On developing a teaching career: a strategic journey

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A postgraduate student colleague of mine has just been given his first opportunity to teach a first-year bachelors course. He indicated his admiration for my course designs and teaching approach, and requested advice on how he could develop as a teacher ‘like me’.

Here are some resources I recommend to people like my colleague that distil my journey, evolution and experience as a tertiary educator. However, I believe we must create our unique journey based on our talents, interests, goals, and opportunities. I suggest my colleague begins by defining his ‘teaching philosophy’, as I did under the guidance of my mentor, M. T., at Massey University in 1987.

Contents

1. The transition from student to teacher
2. Evolving my teaching philosophy
3. Innovation in teaching and learning A: Leadership and team building through through outdoor adventure learning
4. Innovation in teaching and learning B: advanced innovations in pedagogical practice
5. Strengths-based teaching and professional development for students
6. Developing students’ academic literacies: Using ‘writing to learn’
7. Course handbooks
8. Current projects
9. Other resources and miscellanea

1. The transition from student to teacher
Mellalieu, P. J. (2010e, October 11). On choosing to teach: a po.fessor reflects (Part 1). Ethos Consultancy NZ. Retrieved October 11, 2010, from http://www.ethosconsultancynz.com/profiles/blogs/on-choosing-to-teach-a

Mellalieu, P. J. (2010f, December 2). On choosing to teach: a po.fessor reflects (Part 2). Ethos Consultancy NZ. Retrieved December 14, 2010, from http://www.ethosconsultancynz.com/profiles/blogs/on-choosing-to-teach-a-1

Mellalieu, P. J. (2010d, September 2). My first-year university experience: a white-booted techie. Innovation & chaos … in search of l’excellence. Retrieved September 8, 2010, from http://pogus.tumblr.com/post/1051138866/my-first-year-university-experience-a-white-booted

2. Evolving my teaching philosophy
Mellalieu, P. J. (2010a, June 25). My teaching philosophy (1997). Innovation & chaos … in search of optimality. Retrieved March 5, 2011, from http://pogus.tumblr.com/post/731293852/teaching-philosophy

Mellalieu, P. J. (2010b, September 14). My teaching strategy for first-year courses. Innovation & chaos … in search of optimality. Retrieved March 5, 2011, from http://pogus.tumblr.com/post/1117803030/my-teaching-strategy-for-first-year-courses

Mellalieu, P. J. (1998a). I reward outrageous failure. Innovation & chaos … in search of optimality. Retrieved October 23, 2010, from http://pogus.tumblr.com/post/668473137/outrageous-failure

Mellalieu, P. J. (1989). Educating future managers: A survey of recent publications. In Proceedings of Australia and New Zealand Academy of Management Educators. Presented at the Australia and New Zealand Academy of Management Educators Conference 1989, University of Auckland, Auckland, NZ: Australia and New Zealand Academy of Management Educators. Retrieved from http://web.mac.com/petermellalieu/Teacher/Blog/Entries/2007/11/13_Educating_future_managers%3A_Does_one_size_fit_all.html

Mellalieu, P. J. (2010c, August 25). What is the rationale for incorporating Education for Sustainability (EfS) in Unitec teaching programmes? - Conclusions from: Shifting frontiers, new priorities, creating pathways: elevating the case for tertiary education for sustainable development in New Zealand. Teaching & Learning Community at Unitec. Retrieved August 25, 2010, from http://tlcommunityunitec.ning.com/group/educationforsustainabilityefsfromunitec/forum/topics/what-is-the-rationale-for?commentId=3664184%3AComment%3A2252&groupId=3664184%3AGroup%3A2240

Mellalieu, P. J. (2009a). Shifting frontiers, new priorities, creating pathways: elevating the case for tertiary education for sustainable development in New Zealand. In New Zealand Tertiary Education Summit 2009 (TES). Presented at the New Zealand Tertiary Education Summit 2009, Wellington, New Zealand: Bright*Star Conferences & Training Ltd. Retrieved from http://web.mac.com/petermellalieu/Teacher/Examples/Entries/2009/5/7_Elevating_the_case_for_tertiary_education_for_sustainability.html

