Robbie Collins - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Robbie Collins

Shoalhaven, a region on the South Coast of NSW Australia, is host to a University of Wollongong C... more Shoalhaven, a region on the South Coast of NSW Australia, is host to a University of Wollongong Campus that is pro-actively part of regional change processes. Leading that Campus is a woman, Associate Professor Robbie Collins, Head of UOW Shoalhaven. This is a distributed campus of a University making its mark on the university scene in Australia but also well known for its regional development orientation in its home town of Wollongong.

Regional change, never mind regional development, does not occur without a change in the telling ... more Regional change, never mind regional development, does not occur without a change in the telling of the story. Such change needs reflection, celebration and analysis. This paper considers the dynamics of the creation of the Shoalhaven Year 12 Indigenous Graduation Ceremony and the players there in. This year, 2012, more than ten years since the first ShoalhavenYear 12 Indigenous Graduation Ceremony, there is evidence the story is changing in the Shoalhaven. Guest speaker of the night Criminal Lawyer, Mark Douglass, noted that the possibilities for Aboriginal kids didn't appear to exist when he was growing up in Sydney's west. His speech was a call for a different story to be told. How we foster the delivery of this different story matters in any regional change process. This paper draws on narratology and seeks to challenge the disciplinary boundaries of regional science while reflecting, celebrating and analysing the experience in this case study.

Small campus, collegial development, a community and learning: Some Small campus, collegial devel... more Small campus, collegial development, a community and learning: Some Small campus, collegial development, a community and learning: Some reflections on developing reflective practice amongst part time casual reflections on developing reflective practice amongst part time casual tutors tutors

In his keynote address at the ANZRSAI Conference 2005, Professor Blakely challenged regional scie... more In his keynote address at the ANZRSAI Conference 2005, Professor Blakely challenged regional scientists to use their "ideal position to forge these [separate disciplines informing regional science] into a disciplinary understanding that operates across disciplines". In doing so the forces at work in the myths, magic and mix of regional innovation are necessarily viewed as interdependent components. The component to be focussed upon here is leadership, especially where it assists in developing networks and "knowdes" in the web of the development of the knowledge economy. Such a critical perspective encourages a consideration of the work of practitioners in regional development from the perspective of the theory/practice interface and an examination of the intersection of leaders and leadership with the regional community process. There seem to be parallels in the way leaders interact with their communities and, in the case of regional development (and community engagement), no clear understanding of how inspirational activities and events occur though there are many exhortations to create clever networks and groups. How do the players come together? What is the rich detail and how does it fit with theory? Using notions of reflective practice developed by and from the work of Schon, this paper explores the leadership process in development of an event in a region. The event is significant for bringing together players in a way not achieved before. The paper is a critical reflection considering the event from the perspective of a player in the process, the roles played, and development of plans. In doing so the paper accesses grainy detail that provides insight while at the same time using available data to augment the lens. This is not a study of a concrete reality, nor simply an interpretation of the symbolic reality, but a critical reflection upon an event, its creation and success. The event under scrutiny is not a new one in the practice of regional development: a business expo for Shoalhaven region on the southern coast of New South Wales, Australia. For this event, local initiative has: harnessed the business expo with a careers expo; rolled in a joint campus of TAFE and University; and, gathered input from a wider range of players in the regional net of organisations than has been seen before in Shoalhaven. Naming the event 'Shoalhaven on Show' is a significant positioning in regard to regional capability building and branding.

The University of Wollongong introduced an online compulsory undergraduate Information Literacy I... more The University of Wollongong introduced an online compulsory undergraduate Information Literacy Introductory Program (ILIP) in 1999. Extensions and adjustments make ILIP 2003 a requirement for postgraduate coursework students as well as undergraduate students. ILIP is also highly recommended to incoming research students. Such policy initiatives for a compulsory online learning tool raise interesting questions about the interaction of University policy and learning and teaching policy, about the implementation of such policy and about the effectiveness of the tool both alone and as part of a process. This paper suggests that the compulsory ruling has effected the tool's development and implementation. The paper contends the tool should be considered both as an online learning device and in its use in developing alliances between library and learning support staff and faculty in the development of desirable student learning outcomes. Such alliances are part of the University meeting its Graduate Attribute outcomes and thus part of the current debate regarding generic skill development and employability skills. Where the Program is most effectively used is where it becomes the stepping stone to interaction and integration of information literacya key component of success for students in their studies and beyond. Here it can have impact!

