January 2019 - Bicycles Create Change

31/01/201903/10/2019

Writing an Annotated Bibliography

At some stage in most postgrad programs, students will need to complete an Annotated Bibliography.

The style, format, content and purpose of an annotated bibliography differs depending on intent, discipline, timing and approach.

I completed an Ann Bib of 15 key feminist New Materialism articles when I reframed my PhD theoretical framework.

It was a very valuable exercise. Not only did it require me to be judicious in selecting the articles, I put to work a different set of reading skills, applied critical appraisal to each, achieved a deep learning about the topic, and it formed to guts of my dissertation’s Theoretical Perspectives (Chapter 3).

Some of my Postgrad students have been asking about how to do an Annotated Bibliography – so here are some ideas on how to approach it.

Writing an Annotated Bibliography. Bicycles Create Change.com 31st Jan, 2019. — Image: Skidmore Library

What is an annotated bibliography?

Annotation = notes (critical notes and evaluative comments)

Bibliography = a list of readings/research sources

An annotated bibliography is a summary account of the available empirical research and literature on a specific topic.

As well as a general outline of the research source, it also includes your own concise analysis, reflections, critiques, evaluation or any other comments and notes of each source as to how the source is linked/useful for your own research project.

Devising an Annotated Bibliography

If you go online (academic websites and YouTube are a good place to start) there is a plethora of information about on how to do an Annotated Bibliography.

One quick caveat regarding the information below.

There is no one way to do an annotated bibliography.

The following format is my own enmeshed format that suits my interest, needs and style. The content, length and focus for your purpose may differ – so be sure to do you own homework and experiment.

If you are doing an Anno Bib for a uni course – make sure you consult your supervisor, tutor or manager to see how/what elements best suit your project or what style they recommend.

I developed my own format based on three imputs: my own ideas/needs, some ideas gleamed from Prof Robert Talbert, and info from UNSW

1. My Enmeshed Annotated Bibliography

I wanted a longer format Anno Bib because I was reading complex theoretical and praxis articles in-depth.

I included a few additional elements: what type of article it is, how many times it has been cited, my own questions the article raised, interesting terms/concepts and vocab with the page number included for quick referencing if needed later.

Here are the elements in my Anno Bib.

Full APA Reference details
Article: This is a (style/type) article*. This article has been cited XXX times.
The context is …
The ‘big’ guiding question/s from this field this paper is addressing is …
The Lit Review background focuses …
The specific RQ of this article is …
The methods used…
The authors conclude/results are that ..
The strengths of this text is ..
However, the limitations are ..
The authors did/not answer the RQ they posed by… (optional)…
Some unique or helpful special features of this article were ..
Other relevance or usefulness …
How this paper relates to my study …
Useful ideas or key terms …
Ideas & Questions …

Here are the first two entries of my annotated bibliography using this format Download

* The style or type of article are:

Data-driven papers
Theory building/ Theory testing
Conscious raising papers
Agenda Setting papers
Position papers
Methodology
Review article – comprehensive summary of research on a certain topic
Perspective, opinion, and commentary – presents the author’s viewpoint on the interpretation, analysis, or methods used in a particular study
Original research – hypothesis, background study, methods, results, interpretation of findings, and a discussion of possible implications
Clinical case study/Clinical trial

2. Prof Robert Talbert

Prof. Robert Talbert is one of my favorite academic bloggers (alongside Dr Inger Mewburn of the Thesis Whisper and Dr Pat Thompson at Patter).

Prof. Talbert uses a Get Things Done! (GTD) approach to reading research articles, which I find very productive, so I’ve gleamed a few ideas from his approach.

Here’s an example of Prof. Talbert’s approach.

3. UNSW

UNSW recommends that contents of an annotated bibliography can contain all or part of these elements (depending on the word limit and the content of the sources).