Mellalieu, P. J. (2009b, May 14). Our graduation is a landmark in our journey towards building our wealth and caring for our environment. Graduation address/Korero te puawaitanga, Tamaki Makaurau Graduation 2009 presented at the Tamaki Makaurau Graduation 2009 Te Wananga a Aotearoa, Te Wananga a Aotearoa, Malaeola Community Centre, Mangere, Manakau City. Retrieved from http://web.mac.com/petermellalieu/Teacher/Examples/Entries/2009/5/14_Graduation_speech%3A_a_landmark_in_our_journey_towards_building_our_wealth_and_caring_for_our_environment.html

Mellalieu, P. J. (2004). Think revolution, not evolution: Creating entrepreneurial capability through rewarding learning from outrageous behaviour. Presented at the Conversations in Teaching and Learning Symposium, Unitec Institute of Technology, Auckland. Retrieved from http://web.mac.com/petermellalieu/Teacher/Blog/Entries/2007/11/13_Teach_revolution%2C_not_evolution!_Rewarding_experimentation_in_student_assignments.html

Mellalieu, P. J. (2010a, August 22). A response to: Why an MBA is a waste of time and money. Innovation & chaos … in search of l’excellence. Retrieved August 21, 2010, from http://pogus.tumblr.com/post/989447821/response

3. Innovation in teaching and learning. A: Leadership and team building through through outdoor adventure learning
Mellalieu, P. J. (n.d.). Should outdoor adventure learning be incorporated into business education? Retrieved July 30, 2010, from http://web.mac.com/petermellalieu/Teacher/Examples/Entries/2007/10/7_Should_outdoor_adventure_learning_be_incorporated_into_business_education.html

Mellalieu, P. J., Leberman, S., Bradbury, T., & Chu, M. (1995). Opening the black box: Beyond adventure-based management education programmes. Presented at the Australia and New Zealand Academy of Management Conference (ANZAME), Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, NZ. Retrieved from http://web.mac.com/petermellalieu/Teacher/Examples/Entries/2007/10/7_Should_outdoor_adventure_learning_be_incorporated_into_business_education.html

Leberman, S., & Mellalieu, P. J. (1996a). ALP-DevCo and the Action Learning Programme: A Trojan Horse for Moving from Mystery to Mastery [Training educators to use experiential education using an isomorphically-framed training-products development company]. Presented at the Action Learning, Action Research & Process Management Professional Conference, (ALARPM), University of Queensland, Brisbane. Retrieved from http://web.mac.com/petermellalieu/Teacher/Examples/Entries/2007/10/8_Training_educators_to_use_experiential_education_using_an_isomorphically-framed_training-products_development_company.html

4. Innovation in teaching and learning. B: advanced innovations in pedagogical practice

Mellalieu, P. J., & Hooper, J. (1994). A Vision for the Information Technology Experience in a University-Based Business School. Department of Management Systems Discussion Paper. Palmerston North, NZ: Massey University.   

Mellalieu, P. J. (1998b). Beyond the Case Method: A Master Class for Enterprise Development. In Proceedings of the Annual Educators Conference of the New Zealand Strategic Management Society, 6th Annual Conference. The University of Auckland N.Z.: New Zealand Strategic Management Society. [I need to digitise this article’

Mellalieu, P. J. (1998c). Weaving the threads of innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurial learning through a university-located reality-TV and master class: Enterprise MasterWorks (EMW)™. In International Conference on Higher Education and Small/Medium Enterprise (SMEs). Presented at the International Conference on Higher Education and Small/Medium Enterprise (SMEs), Rennes, France: Centre Études et Recherche EURO PME, Rennes International School of Business. Retrieved from http://web.mac.com/petermellalieu/Teacher/Examples/Entries/2007/10/18_Weaving_the_threads_of_innovation%2C_creativity%2C_and_entrepreneurial_learning_through_a_university-located_reality-TV_and_master_class%3A_Enterprise_MasterWorks_(EMW).html

Mellalieu, P. J. (n.d.). Evaluating the Enterprise MasterWorks format in a university context. EMW: Enterprise MasterWorks. Retrieved from http://web.mac.com/petermellalieu/Teacher/Podcasts/Entries/2007/11/29_Students%E2%80%99_evaluation_of_the_EMW_format.html

