Proposed title
The experience for young adult learners of Guided Inquiry (GI) and their perceptions of its influence in their critical and creative thinking
Supervisors
Principal Supervisor: Dr Kasey Garrison
Co-Supervisor: Associate Professor Mary Carroll
Research
There is currently limited research that foregrounds student experience and voice in considering how Guided Inquiry (GI) learning can influence 21st Century skills or the transversal competencies in young adult learners (Buchanan et al., 2016; Moyle et al., 2012). GI is a fluid and flexible pedagogical approach where students are guided and scaffolded by their teacher and/or teacher librarian through the flow of discovery in the process of learning from a variety of sources of information (Kuhlthau et al., 2015). In the light of national and international emphasis on enhancing skills in digital literacy and critical and creative thinking so young people can be creative, innovative, enterprising and adaptable, it is timely to undertake research, as they participate in and respond to the complex environmental, social and economic challenges of the 21st century (Fraillon et al., 2020; McIlvenny, 2019; Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, 2016; Torii & O'Connell, 2017).
Why I chose Charles Sturt
I chose CSU to undertake my PhD as I wished to work with leading school library researcher, Dr Kasey Garrison. Kasey is an expert in the field of researching Guided Inquiry so I was very keen to have Kasey supervise my research in this area. I was fortunate to meet Professor Mary Carroll and she has joined my supervision team to co-supervise my research in schools.
Engagement and Memberships
Member of the School Library Association of Victoria (SLAV), State Council Member, President of the School Library Association of Victoria (SLAV)
Member of International Association of School Librarianship
Publications
ORCHID ID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-1805-9090
PUBLICATIONS:
Ruffles, Dianne. (2023). Transformative Learning: The Impact of Deeper Learning Approaches in Enhancing the Transversal Competencies. IASL Annual Conference Proceedings.
Ruffles, Dianne. (2019). “SLAV - National Interactions”, Synergy, v.17. no.1
Ruffles, Dianne. (2018). “IASL Partner Member Association”, Synergy, v.16. no.1nriching
Ruffles, Dianne. (2007). Study on information technology: VCE information technology units 1 & 2 (co-author), Milton, Qld.: Jacaranda.
Ruffles, Dianne. (2005). “Boys learning through ICT”, More than just marks. Sth. Yarra: Melbourne High School.
Ruffles, Dianne. “WebQuests: tools for information literacy, HOTS and ICT”. Information literacy. North Carlton: School Library Association of Victoria, 2005.
Ruffles, Dianne & Mary Manning. (2005) “CeLL module : Making a Difference – ICT for Visualising Thinking”, Melbourne: DET.
A series of reviews for Synergy: journal of the School Library Association of Victoria.
- Ruffles, Dianne. (2014) “Google search secrets”, Synergy, v.12. no. 2.
- Ruffles, Dianne. (2011) “Reflective teaching: reflective practice”, Synergy, v.9. no.2.
- Ruffles, Dianne. (2009) “Critical technology: issues for school leaders”, Synergy, v.7. no.2.
- Ruffles, Dianne. (2004) “The Hidden Web”, Synergy, v. 2, no. 1, Winter 2004, 60
- Ruffles, Dianne. (2004) “Increasing academic achievement through the library media center: a guide for teachers”, Synergy, v. 2, no. 2, Summer 2004, 54(2).
- Ruffles, Dianne. (2003) “Going live”, Synergy, v. 1, no. 2, Summer 2003, 64(2).
- Ruffles, Dianne. (2003) “Metadata fundamentals for all librarians”, Synergy, v. 1, no. 1, Winter 2003, 52(2).
“Webquests”, Technology Colleges Trust On-line Conference, What future – what learning – what teachers – what schools? October 2002, http://www.cybertext.net.au/tct/
Ruffles, Dianne and Rush, David. “WebQuests or how to use the Internet to promote higher-order thinking”, http://www.slav.schools.net.au/ppoints/webquest/Webquests.ppt
“WebQuests: enhancing the integration of ICT in the curriculum”, Infonet, VITTA 2002 (1), p. 18-21.