Provide the full bibliographic citation
Indicate the background of the author(s)
Indicate the content or scope of the text
Outline the main argument
Indicate the intended audience
Identify the research methods (if applicable)
Identify any conclusions made by the author/s
Discuss the reliability of the text
Highlight any special features of the text that were unique or helpful (charts, graphs etc.)
Discuss the relevance or usefulness of the text for your research
Point out in what way the text relates to themes or concepts in your course
State the strengths and limitations of the text
Present your view or reaction to the text

This is a comprehensive approach to critically reading literature. I like the idea of including the background of the author – which is good for tracing a concept’s genealogy or the development of a prominent author’s argument.

Here’s a UNSW example of an Anno Bib, but for postgrad or PhD purposes, this is far too simplistic, but you can see the general idea/format.

There are as many ways to do an annotated bibliography as there are students. Have an explore online to see what elements you need to include – and be sure to talk others (especially a supervisor or tutor) on other recommended formats.

Undertaking and annotated bibliography is a very worthwhile activity to get to know a topic in detail – and it is a very necessary and sought-after advanced academic skill.

Best of luck if you are conducting an annotated bibliography!

27/01/201918/02/2019

The Orange Bike Project in the Phillipines

For many years, World Bicycle Relief (WBR) has supplied bicycles to some of the world’s most vulnerable people to help increase access to education, healthcare and income-generation opportunities. WBR has a number of corporate sponsors and partnerships. This story details a unique collaboration between WBR, ING Bank and World Vision, called the Orange Bicycle Project. This story comes courtesy of WBR and serves as a reminder that bicycles really do create change. Enjoy! NG.

Dutch financial institution ING has built their corporate purpose around “empowering people to stay a step ahead, in life and in business.” While ING remains committed to this purpose in their day-to-day banking work, they also wanted to integrate it into their corporate giving efforts.

And if they could find a way to honor their Dutch bicycling heritage at the same time, even better! The organization did just that by developing a sustainable transportation relief program: the Orange Bike Project.

The Orange Bike Project in the Phillipines. Bicycles Create Change.com. 27th Jan, 2019. — Image: World Bicycle Relief

ING collaborated with World Bicycle Relief (WBR) and World Vision Philippines to bring bicycles to children living in remote locations in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Thailand.

The project is modeled after WBR’s Bicycles for Educational Empowerment Program (BEEP) and aspires to raise enough funds over five years to build and distribute 5,000 bicycles to students who must walk long distances to school every day.

WBR’s educational programs in Africa have demonstrated that reducing students’ travel time to school helps improve attendance and performance.

Bicycle-riding students are more likely to stay in school, improving their career prospects and future income potential as well. As Mark Newman, CEO of ING Asia, says, “We hope that the ING Orange Bike project will be able to create a lasting impact that empowers the students, their families and the community to keep moving forward in life.”

The project’s orange ING-branded Buffalo Bicycle is specially designed for rough, rural terrain and can carry loads up to 100 kg – making it useful for the student’s family to transport crops and goods to the market when school is not in session.

As of December 2016, 3,200 bicycles have been distributed through the Orange Bike Project. The program’s impact is carefully monitored by a local implementing agency, and the results have been spectacular!

In several beneficiary schools in the Philippines, attendance has increased by at least 33% and grades by at least 51%. The bicycles have also helped recipient families bring more goods to market, increasing their income.

ING has plans to raise $200,000 annually to continue the program through 2018. Employee fundraising groups like the ING Orange Bike Cycling Challenge have helped ING reach its goal by raising $75,000 in 2016. The program has benefited from the enthusiastic support of ING employees and friends who all share the organization’s commitment to empowering individuals.

Shayne Prashan, ING employee and team leader for the ING Orange Bike Cycling Challenge, was motivated to fundraise for the project because of the emotional enlightenment it offered him. “It’s about the only superpower that makes us human: empathy.”

Shayne says. “It invites us on one of the greatest and most courageous adventures of our lives: to step into someone else’s shoes to understand their struggles and to help them walk through life with confidence and faith.”

22/01/201918/02/2019

Epic Bikes Rides of the World

If you can’t actually be out riding your bike, then reading about cycling and planning your next trip is the next best thing.

Book and bikes are a regular theme at BCC.

We have previously featured schoolteacher Saber Hosseini who cycles his home-made library to far-flung rural Afghani villages so locals there who have no access to books can learn to read, the whimsical children’s storybook Along a Long Road, book, how bicycles can be promoted in local libraries and BCC’s own project A bike in my life – Recycled Dreams Community Storybook.

