• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

FROM THE DEAN It is my pleasure to bring you this third edition of the of the Faculty brings an added dynamism to our teaching magazine τεχνη & λογόσ profiling the research of the and learning. Through our research we seek to frame our Faculty of Design and Creative Technologies during the year world in new ways, to understand, theorize and generate. 2014. The Faculty co-locates the Schools of Art & Design, The combination of our disciplines leads us to constructive Computer and Mathematical Sciences, Communication forms of research that makes – artefacts, technologies, Studies, and Engineering. Colab complements the Schools performances, systems and processes. Our researchers as a combined research and teaching hub which has an impact upon practice to create futures that transform integrative, cross-cutting and Creative Technologies brief how we think and act in our social and professional lives. for the faculty. From the table of contents you can see Our active exercise of the critic and conscience role of a this breadth of discipline areas covered and the Research University is demonstrated in some of the profiles presented Institutes associated with the Faculty. here. We strive to produce graduates who are not only adaptable to the challenges of new futures, but have the The Faculty of Design and Creative Technologies aims to courage and ability to take the lead in further shaping them. generate a distinctive fusion of creative disciplines through research, teaching and practice, to make a global and local In this edition we have introduced a ‘Reflections’ section in impact on the communities and professions which we which our researchers have adopted a more contemplative serve. The Faculty’s contributions in ideation, performance, tone. And after all, taking time out to think deeply, whether publication and innovation spanning disciplines of design, individually or on behalf of all of us, is a core function of a science, technology, communication and the arts are scholar. I hope you enjoy reading the magazine, and are as demonstrated through the research projects and the profiles inspired as we are by the brilliance, variety, and sustained of researchers presented here. contribution demonstrated by the work of our researchers. Auckland University of Technology has always had a strong focus on its role as an engaged university which actively contributes to society through the skills and expertise of its students and scholars. The increasing research intensity Desna Jury Dean Faculty of Design and Creative Technologies Auckland University of Technology RESEARCH REVIEW Faculty of Design and Creative Technologies Volume II An annual magazine of the Faculty of DCT at Auckland University of Technology Online edition is available at www.aut.ac.nz/dctresearch ISSN 2382-0225 (print) ISSN 2382-0233 (online) Publication Date: August 2015 Editors: Tony Clear Diana Kassabova Associate Dean Research Research Specialist [email protected] [email protected] Design and Production: CREATIVE PRINT & MEDIA SOLUTION www.printsprint.co.nz 2 INFO DCT RESEARCH REVIEW 2014 CONTENT CONTENTS Tribute for Graham Bidois 4 Staff Awards Gained in 2014 7 Reflections 9 Profiles from Discipline Areas within the Faculty Art & Design 15 Colab 23 Communication Studies 31 Computer and Mathematical Sciences 41 Engineering 45 Research Outputs Masters Degrees 2014 52 PhD Completions 2014 56 Staff Publications Art & Design 60 Colab 73 Communication Studies 78 Computer and Mathematical Sciences • School of Computer and Mathematical Sciences • Institute for Radio Astronomy and Space Research (IRASR) • Knowledge Engineering and Discovery Research Institute (KEDRI) 86 Engineering • School of Engineering • Institute of Biomedical Technologies (IBTec) 105 3 CONTENT DCT RESEARCH REVIEW 2014 TRIBUTE FOR GRAHAM BIDOIS Contributed by Associate Professor Tony Clear The sad thing about editing an annual review across a faculty by their prior experiences, he had a prerequisite course of some 250 researchers is that some of us will inevitably developed. But in parallel with that change he instigated a come and go, and these passings will be marked in differing pre-entry testing programme to make sure that students were ways. In this edition I have been invited to join with Kerri at a level that gave them some chance of success. Graham Spooner to honour the passing of Graham Bidois. A large had an overall vision, a view of the jigsaw that needed to be in contingent from the Faculty and the University (including place for the programme to happen successfully. Kerri with the Vice Chancellor Derek McCormack, the Dean Professor a similar vision felt that she could help implement what he Desna Jury and the Pro Vice Chancellor and Head of School of wanted to see happen. Graham was open to honest critique Computer and Mathematical Sciences Professor Philip Sallis) and feedback and was willing to listen and adapt: “Once you attended