This paper suggests that imagination ferments regional development. The paper considers how educa... more This paper suggests that imagination ferments regional development. The paper considers how education, and in particular regional universities, are part of the regional development cocktail. Using contemporary and historical experience at the Shoalhaven Campus the paper explores how Shoalhaven campus can be seen as an integral ingredient in the Shoalhaven development cocktail. In doing so, it provides an analysis that matches other regional campus experiences. What is Shoalhaven Campus? An educational precinct based on a campus co-location model. In this instance, TAFE and University are colocated on the campus grounds and share library, IT, telephone and campus services facilities. The inputs, which mean the campus develops, are matched by the development of the region. Imagination is the alcohol in the cocktail. The university needs a symbiotic process whereby it is imaginatively blended into community networks with information and inspiration flowing into the regional development process.

Seven acfresses who remain on stage throughout the sixteen scenes playing varying roles as requfr... more Seven acfresses who remain on stage throughout the sixteen scenes playing varying roles as requfred by each scene. In scenes where they have no role they stand out of focus, watching. All assist in the changes of set between scenes.

Journal of university teaching and learning practice, 2004

This article describes the design of a web-based environment that links teaching strategies used ... more This article describes the design of a web-based environment that links teaching strategies used in different faculties with graduate attributes. Whilst graduate attributes have existed at the University of Wollongong since the 1990s, this is the first time teaching strategies that enable students to develop these attributes have been articulated and shared electronically. The strategies are the practical or tacit knowledge of university teaching. The paper provides a background for the role of graduate attributes in higher education and explains the reason for focussing on teaching strategies. It describes the website resource with some examples and outlines dissemination and evaluation plans for the initiative. It is hoped that the website will become a "growing" site as a resource for a university community to share teaching strategies across different faculties.

This paper demonstrates how community engagement can provide a cornerstone enabling research and ... more This paper demonstrates how community engagement can provide a cornerstone enabling research and learning and teaching to meet the challenges of relativity and uncertainty in a post modern world. In the field of education, the question of relevance is a constant criticism. If relevance is to be achieved, research andlearning and teaching need to be interwoven with community and community concerns, in ways that enhancethe outcomes for all stakeholders. The paper examines an academic's university community engagement practice from a reflexive and cross disciplinary perspective. It seeks to identify the characteristics and qualities that define successful university community engagement practice while identifying that there needs to be recognition and reward for universities to have more academics involved in such successful and sustainable university community engagement practice.

www.ascilite.org.au Collins and Hill

Leadership, network facilitation and regional development: critical reflection as a tool for insi... more Leadership, network facilitation and regional development: critical reflection as a tool for insight???

Community engagement as a cornerstone enabling learning and teaching and research in the post mod... more Community engagement as a cornerstone enabling learning and teaching and research in the post modern world

The Learning and Teaching Creatively project involved collaboration between the Bundanon Trust, t... more The Learning and Teaching Creatively project involved collaboration between the Bundanon Trust, the University of Wollongong’s Faculty of Education and Shoalhaven Campus and the Australasian Occupational Science Centre. The aim of the project was provide opportunity for Graduate Diploma of Education (Primary) students at the Shoalhaven Campus to experience the creative process, thereby enabling them to develop ways of facilitating creativity in primary school students. Additionally, the project was designed to initiate a long term partnership between the Shoalhaven Campus and Bundanon, a highly valued internationally renowned ‘living arts centre’ located in the Shoalhaven. The Knowledge Building Community and occupational science, both of which use community engagement to link theory and practice, provided frameworks for the project. The project was funded by a University of Wollongong Community Engagement Grant and in kind contributions from the partners. The project demonstrated t...

The University of Wollongong introduced an online compulsory undergraduate Information Literacy I... more The University of Wollongong introduced an online compulsory undergraduate Information Literacy Introductory Program (ILIP) in 1999. Extensions and adjustments make ILIP 2003 a requirement for postgraduate coursework students as well as undergraduate students. ILIP is also highly recommended to incoming research students. Such policy initiatives for a compulsory online learning tool raise interesting questions about the interaction of University policy and learning and teaching policy, about the implementation of such policy and about the effectiveness of the tool both alone and as part of a process. This paper suggests that the compulsory ruling has effected the tool’s development and implementation. The paper contends the tool should be considered both as an online learning device and in its use in developing alliances between library and learning support staff and faculty in the development of desirable student learning outcomes. Such alliances are part of the University meeting ...