This week, I picked up a copy of Lonely Planet’s Epic Bike Ride of the World.

This book details 200 of arguably ‘the best places in the world to ride a bike’. The book is a colorfully illustrated hardback and is a delight to read.

It was published in 2016, so is still pretty current, although I’d love to hear how they decided on what rides to include and what to leave out.

Epic Bikes Rides of the World. Bicycles Create Change.com. 22nd Jan, 2019.

Key Features

The book is divided into continents chapters. This means you can quickly find what you are looking for and get info on exactly what you’re interested in.
Each entry has a visual grading: green for ‘easy’, blue for ‘harder’ and red for ‘epic’.
It covers all types of cycling: individual, family, sightseeing, road, mountain biking, bikepacking, urban rides and a heap of ideas for those into epic off-track adventuring. off the beaten track.
Each ride is accompanied by awesome scenic photos and a map. There are also toolkit and advice boxes to help with the practicalities of planning that particular trip.
The photos are ohhhh, sooo very motivating. I like how they include not just cycling and scenery, but also lifestyle, people, culture and travel vignettes that really showcase the uniqueness of riding in the region.
The locations included show judicious selection. What wonderful geographic spread: Moab, California, Canada, India Himalayas, NZ, Vietnam, Norway, Argentina, Japan, Denmark, Wales, Thailand, Australia … and heaps of other places. Impressive!
At the end of each section (which is more descriptive), there is a short factual ‘more like this’ section, which includes suggestions for other rides elsewhere in the style of that ride – what a great idea!

It was really inspiring reading this book. I’ve definitely added a few more thumbtacks into my bikepacking map of the world!

And it’s not just me who liked it. Ed Wright from Roadcycling.co.nz gave it a rave review as well.

This book won the TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice Awards in 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015 and was the winner in Favorite Travel Guide category.

So do yourself a favor – next time you’re in a library or bookshop, see if you can grab a copy of this book and check it out.

I guarantee, if you are a bike rider of any type, you will not be disappointed!

All images: Epic Bikes Rides of the World

18/01/201918/02/2019

IECHE Fellowship Application

I am very lucky to be working at a university where I have access to conference opportunities where I can contribute in discussions about educational best practices at the higher education level.

One national example is last year, when I presented my From EAS to Collaborative Internship: Lessons and insights where bicycles create change (a pilot international student program I developed and delivered) at the English Australia state teaching conference. It won the Queensland 2018 Bright Ideas Award and EA sent me to present the same session at the national conference.

This year, I am looking further a field.

IECHE Fellowship Application. Bicycles Create Change.com. 18th Jan, 2019. — Image: IECHE

The International Exhibition and Conference in Higher Education (IECHE) is an annual international exhibition organized by the Saudi Ministry of Higher Education in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

This week, I applied for a IECHE Fellowship.

Up to 100 IECHE Fellowships are being awarded by the Saudi Kingdom so overseas higher education professionals to attend and join in conversations about global best practices.

What is the IECHE?

The adoption of the new by-laws in Saudi Arabia will make the 2019 conference particularly important as local universities will be managing more autonomy and facing a significant cultural shift in the process.

The Saudi Cultural Mission sees this event as being invaluable to encourage participation, enhance collaboration and build partnerships between Saudi and international higher education institutions, and to develop mutual understanding about the issues that govern and influence the quality of higher education worldwide.

Each year an international advisory panel helps select a theme for each conference, design the program, and invite international experts and scholars who are shaping higher education policy and practice throughout the world.

Apparently over 3, 300 people attend this event. Past IECHE speakers and panelists include Nobel laureates, vice-chancellors from the world’s most prestigious universities, ministers of higher education, and leading researchers from every continent.

The theme for the 2019 IECHE is Transforming Saudi universities in an era of change.

What is the IECHE Fellowship?

The fellowships are offered to international educators, researchers and policy makers in higher education and cover a costs for airfares, accommodation, meals and conference participation.

Fellowship selection is based on diversity in geographic location, gender, age and experience.