Mellalieu, P. J. (2009, July 1). Case study: An engaging user-centred learning environment designed for innovators, creators, and entrepreneurs: Enterprise MasterWorks. User-centred learning for enterprise. Retrieved July 4, 2009, from http://web.mac.com/petermellalieu/Teacher/Examples/Entries/2009/7/2_Case_study%3A_An_engaging_user-centred_learning_environment_designed_for_innovators%2C_creators%2C_and_entrepreneurs%3A_Enterprise_MasterWorks.html

Mellalieu, P. J. (2004). New Myths for a Very New World: The Mythic Journey as a Basis for Learning About Entrepreneurial Start-Ups. Presented at the Enterprise in Distant Lands: Studies of South Pacific Business Development, The University of Auckland Business School.

Mellalieu, P. J. (2006). Creating Enterprise in Extreme Environments: Strategic Leadership from an Entrepreneurship Development Centre at the University of Botswana (p. 67). Auckland, NZ: New Zealand Centre for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Unitec Institute of Technology. Retrieved from http://web.mac.com/petermellalieu/Teacher/Examples/Entries/2007/10/18_Creating_enterprise_in_extreme_environments%3A_Strategic_leadership_from_an_entrepreneurship_development_centre_at_the_University_of_Botswana.html

Mellalieu, P. J. (2006, October 1). Case Study: Capacity building for entrepreneur enabling in southern Africa - International Indigenous Journal of Entrepreneurship, Advancement, Strategy and Education | Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved July 1, 2009, from http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1P3-1247162911.html

Mellalieu, P. J. (2006). Fitness for purpose - Capacity building for enterprise development and entrepreneurship in southern Africa (Special issue on quality assurance in higher education). Lonaka - Bulletin of the Centre for Academic Development, University of Botswana, Botswana, 67-85. Retrieved from http://web.mac.com/petermellalieu/Teacher/Examples/Entries/2006/10/2_FITNESS_FOR_PURPOSE%3A_CAPACITY-BUILDING_FOR_ENTERPRISE_DEVELOPMENT_AND_ENTREPRENEURSHIP_IN_SOUTHERN_AFRICA.html 

Mellalieu, P. J., & Coleman, E. B. (2009, August 10). Large-scale idea generation, collection, and implementation: Elizabeth Coleman and the IDEA Pipeline at IAG. Retrieved November 18, 2009, from http://web.me.com/petermellalieu/UBSpublications/News/Entries/2009/8/10_Elizabeth_COLEMAN%3A_The_IDEA_Pipeline_at_IAG.html

5. Strengths-based teaching and professional development for students
Mellalieu, P. J., Hovgaard, N., & Pedersen, L. (2010, June 12). The StrengthsQuest Spiral: Introducing strengths-based learning. Innovation and entrepreneurship - Unitec BSNS 5391 - NING Forum. Retrieved June 13, 2010, from http://innovation5391.ning.com/forum/topics/the-strengthsquest-spiral

Mellalieu, P. J. (2010b, August 24). Strengths-based professional development in a faculty of creative industries and business (Part 1). Innovation & chaos … in search of l’excellence. Retrieved August 20, 2010, from http://pogus.tumblr.com/post/980175705/history-of-bsns-5391

6. Developing students’ academic literacies: Using ‘writing to learn’ and reflective writing
Mellalieu, P. J. (2007a, July 3). Let’s all learn and teach Global English in our business schools! Retrieved October 11, 2009, from http://web.mac.com/petermellalieu/Teacher/Blog/Entries/2007/7/3_Let%E2%80%99s_all_Learn_and_Teach_Global_English_in_our_Business_School!.html

Mellalieu, P. J. (2009). Writing to learn argument and persuasion: A ‘Trojan Horse’ for promoting the adoption of ‘Writing Across the Curriculum’ (WAC) principles. Presented at the Unitec Teaching and Learning Symposium, Auckland, NZ: Unitec Institute of Technology. Retrieved from http://web.mac.com/petermellalieu/Teacher/Blog/Entries/2008/7/31_Writing_to_learn_argument_and_persuasion%3A_A_Trojan_Horse_for_promoting_the_adoption_of_Writing_Across_the_Curriculum_(WAC)_principles.html

Mellalieu, P. J. (2007d, October 21). Creating the A+ assignment: A project management approach (Revised). Retrieved July 27, 2009, from http://web.mac.com/petermellalieu/Teacher/Blog/Entries/2007/10/21_Creating_the_A%2B_assignment%3A_A_project_management_approach.html

