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School of Physical, Environmental and Mathematical Sciences |
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Biography
Julie Kesby has an BSc (Hons) degree from the University of New England, Armidale (covering the disciplines of Geography, Geology, Chemistry & Geophysics), and a Graduate Diploma in Librarianship from the Canberra College of Advanced Education (specialising in Information Retrieval, and Information Systems Management). She began working at UNSW@ADFA as a Research Assistant in the Department of Geography & Oceanography in 1987. In 2002 her position within the School of Geography & Oceanography was reclassified to Research Officer. She is currently a Research Officer within the new School of Physical, Environmental and Mathematical Sciences.
In her former and current roles she has provided high-level educational support in the development and operation of the School's teaching and research activities. This support has included:
- Working as an editor for the production of research, teaching and web publications.
- Involvement in research design, research, and the publication process (by providing advice on the research methodology and survey techniques in the early research phase, progressing through the research process with literature searches, to identifying potential publishers and providing assistance with targeting research outcomes to meet the requirements of particular journals).
This support has been provided to academic staff and postgraduate students in the School.
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Coordination of the flexible-learning activities within the School, and advice on specialist educational software purchases.
- Involvement in the teaching of information literacy skills, research skills and critical thinking skills to undergraduate students, honours students, postgraduate students and staff in the School.
- Presentations and conduction of classes, tutorials, laboratories for a variety of geography and oceanography courses in the use of bibliographic and specialist electronic databases for geographic and oceanographic research.
- Membership of the UNSW@ADFA Library Advisory Committee, and current Library Liaison Officer for the School which includes management of the School's bookvote.
Research Interests/Professional Development
In 1997 she was awarded a University College General Staff Fellowship with opportunities including:
- Participating in the International Graduate Summer School in Librarianship and Information Science (IGSS) with the theme "Electronic Libraries" at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, UK, 14 June-5 July 1997.
- A study tour to Oxford to visit Blackwells and Bodleian Library.
- A study tour to Birmingham to visit the University of Birmingham Library (to view converged services within the library, and learn about the discipline-based teams within the Learning and Research Support Division).
- Attendance at the Bi-ennial conference of the UK Library Association (Umbrella), in Manchester.
- A visit to Institute of Earth Sciences, University of Wales (focused discussion of the geography curriculum and role of the Intranet, web-based geography and earth science modules, computer assisted learning, information and computer literacy of students).
- Participation at the UK Earth Science Courseware Consortium (UKESCC) Annual User's Meeting at the University of Manchester 9-10 July 1997. Meeting had two central themes - "Using Courseware for Geoscience Teaching and Learning" and "Using the Internet for Geoscience Teaching and Learning".
- A visit to Department of Geography, University of Edinburgh (focused discussion of various modules and courses offered with the Geography curriculum, development and introduction of CAL packages, development of "minimodules" for independent take-away work. Tour of GIS research group project Agricultural Census Data for the Fife Region, demonstration of the Cartonet Map Library Automation System).
- A visit and research in the University of Edinburgh Library (focusing on Virtual Field Excursions, "Greening" and the curriculum programme).
This whole fellowship was a most rewarding and enjoyable opportunity to extend knowledge in the disciplines of geography and librarianship. It was also rewarding to experience life in another part of the world, as well as share knowledge and experiences with people from various parts of the world (especially the 28 participants from the 17 countries at the IGGS).
Since the fellowship she has maintained a strong interest in various learning and teaching issues, online teaching and IT issues, as they relate to geography, environmental science, and science in general. Some of the opportunities have included:
- Presenting a seminar "Flexible Education in the School: Retrospect Prospect - Personal Reflections" at the Flexible Education in Geography and Oceanography Forum held 2 November 1998.
- Participating in the Learning Leaders Series videoconferencing sessions 7, 14, 21 October 1998 at CMR, ADFA (a series of information sessions concerning learning technologies, web based instruction and planning and managing new technologies for teaching).
- Attending Flexible Learning: exploring the myths and realities, Apple University Consortium (AUC) conference, 27-30 September 1998, University of Melbourne.
- Attending the Institute of Australian Geographers (IAG) Conference, 29 June-3 July 1998, University of Notre Dame, Fremantle, WA and co-editing the conference volume.
- Being Project Leader of a Flexible Education UNSW@ADFA grant "Development of a common interface for a physical geography course - geomorphology" with Dr Jiashu Shen (developing animations and content for a Geomorphology Intranet 1999/2000).
- Participation at various workshops at UNSW during 2003 e.g. Developing Information Literacy including Written Communication Skills
- Participating in UNSW@ADFA Learning and Teaching Forums ---- Learning as Transformation rather than Information 5-6 August 2004; Stephen Downes New Student, New Learning, 15-16 September 2004 ; Tony Bates e-learning change: management, policy and development in an educational and training environment, 7 November 2005; Robin Mason Extending, Expanding and Evolving: Introducting Blogs and e-portfolios to the student-centre learning environment, 25 November 2005.
- Participating at the Institute of Australian Geographers Conference,
18-22 July 2005,
Armidale.
- Participating in the OLIVE implementation workshops Nov-Dec 2006, and Pilot Group during Session 1 2007.