Graham’s tangi at Tawhitinui Marae in the Bay of had agreed you just got on with it”. Kerri valued the way in Plenty on the 20th of January 2014. which academic staff were given the professional freedom to Graham was not only a tireless champion for equity and operate in the ways that worked for them and the students, opportunity for his students in the Certificate in Science and provided they were equally committed to high standards and Technology programme, but also for all students in Computer successful outcomes. & Mathematical Sciences at the newly established AUT South Two research reports have resulted from Graham’s scholarly campus, where he was the inaugural programme manager. interpretation of his role. The first relates to the numeracy His commitment to scholarship and learning included testing implementation. Previously gauging student abilities research he had begun while undertaking postgraduate from their prior study records was mixed, so often students study. This work investigated the success of the certificate had been placed in the wrong courses. Through a process of as a pre–degree programme for students studying STEM pre-entry testing, a diagnostic tool became available to the subjects, and the efficacy of interventions we had initiated to programme leader enabling students to be accommodated at support student success. While Graham had established the the most suitable level for them to spring from, as a kakano design of the study and the blueprint for the report, working or seed which could then prosper and flourish. A by-product with postgraduate and post-doctoral students who helped of the pre-entry testing was that it seems to have generated with the data mining and analysis, this was a piece of work better student engagement. Since the students had to he was unable to complete before his untimely departure. visit the campus and commit to the testing process prior to As his successor in the certificate programme leader role, receiving a suitable offer, they were strongly engaged once Kerri Spooner (Ngati Rangi) has been able to steer the work they accepted the offer and as a result we have seen better through to completion, which has now resulted in an internal completion rates. In the second report tracking certificate report to the University. Graham had been Kerri’s ally and students and their subsequent success in degree level study, mentor since she joined AUT in 2013 and in the following the results are very encouraging, with findings indicating paragraphs Kerri notes the strong ethic of care that Graham that success in the certificate strongly predicts success in adopted in his concern for the welfare of students and the subsequent degree level study. Anecdotal evidence suggests staff within his team: that strong certificate graduates are better prepared than Graham had sown the seeds that could be watered to make those entering directly from high school, and high performers sure that they grew. He was focused on employing staff who at this level continue to do so at the degree level. Which could connect with students and take them from where they all goes to show that education is a very uncertain process, were, to the level they needed to be at to achieve. Success students often come to us with gaps in their preparation, for students meant being present in class – he encouraged success in learning can come at different stages in life. The the taking of roll calls as a practice which acknowledged the insistence on high expectations by teachers is crucial if we students, building a personal connection by knowing who are to avoid the casual racism, sexism and classism of low was in class. The programme teaching team partnered with expectations. One of the young researchers who worked the AUT Student Experience Team who followed up absent on this study (formerly a certificate student at AUT and now students, and students who missed assignments, and that graduated with a PhD) recounted one of her past teacher’s active management kept many less confident learners from dismissive comments “You’re too dumb to do programming!” falling by the wayside. He worked on the relevance of the Graham strove hard to make sure that was not an experience curriculum by ensuring the course material was at the right any of his students would encounter. level. For instance, on encountering high failure rates in the Foundation Algebra course by students not well prepared The following poem was read at Graham’s tangi. 4 TRIBUTE FOR GRAHAM BIDOIS DCT RESEARCH REVIEW 2014 TRIBUTE FOR GRAHAM BIDOIS Graham Bidois with the girltech students Graham with Betty Pulefolau and Ariane Adam For Graham What can I say about Graham? Two decades together spanned. Academic leader, advocate I guess I loved him Captured poorly in a few fragments... University Scholar. As a brother, as a cousin, as a son? His commitment showing until the Even if he drove me, as do all good Though a kind, supportive and end.

Load more

  120

Copy Link