Mellalieu, P. J. (2007c, October 18). Model answer: A “Five Paragraph” essay in management. Retrieved July 27, 2009, from http://web.mac.com/petermellalieu/Teacher/Blog/Entries/2007/10/18_Model_answer%3A_A_%E2%80%9CFive_Paragraph%E2%80%9D_essay_in_management.html

Mellalieu, P. J. (2010a, November 8). Preparing an essay for a written test or examination (Part A). Innovation & chaos … in search of optimality. Retrieved November 8, 2010, from http://pogus.tumblr.com/post/1512039456/short-essay-advice

Mellalieu, P. J. (2010b, November 8). Preparing an essay for a written test or examination (Part B): The Pogorific A+ exam-sitting method. Innovation & chaos … in search of optimality. Retrieved November 8, 2010, from http://pogus.tumblr.com/post/1512453524/scheduling-time-in-a-test

Mellalieu, P. J., & Emerson, A. (2009). Developing reflective learning in a strategic thinking class. In Unitec Teaching and Learning Symposium. Presented at the Unitec Teaching and Learning Symposium, 28 September 2009, Auckland, NZ: Unitec Institute of Technology. Retrieved from http://web.mac.com/petermellalieu/Teacher/Blog/Entries/2009/9/29_Symposium%3A_Developing_reflective_learning_in_a_strategic_thinking_course.html

7. Course handbooks

Mellalieu, P. J. (2009). CraC! Creativity and Communication Course Guide - Unitec COMM5533. Scribd. Retrieved October 11, 2010, from http://www.scribd.com/doc/20862682/CraC-Creativity-and-Communication-Course-Guide-Unitec-COMM5533#fullscreen:off

Mellalieu, P. J. (2010). Course Handbook and Syllabus - Strategy for Sustainability - Unitec BSNS 7340. Retrieved from http://www.scribd.com/doc/28723688/Course-Handbook-and-Syllabus-Strategy-for-Sustainability-Unitec-BSNS-7340#fullscreen:on  

Mellalieu, P. J. (2011a, February 1). Course Handbook and Syllabus Unitec BSNS 5391 Innovation and Entrepreneurship. Scribd. Retrieved August 21, 2010, from http://www.scribd.com/doc/36191676/Course-Handbook-and-Syllabus-Unitec-BSNS-5391-Innovation-and-Entrepreneurship

Mellalieu, P. J. (2011b). Selected Readings in Innovation and Entrepreneurship (Unitec BSNS 5391) (1st ed.). Auckland, NZ: Unitec Institute of Technology. Retrieved from http://www.scribd.com/doc/47044256/Selected-Readings-in-Innovation-and-Entrepreneurship-Unitec-BSNS-5391  

Mellalieu, P. J. (2011c). APMG NZ 435 - Fundamentals of Small Business. Course Handbook. Auckland, NZ: Unitec Institute of Technology. Retrieved from http://www.scribd.com/full/49826910?access_key=key-c1k364sjtx3tq5y9hxm

8. Current projects

Mellalieu, P. J. (2010, September 10). Linking sustainability, research, and technology in a university context. Presented at the Research seminar for visiting academics from Bansomdejchaopraya Rajabhat University, (BSRU) Bangkok, Thailand, Unitec Institute of Technology, Auckland. Retrieved from http://web.me.com/petermellalieu/Teacher/Examples/Entries/2010/9/10_Linking_sustainability%2C_research%2C_and_technology_in_a_university_context.html

Mellalieu, P. J. (2011). An orchestrated conspiracy of ignorance? The rise and fall of education for sustainability in New Zealand’s tertiary education strategies [under review]. Department of Management & Marketing Working Papers. Auckland, NZ: Unitec Institute of Technology. Retrieved from http://pogus.tumblr.com/post/3692233493/an-orchestrated-conspiracy-of-ignorance-the-rise-and

Mellalieu, P. J. (2010, December 6). A Decision Support System for predicting success, excellence, and retention from students’ early course performance: a machine learning approach in a tertiary education programme in innovation and entrepreneurship: Part 1: Project summary. Innovation & chaos … in search of optimality. Retrieved January 10, 2011, from http://pogus.tumblr.com/post/2110849868/a-decision-support-system-for-predicting-success