- Collaboration on a paper for Journal of Geography in Higher Education during 2006-2007 with members of the International Network for Learning and Teaching Geography in Higher Education (INLT) Brisbane Workshop Group - "Integrating e-learning with on-campus learning in geography".
In 2003 she was awarded a UNSW First Year Teaching and Learning Grant with Dr Paul Tranter and Dr Jacky Croke to support the integration, development and assessment of relevant graduate attributes in first year learning and teaching.
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The Kosciuszko experience: A transition in writing - Development of student academic writing skills in GeographyMs Julie Kesby, Dr Paul Tranter, Dr Jacky Croke , School of Physical, Environmental and Mathematical Sciences, UNSW@ADFA, and Dr Rosemary James, Natural Resource Management Consulting Pty Ltd. Abstract: This case study examines various methods of developing students' tertiary written communication skills. It explores the transition that students need to make in their writing skills from their secondary school writing experiences to academic writing in Geography. The writing experiences used in this project were linked to the theme of Australia's "High Country". This theme was the focus of a major section of the course: Geographies of Contemporary Australia, a first year course taught at UNSW@ADFA. As a result, the project was clearly embedded within the course, with the "High Country" theme providing an authentic context for the written exercises and opportunities for students to understand and make use of the variety of sources utilised by geographers. The project adapted the MASUS technique (Measuring the Academic Skills of University Students) to the particular needs of geographic writing. An incremental, staged approach was taken in the teaching of academic writing skills, with tutorials and guided MASUS feedback from staff for the various writing activities. Students were encouraged to evaluate and chart their own development with self-assessments using the MASUS criteria in weeks three, seven and 14. Both students and staff found the MASUS instrument easy to use. The project was evaluated with a student questionnaire and focus groups conducted in second session. The project was supported by a UNSW First Year Experience Learning and Teaching Award. |
During 2003 and 2004 she presented papers concerning the project:
- at the December 2003 forum for First Year Teaching and Learning Grant Awardees - First Contact: The Challenge of Integrating Graduate Attributes from First Year, UNSW, Sydney
- at the Institute of Australian Geographers (IAG) Conference, Glenelg, South Australia in April 2004, and
- at the Effective Teaching and Learning (ETL) Conference, Logan Campus, Griffith University in November 2004.
Selected Publications
Lynch, K., Bednarz, B., Boxall, J., Chalmers, L., France, D. & Kesby, J. , 2008, E-learning for geography's teaching and learning spaces, Journal of Geography in Higher Education, 32(1) 135-149.
Kesby, J., Tranter, P., Croke, J., and James, R., 2004, The Kosciuszko experience: A transition in writing. Development of student academic writing skills in geography, First Contact: The Challenge of Integrating Graduate Attributes from First Year, Proceedings of the First Year Forum 2003, University of New South Wales, Sydney, pp. 64-71.
Available at: http://learningandteaching.unsw.edu.au/content/userDocs/fye_2003_kesby.pdf
Kesby, J.A., Stanley, J.M., McLean, R.F. and Olive, L.J., (eds) 1999, Geodiversity: Readings in Australian geography at the close of the 20th century, School of Geography and Oceanography, Canberra, on behalf of the Institute of Australian Geographers Conference, University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle, 29 June-3 July 1998.
Crabb, P., Kesby, J., Olive, L., (eds) 1996, Environmentally Responsible Defence, Australian Defence Studies Centre, Australian Defence Force Academy, Canberra.
Olive, L.J., Loughran, R.J. & Kesby, J.A., (eds) 1994, Variability in Stream Erosion and Sediment Transport,. Proceedings of an international symposium held at Canberra, Australia, 12-16 December 1994, published by the International Association of Hydrological Sciences, IAHS Press, Institute of Hydrology, Wallingford , IAHS Publication No. 224, ISBN 0947571191.
Olive, L.J. & Kesby, J.A., (eds) 1994, Variability in Stream Erosion and Sediment Transport. Poster Contributions, Canberra 12-16 December 1994, Special Publication No. 5, Department of Geography & Oceanography, Australian Defence Force Academy, ISBN 0731703081.
Kesby, J.A. & Frawley, K.J., 1989, The Forest Record in Australian Local and Regional History: An annotated bibliography, Monograph Series No. 5, Department of Geography & Oceanography, University College, Australian Defence Force Academy, Canberra, 196pp.
Kesby, J.A., 1986, Usefulness of weather forecasting to agriculturalists. A study of the relationships between a specific consumer, disseminators and producers of weather information, Honours Thesis, Department of Geography, University of New England.
Memberships
- Current Secretary (Web) and Public Officer of the Institute of Australian Geographers. Previously Joint Secretary with with Associate Professor Alaric Maude and Dr Glenn Banks, UNSW@ADFA.
- Current member of the UNSW@ADFA Library Advisory Committee (1997-present).
- Current Library Liaison Officer for the School (manage PEMS bookvote).
- Research representative of the CPSU for a number of years, UNSW@ADFA.
- Member of the Classification and Review Committee, UNSW@ADFA for a number of years. Assisted with the development of the Secondary Descriptor document for University College.