This paper demonstrates how community engagement can provide a cornerstone enabling research and ... more This paper demonstrates how community engagement can provide a cornerstone enabling research and learning and teaching to meet the challenges of relativity and uncertainty in a post modern world. In the field of education, the question of relevance is a constant criticism. If relevance is to be achieved, research and learning and teaching need to be interwoven with community and community concerns, in ways that enhance the outcomes for all stakeholders. The paper examines an academic’s university community engagement practice from a reflexive and cross disciplinary perspective. It seeks to identify the characteristics and qualities that define successful university community engagement practice while identifying that there needs to be recognition and reward for universities to have more academics involved in such successful and sustainable university community engagement practice.

Heritage is important to regional development in terms of promoting a sense of place and a sense ... more Heritage is important to regional development in terms of promoting a sense of place and a sense of identity for those in the region. Heritage is often expressed through culture and the arts as a means of manifesting a community’s sense of what the community or region is about. For Indigenous communities this is particularly relevant given the lack of social capital as a result of colonialism and displacement. In these communities the value of the Indigenous way of viewing things and sense of place has been subjugated by hegemonic norms. There is a need for Indigenous peoples to find means to retrieve their ways of doing and thinking so they can negotiate a space between their traditional world and the world of the colonisers. The tension between the two worlds is part of the problem for regional development. Yet it is possible that in addition to finding a way for a people to survive into the future, drivers for development possibly of use to both worlds may be revealed. Indeed, as...

presented at the London Women's Leadership Symposium, The Oxford and Cambridge Club, London, ... more presented at the London Women's Leadership Symposium, The Oxford and Cambridge Club, London, 8-9 December 2012

Reflecting on the experiences of a small remote campus in a change management process, this paper... more Reflecting on the experiences of a small remote campus in a change management process, this paper foregrounds the importance of the collegial development of part time casual tutors. The discussion documents the way reflective practice is developed where these staff are facilitated in becoming a community of learners. Reflective practice refers to the interrogation of current practices through discussion, reflection and the potential process of improvement as a result. Development of part time casual tutors in the learning community on the campus and in the wider community is critical on a small campus where subject delivery is controlled from a remote home campus. Community engagement provides the means by which the learning community on campus becomes part of the wider potential learning in the community. This is especially so with the development of knowledge intensive industries where universities can act as 'knowdes' in the knowledge web of the community. Where the tutor...

Journal of university teaching and learning practice, 2004

www.ascilite.org.au Collins and Hill

The University of Wollongong introduced an online compulsory undergraduate Information Literacy I... more The University of Wollongong introduced an online compulsory undergraduate Information Literacy Introductory Program (ILIP) in 1999. Extensions and adjustments make ILIP 2003 a requirement for postgraduate coursework students as well as undergraduate students. ILIP is also highly recommended to incoming research students. Such policy initiatives for a compulsory online learning tool raise interesting questions about the interaction of University policy and learning and teaching policy, about the implementation of such policy and about the effectiveness of the tool both alone and as part of a process. This paper suggests that the compulsory ruling has effected the tool’s development and implementation. The paper contends the tool should be considered both as an online learning device and in its use in developing alliances between library and learning support staff and faculty in the development of desirable student learning outcomes. Such alliances are part of the University meeting ...

This paper demonstrates how community engagement can provide a cornerstone enabling research and ... more This paper demonstrates how community engagement can provide a cornerstone enabling research and learning and teaching to meet the challenges of relativity and uncertainty in a post modern world. In the field of education, the question of relevance is a constant criticism. If relevance is to be achieved, research and learning and teaching need to be interwoven with community and community concerns, in ways that enhance the outcomes for all stakeholders. The paper examines an academic’s university community engagement practice from a reflexive and cross disciplinary perspective. It seeks to identify the characteristics and qualities that define successful university community engagement practice while identifying that there needs to be recognition and reward for universities to have more academics involved in such successful and sustainable university community engagement practice.