9. Other resources and miscellanea

Liesveld, R., & Miller, J. A. (n.d.). Teach with your strengths: how great teachers inspire their students. Retrieved March 8, 2009, from https://store.gallup.com/category/11/Teach%20With%20Your%20Strengths.aspx

Clark, D. (2000). Strategic case research and writing: Processes, issues, and challenges. In P. J. Mellalieu (Ed.), Proceedings of the Annual Educators Conference of the New Zealand Strategic Management Society, 2 (Vol. 1). Presented at the Strategies for Sustainability and Success: The Role and Impact of Strategic Thinking in the Development of Sustainable Enterprise, Christchurch, N.Z.: New Zealand Strategic Management Society. Retrieved from http://web.me.com/petermellalieu/NZSMS/Publications/Entries/2010/3/15_CLARK:_Strategic_Case_Research_and_Writing:_Processes,_Issues_and_Challenges.html

The home of ICT enhanced learning and teaching. Ethos Consultancy NZ. Retrieved March 5, 2011, from http://www.ethosconsultancynz.com/

Resources for teachers and students from Peter Mellalieu: http://web.mac.com/petermellalieu/Teacher/Home.html

Resume/cv/about Peter Mellalieu: http://web.mac.com/petermellalieu/Teacher/Who.html

Personal journal of Peter Mellalieu (archive): http://pogus.tumblr.com/archive

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Publications 1997-2010 - Peter J Mellalieu

Massey University 1941 Turitea Campus via Wikipedia

A list of my journal publications, book sections, and principal reports. Excludes my conference presentations and blog postings. A selection of dissertations I have supervised is here.

Bellis, S. E., Trangmar, B. B., & Mellalieu, P. J. (1985). New Technologies and their Potential Uses in the NZ Wheat Industry. NZ Wheat Review (Special Edition), 15A, 73-81.  

Cullwick, T. D. C., & Mellalieu, P. J. (1981). Business Attitudes to Government Export Services and 
Export Marketing Behaviour. NZ Journal of Business, 3, 33-54.  

Frederick, H., Thompson, J., & Mellalieu, P. J. (2004). New Zealand Perspectives of International Entrepreneurship. In Handbook of Research on International Entrepreneurship (pp. 533-549). Cheltenham, GL, UK: Edward Elgar.  

Hill, R., Jones, G., Hewitt, E., Banks, N., Scott, D., Mellalieu, P. J., Ferguson, I., et al. (1996). A strategic research and development plan for the New Zealand pipfruit industry (Strategic plan) (p. 48). Hastings, New Zealand: Pipfruit R&D Strategic Planning Group.

Mellalieu, P. J. (1977). Management aids in the biological industries [Conference summary of DSIR Management of dynamic systems in agriculture]. Productivity & Technology, NZ Department of Trade & Industry, (6).  

Mellalieu, P. J. (1978a). The Management of Quality. Wellington, New Zealand: Productivity Centre, Department of Trade & Industry.  

Mellalieu, P. J. (1978b). The New Zealand Exporter and Export Services: Analysis and Evaluation (Thesis submitted for the degree of Master of Public Policy). Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand.  

Mellalieu, P. J. (1982). A Decision Support System for Corporate Planning in the New Zealand Dairy Industry (Doctor of Philosophy in mathematics, statistics and operations research). Victoria University of Wellington. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10063/568  

Mellalieu, P. J. (1985). Some New Directions in Systems Modeling Practice. New Zealand Journal of Technology, 1(4), 223-238.  

Mellalieu, P. J. (1987). Strategic orientation in a biological science laboratory [the case of DSIR Applied Biochemistry Division]. New Zealand Journal of Technology, 3, 153-157. Retrieved from http://web.mac.com/petermellalieu/Teacher/Examples/Entries/2007/10/28_Case_study%3A_strategic_orientation_in_a_biological_science_laboratory.html  

Mellalieu, P. J. (1992a). Auditing the Strategic Plan. Managerial Auditing Journal, 7(1), 11-16. doi:10.1108/EUM0000000001772  

Mellalieu, P. J. (1992b). The New Breed of Science Manager. NZ Science Review, 49(4), 121-122.  

