Tuesday, August 09, 2016

Ara Research Week - staff presentations Day 2

Second and final day of presentations from staff. 

First up, Bernard Otinpong from computing presented on “a comparison of results between interactive and non-interactive forms of visualisation to improve learning: A case study of Te Wairoa/ Lake Ellesmere” pdf of paper. Summarised the rationale for the topic, especially the importance in using visualisation to raise profile and understanding of environmental issues. For example, the many ways stakeholders regard the significance of Te Wairoa and understand the regimes for managing the lake. Showed the interface used to allow for different stakeholders to see the various aspects.

Tracy Kirkbride shared ongoing work with “MARS: a new imaging tool moving to clinical practice”. Explained what MARS is (Medipix All Resolution System - a new medical imaging system) and its advantages as for ‘molecular imaging’. Ability to distinguish the energy coming through so ‘colour’ is able to provide more information as compared to black and white xrays. Tracy’s research was to optimise MARS to breast cancer and calcium deposits.

Bronwyn Beatty, Broadcasting tutor, presented on “memory work of a fan: a conversation with members of the Harry Potter generation”. Presented on role of narrative, co-construction and collaboration and cross cueing through the process of focus group interviews. These occur to enable the data to be rich and authentic. related book chapter

Elizabeth Schmidt with “enhancing online learner engagement and experience by use of a webcam”. Summarised the action research project as part of a post-grad cert in tertiary teaching. Introduced video into online synchronous sessions (2 hours long) to find if students’ engagement increased. Shifted from content focus to one with more interaction and building learning relationships. Found increase in sense of engagement, learning experience (to improve learning) and without IT difficulties for students. 

Gareth Allison from Business spoke on the topic “journeys towards the adoption of non-native cuisines: examples of lived multiculturalism”. A subside of Gareth’s work on consumer behaviour. Project part of wider one to understand consumers’ market behaviour and multiculturalism is not a well-researched topic. A qualitative survey conducted in Dubai with 21 in-depth interviews representing middle-class expat sample. How did participants adopt a different cuisine. Influences included, personal characteristics, perceived cuisine attributes and contextual factors. Developed model of adoption journeys and their ‘gates’.

Grant Bennett from Applied Science shared his project on “assessment of probiotic supplement by farmers to test if it can increase growth rate of calves”. Summarised a community project involving a group of farmers wanting to improve practice. Provided rationale for using calves, logistical, practical and matched to research reliability. Challenges of authentic research presented.

Daphne Robson presented on her on-going project with “designing software for helping students in technical programmes solve equations and rearrange formulae”. Equations2go software has been worked on for many years and available as a resource to students across many disciplines. Undertook an evidence based approach to hone the software. Needs to have concepts, strategies and procedures to problem solve. Software concentrates on strategies and carries out procedures whereas many others tend to focus on procedures. Learners learn how to do but don’t know why.

Nick Kimber spoke on “the effect of altitude and travel on rugby union performance analysis of the 2012 Super Rugby competition”. Presented on a student research project, now published. Provided a summary of the KPIs in rugby and how connected to the study. Identified, through videos of games at high altitude venues, impact on KPIs. In effect, altitude and international travel do have an effect. link to journal article by T. George

Helen Marshall provided an overview of her work on “high intensity training (HIT) benefits forhealth”. Presented on benefits of HIT and why now more common due to poor nature of many people. Looked at whether HIT is transferable into community settings. Presented a subset of the double-blind study. Participants were sedentary and at risk of cardio-vascular disease and diabetes. Compared, low intensity and high intensity participants. Findings were positive regardless of which activity. Students involved as coaches across 3 times a week for 12 weeks of intervention.


Hemi Hoskins shared highlights of his masters study “mahinga kai, mahi tangata” – the use of language during food gathering. How can flavour of language be maintained through a decline in fluent language speakers. For example dictionaries through time seem to have become more simplified, losing the nuances of the language. Used linguistic analysis to see how hunter vocabulary was derived in Maori and how to now use similar conventions to modern / introduced animals and hunting methods. article

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