Skip to Content

Staff Bulletin

Scroll down to find out the latest news and events from around Swinburne.

Thursday 2 February 2012

Higher Ground blog: Free content is not free education

In her first post for the year, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Shirley Leitch challenges the common misconception that free content equates to free education. 

Many providers - most notably the Open University in the UK - are offering free content online. 

Shirley argues this is not the same as free education. She says free content cannot be compared to the value and quality of education gained through an interactive, student-focused learning environment. 

The importance of a high quality learning environment is what underpins the Swinburne Online approach. The focus is on providing an interactive, supportive, online learning experience, with ongoing feedback and assessment.

Read the Higher Ground blog.


Back to Top

One Hour to the Future with Gilly Salmon

Professor Gilly Salmon, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Learning Transformations) will present a series of seminars for staff during February and March. 

Professor Salmon is one of the world's leading thinkers in digital-learning futures.

Her research, publication and practice are focussed on innovation in higher education and the use of digital technologies of all kinds in the service of learning.

The One Hour to the Future seminar series will cover a range of topics related to incorporating high quality digital learning into teaching practice.

View full seminar details and dates

Registration is essential. Please contact Tom Unkles.

 

Back to Top

Mental gyms reap younger minds

A daily mental ‘work-out' has given a group of over 50s the brain performance of people several years younger, a Swinburne clinical trial has shown.

The independent study is one of the first to examine brain training and shed light on its effects on mental processing speed.

The 34 Australians aged 53 to 75 achieved significant increases in mental processing speed - which underpins efficient daily decision-making and learning - after completing a popular US online brain-training program, Swinburne Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience Con Stough said.

Participants were tested at baseline, post-training and at a three-week follow-up using a battery of neuropsychological outcome measures. The results of the study have been accepted for publication in the journal Educational Gerontology.

Read the media release.

Back to Top

Can journalism graduates get jobs?

Swinburne Media and Communications lecturer Diana Bossio, has written an article for The Conversation on graduate opportunities for journalism students.

Although graduate journalism jobs are becoming increasingly difficult to come by, Diana points out that today’s students are well equipped to work in this current age of rapid technological change.

Read the article.


Back to Top

YMCA takes over Swinergy

The YMCA has taken over the management of Hawthorn’s on-campus gym, Swinergy.

The gym will now offer a larger range of classes, exercise programs, equipment and longer opening hours.

Find out more.

 

Back to Top

Make your own apps

The Faculty of Information and Communication Technologies is running a three day short course on how to create your own iOS applications.

Course materials include: screen casts, easy to understand slide decks, and sample projects to quickly construct your own apps.

For further information contact Swinburne Short Courses or call ext. 5454

When: Thursday 23 – Saturday 25 February, 9.00am – 4.00pm
Where: Hawthorn Campus
Price: $1,950

 

Back to Top

Volunteer to participate in research

A Swinburne researcher is looking for volunteers to participate in a study investigating the link between moral thinking processes and symptoms associated with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.

This study consists of two testing sessions and several online questionnaires. Participants will be reimbursed $20 for transport expenses.

For further information contact Jiaying Jiang on 0430737328.

 

Back to Top