Mellalieu, P. J. (1997). Research-based innovation strategy and the New Zealand pipfruit industry. New Zealand strategic management, 3(2 (Spring)), 12. Retrieved from http://web.mac.com/petermellalieu/Teacher/Examples/Entries/2007/10/25_Case_study%3A_Research-based_innovation_in_an_agribusiness_sector.html  

Mellalieu, P. J. (Ed.). (1999). Think global! Act global! The role and impact of strategic management in the development of small enterprise and new ventures. Proceedings of the 7th Annual Educators Conference of the New Zealand Strategic Management Society (Vol. 1). Palmerston North, N.Z.: New Zealand Strategic Management Society.  

Mellalieu, P. J. (1999). A Window on our Community: Enterprise Development at the Square Edge Creative Centre (Position Paper to Board of Directors). Palmerston North, NZ: Manawatu Community Arts Centre Trust Board.

Mellalieu, P. J. (Ed.). (2000). Strategies for sustainability and success: The Role and Impact of Strategic Thinking in the Development of Sustainable Enterprise. Proceedings of the 8th Annual Educators Conference of the New Zealand Strategic Management Society (Vol. 1). Auckland: New Zealand Strategic Management Society. Retrieved from http://web.mac.com/petermellalieu/NZSMS/Welcome.html  

Mellalieu, P. J. (2006a). Capacity building for entrepreneur enabling in Southern Africa. International Indigenous Journal of Entrepreneurship, Advancement, Strategy and Education, 2(1). Retrieved from www.indigenousjournal.com/IIJEASVolIIIss1Mellalieu.pdf  

Mellalieu, P. J. (2006b). Creating Enterprise in Extreme Environments: Strategic Leadership from an Entrepreneurship Development Centre at the University of Botswana (p. 67). Auckland, NZ: New Zealand Centre for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Unitec Institute of Technology. Retrieved from http://web.mac.com/petermellalieu/Teacher/Examples/Entries/2007/10/18_Creating_enterprise_in_extreme_environments%3A_Strategic_leadership_from_an_entrepreneurship_development_centre_at_the_University_of_Botswana.html

Mellalieu, P. J. (2006c). Fitness for purpose - Capacity building for enterprise development and entrepreneurship in southern Africa (Special issue on quality assurance in higher education). Lonaka - Bulletin of the Centre for Academic Development, University of Botswana, Botswana, 67-85. Retrieved from http://web.mac.com/petermellalieu/Teacher/Examples/Entries/2006/10/2_FITNESS_FOR_PURPOSE%3A_CAPACITY-BUILDING_FOR_ENTERPRISE_DEVELOPMENT_AND_ENTREPRENEURSHIP_IN_SOUTHERN_AFRICA.html  

Mellalieu, P. J. (2008). Investing in education for eco-sustainability: A ‘fast follower’ strategic posture for Unitec Institute of Technology. Unitec Business School Working Paper Series. Auckland: New Zealand Centre for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Unitec Institute of Technology. Retrieved from http://web.mac.com/petermellalieu/UBSpublications/Projects/Entries/2008/6/6_Investing_in_education_for_eco-sustainability%3A_A_%E2%80%98fast_follower%E2%80%99_strategic_posture_for_Unitec_Institute_of_Technology.html

Mellalieu, P. J., & Hall, K. R. (1983). An Interactive Planning Model for the New Zealand Dairy Industry. Journal of the Operational Research Society, 34, 521-532. doi:10.1057/jors.1983.119  

Mellalieu, P. J., & Hooper, J. (1994). A Vision for the Information Technology Experience in a University-Based Business School. Department of Management Systems Discussion Paper. Palmerston North, NZ: Massey University.  

Mellalieu, P. J., Leberman, S., Bradbury, T., & Chu, M. (1994). Opening the black box: Beyond adventure-based management education programmes. Discussion paper. Palmerston North, NZ: Department of Management Systems, Massey University. Retrieved from http://web.mac.com/petermellalieu/Teacher/Examples/Entries/2007/10/7_Should_outdoor_adventure_learning_be_incorporated_into_business_education.html  

Mellalieu, P. J., Sun, J. G., & Willis, A. (2000). Pacific Lithium: Stored Energy for the Mobile Society - Case study. New Zealand Strategic Management, 4 (Winter)(3), 51-64. Retrieved from http://web.mac.com/petermellalieu/Teacher/Examples/Entries/2007/10/24_Case_study%3A_Pacific_Lithium_Ltd%3A_Stored_energy_for_the_mobile_society.html  

Morison, K., & Mellalieu, P. J. (1989). Modelling the Acidification of Milk. In H. Morton (Ed.), Industrial Problem Solving Consultancy Workshop, Occasional Publications in Mathematics and Statistics. Palmerston North, NZ: Massey University.

