to age koaro indicated that there were up to 5 age classes. Growth was allometric and was adequately described by the von Bertalanffy equation after the first year of life. Koaro were found to be in best condition in the Spring and lowest in Winter.

Spawning appeared to occur from December through to April peaking in late Summer to early in the Waipehi Stream was Autumn. The mean fecundity of koaro approximately 5500. A sex-ratio of approximately 1:1 (males: females) were found in the koaro populations in the Omori and Waipehi streams, but during spawning there were always more ripe males than gravid females.

There was considerable overlap in the diets of both koaro and juvenile rainbow trout in the Waipehi and Omori streams, with invertebrates being consumed according to their relative abundance in the benthos. Ephemeroptera larvae were numerically the most important food item in the diet of both species. However, by weight, fish (juvenile koaro) were the most important food · item in the diet of koaro and rainbow trout in the Waipehi stream. In the Omori stream in Winter, trout eggs were the most important food item in terms of weight. Terrestrial prey was found to be of relatively minor importance in the diets of koaro and rainbow trout in the Waipehi and Omori streams.

text: The biology and general ecology of the Koaro (Galaxias brevipinnis) in some tributary streams of Lake Taupo The ecology and general biology of Galaxias brevipinnis were studied in three tributary streams of Lake Taupo between May 1988 and April 1989. Adult koaro were found in relatively high densities in the Waipehi and Omori streams but in low densities in the larger Waiotaka stream. The results of population estimation studies suggest that the distribution and abundance of koaro is negatively correlated with that of trout. There was a general decline in the population density of stream-resident koaro in the winter months. Juvenile koaro were found to migrate into the tributaries from August to December, with migrations being at a peak in October and November.

Population length-frequency distributions and otoliths used to age koaro indicated that there were up to 5 age classes. Growth was allometric and was adequately described by the von Bertalanffy equation after the first year of life. Koaro were found to be in best condition in the Spring and lowest in Winter.

Spawning appeared to occur from December through to April peaking in late Summer to early in the Waipehi Stream was Autumn. The mean fecundity of koaro approximately 5500. A sex-ratio of approximately 1:1 (males: females) were found in the koaro populations in the Omori and Waipehi streams, but during spawning there were always more ripe males than gravid females.

There was considerable overlap in the diets of both koaro and juvenile rainbow trout in the Waipehi and Omori streams, with invertebrates being consumed according to their relative abundance in the benthos. Ephemeroptera larvae were numerically the most important food item in the diet of both species. However, by weight, fish (juvenile koaro) were the most important food · item in the diet of koaro and rainbow trout in the Waipehi stream. In the Omori stream in Winter, trout eggs were the most important food item in terms of weight. Terrestrial prey was found to be of relatively minor importance in the diets of koaro and rainbow trout in the Waipehi and Omori streams.

year: 1989