Profile: Dianne Ruffles, John Ward Award Winner, FYI, Summer 2002, p. 29-31
Ruffles, Dianne and Kentwell, Rosalind, “Global Learning Centres: developing an active learning community”, Technology Colleges Trust On-line Conference, One world, one school – futures thinking, October 2001, http://www.cybertext.net.au/tct/papers/week3/wk_3menu.htm
Ruffles, Dianne and Kentwell, Rosalind, “Developing a Global Learning Centre”, New millennium, new horizons : information services in schools, 2000 online conference proceedings, Wagga Wagga, N.S.W. : Charles Sturt University, p. 127-133.
“The GLC – What it is and why you can’t live without it”, FYI, Spring 2000, p.4-8
“Information Technology : Information Systems Study Design 2003-2006”, Grasping the revised IT study design 2003, Melbourne: VITTA and VCCA, 2002.
IT 2000 Curriculum Support Kit, Melbourne: School Assessment Unit, Board of Studies, 2000.
Ruffles, Dianne and Cotter, Trish, “Creating a website for your library”, 16th biennial conference of the Australian School Library Association, Bytes, books and bollards by the bay, January 1999, Richmond, Vic.: School Library Association of Victoria, 1999.
Moreland City College – P-12 Library – the story so far, Teacher Learning Network, 6(2) Winter 1999, p.11-12
“What to tell the architect: school library design in the electronic age”, SLAV Newsbulletin, Autumn 1997, p.6-8
Profile: Dianne Ruffles: Chairperson of the Northern/Western Metropolitan Branch and Treasurer of SLAV, SLAV Newsbulletin, Spring 1996, p.19
RECENT CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS:
SLAV VCE Extended Investigation presentation – Critical thinking – How we support critical and creative thinking in shool libraries? – September 2025
IASL (International association for School Librarianship) Conference (Rome, 2024) - Transformative Learning: The Impact of Deeper Learning Approaches in Enhancing the Transversal Competencies.
National Education Summit (NES) – Building capacity for higher learning - June 2022
SLAV Media literacy presentation – SLAV Masterclass – Media and News Literacy – September 2020
SLAV (School Library Association of Victoria) Conference – Inspiring leaners, building minds: Creating a culture of thinking in the school library - March 2019
WFGS (Wodonga Federation of Government Schools) Conference - School libraries: Making a difference to learning – July 2017
VCAA (Victorian Curriculum Assessment Authority) – VCE Extended Investigation – What the School Library can do for you - March 2014
SCIS (Schools Cataloguing Information Service) Conference – Profiling a School Library – Melbourne Grammar School - March 2013
SLAV (School Library Association of Victoria) Conference – Global e-Literacy : Leading the reinvention of Learning – Energising Learning – LibGuides - July 2012
ALIA (Australian Library and Information Association) Schools Conference – eBooks and eReaders – Positives, pitfalls and perils of eBooks & eReaders – August 2011 (Repeat)
ALIA (Australian Library and Information Association) Schools Conference – eBooks and eReaders – Positives, pitfalls and perils of eBooks & eReaders – March 2011
SLAV (School Library Association of Victoria) Conference – Perspectives on learning – March 2009 – eBooks and eReaders in school libraries
SLAV (School Library Association of Victoria) Conference – Re-imagine other worlds – November 2008 - “Books are not dead they are just going digital”
ALIA (Australian Library and Information Association) Schools Conference – Guided inquiry, VELS and the teacher-librarian - October 2007.
SLAV (School Library Association of Victoria) Conference – Flexible Solutions – October 2007 – “Wikis for library teams in schools”
VITTA (Victorian Information Technology Teachers’ Association) Conference – ICT – imagination, creativity, thinking - November 2006 – “ICT tools for visualising thinking”
SLAV (School Library Association of Victoria) Conference – Management and leadership – the library as a key player – May 2006 – “Planning for the Virtual Learning Environment – The journey continues”
SLAV (School Library Association of Victoria) Conference – Management challenges – May 2005 - “Planning for the Virtual Learning Environment”
SLAV (School Library Association of Victoria) Conference – Questioning for Thinking, Questioning for Learning – May 2002
- “Webquests or how to use the Internet to promote higher-order thinking” http://www.slav.schools.net.au/ppoints/webquest/Webquests.ppt
“Grasping the revised IT study design”, Information Systems, VITTA and VCAA - June 2002
Essendon-Keilor College – Webquest presentation at a Professional Development day – New approaches to teaching and learning – August 2002
Interact Conference – Presentation on Web Design and Multimedia Development for the ICT Achievers’ Program - September 2002
VITTA Conference – Presentation on Implementing the CSF II in Information Technology - October 2002