A Decision Support System for predicting success, excellence, and retention from students’ early course performance: a machine learning approach in a tertiary education programme in innovation and entrepreneurship: Part 1: Project summary

A machine learning/data mining exercise using the WEKA Explorer workbench identified the feasibility of predicting accurately students’ final course performance from formative and summative assessments conducted within the first three weeks of a 12-week semester (Mellalieu 2010 a,b,c,d,e; Witten & Frank 2005; Hall, Frank et al, 2009). This finding led to the decision of the course instructor to initiate construction of a prototype Decision Support System (DSS) to provide a student and their academic advisors the means to predict the student’s personal academic success and final grade as they progressed through the course (Mellalieu, 1982).

The DSS is to be implemented as a spreadsheet. Inputs include the student’s grade achieved on assignment components throughout the period of the course, demographic data, the student’s five talents as identified by the Gallup StrengthsFinder 2.0 instrument, and other psychometric data. The prediction system underpinning the DSS is based on several rules and regression equations derived from a test data set of student results from a previous delivery of the course in 2010. A schematic overview of the inter-relationship between several pertinent factors is presented in Mellalieu (2010 f).

The course is a first year tertiary education course in innovation and entrepreneurship that is compulsory for all students in the management and marketing majors of a Bachelor of Business programme. The DSS will output a student’s estimated grade and class percentile ranking at the start of the course (Week 1), and updated following assessments submitted by the student in Week 3, Week 6 (mid-way), and Week 12. A ‘last chance’ final assessment occurs during the examination period, Week 14, the result for which can be predicted from all the student’s previous assessment results… and possibly other demographic data. The DSS output will also include an measure of the precision of the estimate, such as the statistical standard error of the grade estimate. As the student progresses through the course, we expect the precision to improve, since their will be an increased number of data items upon which to make the prediction. Furthermore, the student will know their actual ‘earned grade’ contribution to the final course grade.

An enhanced version of the DSS could be developed to provide feedback about what steps the student can undertake to ‘beat the system’ in order to obtain higher grades than their projected grade. For example, a most potent indicator of overall course performance revealed by the data mining exercises identified the crucial importance of a student’s ability to write formal academic English in response to a written case student assignment. This finding suggests that if a student undertakes personal coaching in the antecedents required to rite gude inglish [sic] then their chances of achieving an overall higher grade will increase. I suspect these antecedent competencies include: reading for comprehension, paraphrasing information, writing persuasive and/or logical arguments, selecting appropriate words to express thoughts, writing Global English sentence structures, paragraphing using topic sentences, and presenting/organising arguments and evidence in an appropriate genre such as a formal business report, short essay, or memo (Mellalieu 2007, 2008, 2010 g,h). The foregoing are a selection of core, generic academic competencies that might well underpin success in many other business and tertiary education courses. Consequently, a DSS that provides students with ‘early warning’ of the likelihood of their academic success or failure based on an early assessment of these competencies may encourage students, their instructors, and advisors to take early, proactive action to remedy deficiencies both within and outside the classroom.

References
Hall, M., Frank, E., Holmes, G., Pfahringer, B., Reutemann, P., & Witten, I. H. (2009). The WEKA Data Mining Software: An Update. SIGKDD Explorations, 11(1).  

Witten, I. H., & Frank, E. (2005). Data mining: practical machine learning tools and techniques (2nd ed.). Morgan Kaufmann.
 
Author’s supporting studies

Mellalieu, P. J. (2011a, April 12). A Decision Support System for predicting Retention, eXcellence, & Success: Feedback to my students using ReXS. Innovation & chaos … in search of optimality. Retrieved April 12, 2011, from http://pogus.tumblr.com/post/4550061605/a-decision-support-system-for-predicting-retention Mellalieu, P. J. (2011b, April 12). A Decision Support System for predicting Retention, eXcellence, & Success: The Dashboard for ReXS. Innovation & chaos … in search of optimality. Retrieved April 12, 2011, from http://pogus.tumblr.com/post/4548163448/image-via-wikipedia-a-decision-support-system-for

Mellalieu, P. J. (1982). A Decision Support System for Corporate Planning in the New Zealand Dairy Industry (Doctor of Philosophy in mathematics, statistics and operations research). Victoria University of Wellington. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10063/568

Mellalieu, P. J. (2007, June 3). Let’s all learn and teach Global English in our business schools! Peter Mellalieu - Teacher. Retrieved April 21, 2010, from http://web.mac.com/petermellalieu/Teacher/Blog/Entries/2007/7/3_Let%E2%80%99s_all_Learn_and_Teach_Global_English_in_our_Business_School!.html

Mellalieu, P. J. (2008). Writing to learn argument and persuasion: A ‘Trojan Horse’ for promoting the adoption of ‘Writing Across the Curriculum’ (WAC) principles (Working paper). Auckland, NZ: Unitec New Zealand Centre for Innovation & Entrepreneurship. Retrieved from http://web.mac.com/petermellalieu/Teacher/Blog/Entries/2008/7/31_Writing_to_learn_argument_and_persuasion%3A_A_Trojan_Horse_for_promoting_the_adoption_of_Writing_Across_the_Curriculum_(WAC)_principles.html

Mellalieu, P. J. (2010a, November 29). Predicting success, excellence, and retention from early course performance: a comparison of statistical and machine learning methods in a tertiary education programme: Part 1: Statistical analysis. Innovation & chaos … in search of optimality. Retrieved November 29, 2010, from http://pogus.tumblr.com/post/1724117822/predicting-success-excellence-and-retention-from

Mellalieu, P. J. (2010b, November 29). Predicting success, excellence, and retention from early course performance: a comparison of statistical and machine learning methods in a tertiary education: Part 1: Statistical analysis - Figures. Innovation & chaos … in search of optimality. Retrieved November 29, 2010, from http://pogus.tumblr.com/post/1723717009/predicting-success-excellence-and-retention-from

Mellalieu, P. J. (2010c, November 30). Predicting success, excellence, and retention from early course performance: a comparison of statistical and machine learning methods in a tertiary education programme: Part 2a: Preparing for data mining. Innovation & chaos … in search of optimality. Retrieved December 3, 2010, from http://pogus.tumblr.com/post/1983876991/predicting-success-excellence-and-retention-from
Mellalieu, P. J. (2010d, November 30). Predicting success, excellence, and retention from early course performance: a comparison of statistical and machine learning methods in a tertiary education programme: Part 2a: Preparing for data mining - Figures. Innovation & chaos … in search of optimality. Retrieved November 30, 2010, from http://pogus.tumblr.com/post/1983667421/predicting-success-excellence-and-retention-from

Mellalieu, P. J. (2010e, December 3). Predicting success, excellence, and retention from early course performance: a comparison of statistical and machine learning methods in a tertiary education programme: Part 2b: Data mining with WEKA Explorer. Innovation & chaos … in search of optimality. Retrieved December 3, 2010, from http://pogus.tumblr.com/post/2079452955/predicting-success-excellence-and-retention-from

Mellalieu, P. J. (2010f, December 5). Predicting success, excellence, and retention from early course performance: a comparison of statistical and machine learning methods in a tertiary education programme: Part 3a: A comprehensive time-staged model - Figures. Innovation & chaos … in search of optimality. Retrieved December 5, 2010, from http://pogus.tumblr.com/post/2100181658/predicting-success-excellence-and-retention-from

Mellalieu, P. J. (2010g, November 8). Preparing an essay for a written test or examination (Part A). Innovation & chaos … in search of optimality. Retrieved November 8, 2010, from http://pogus.tumblr.com/post/1512039456/short-essay-advice

Mellalieu, P. J. (2010h, November 8). Preparing an essay for a written test or examination (Part B): The Pogorific A+ exam-sitting method. Innovation & chaos … in search of optimality. Retrieved November 8, 2010, from http://pogus.tumblr.com/post/1512453524/scheduling-time-in-a-test

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