I worked hard on my application. Given that I am at the intersection of many of the selection criteria, I think I have as good a chance as anyone else in being awarded.

I am genuinely interested in attending this event and in the opportunity to experience Saudi Arabia for the first time.

It will take a fortnight for the fellowship applications to be processed.

Fingers crossed!

13/01/201912/02/2019

Dubai International Bicycle Exhibition

Regular BCC readers know that making biking accessible for all ages, stages and types of people is a key focus for this blog. BCC content loves to celebrate community-based, grassroots implemented and social issue-driven projects, people and events.

So usually, big international commercial trade-shows and exhibitions like the second Dubai International Bicycle Exhibition which was held on 10-12 January don’t usually feature here – so why is it included?

Read on!

Dubai International Bicycle Exhibition. Bicycles Create Change.com. 13th Jan, 2019.

What is the DIBE?

This expo is primarily mercantile and retail in nature. It focuses on developing networks, promoting brands (and pro teams), and extending business-to-business exposure. Events like this is where local, regional and international bike companies and manufacturers sell products and services to regional retailers and distributors – and showcase new developments in cycling technology, design and innovation.

This event is the largest professional bicycle exhibition in the Middle East and North Africa. Apparently, over 7,000 visitors, enthusiasts, professional riders and business owners attended. International brands and exhibitors came from Italy, Germany, India, Australia, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, the United States, China, Hong Kong, China and Taiwan.

The event was supported by the royal family and was touted as being ‘the most important cycling business event in the MENA region.’

So what is interesting about the DIBE?

While I was looking at the expo online, two particular features jumped out.

One was the number of female expo representatives/ambassadors (like @jeddah_woman) and that there at least some representation of sustainable/alternative bicycle approaches via India’s Bamusa bicycles.

Small, but productive steps!

Female representation

Jedda_Woman I was very pleased to see @jedda_woman listed as an individual ambassador for this event. This social influencer (Followers: Instagram 7, 343 and Twitter 666 #jeddah_woman1) has been promoting local cycling and organising rides, events, educational/social meet-ups and practice days to get more people on bikes. I was hoping to find out more about what she is doing and contact her, but she has not been on Insta since 27th Nov 2018, or Twitter since 14th Dec 2017. So I will see how I go contacting her.

Velo Vixens The Velo Vixens are a friendly, supportive, enthusiastic group of over nearly 1,000 (predominately expat) women who ride, train and compete. This is a very popular, active and well-organised group who host lots of rides, training and competitions.

Other expo associated all-female cycling clubs were Cyclone Women Jeddah and the UAE Girls Cycling Club.

Godrej Bamusa Bikes

Another highlight from the mainstream branded manufacturers at the expo was India’s foremost hand-crafted premium bamboo bike company Godrej Bambusa Bike. It was great to see representation of sustainable materials and alternatives to the big manufacturers/supplies as an option for the usual (overfocus?) on ‘state-of-the-art’ frame design, process and materials like carbon-fibre.

The Banusa company loves to tell the story of two teenagers who undertook an epic 4400 km test ride (on their bikes) which went from Kanyakumari (far south India) across the country and over the Khardung-La Pass (world’s highest road) to north India. Solid as!

2019 Expanded program next year

This year it was just an expo, but next year there are plans to have sessions on bicycle infrastructure, products, innovation, technologies, safety, maintenance, and fitness and nutrition.

There is also talk of including a demo area and a Bicycle Training Workshop Area.

I am hoping that this expo will continue to include and promote the wide range of riders, biking types/codes and diverse organisations that make up our amazing cycling community. We’ll see next year!

09/01/201905/02/2019

Climb Every Mountain – CWRB Event

If any Brisbane riders are looking for some extra motivation or want to meet some like-minded people, Chicks Who Ride Bikes (CWRB) have just announced their first event for 2019 – it’s a breakfast panel!

I’m looking forward to this event and have already got my ticket.

If you don’t know who CWRB are, or have not yet heard about the Climb Every Mountain Breakfast Event – then read on!

Climb Every Mountain - CWRB Breakfast Event. Bicycles Create Change.com. 9th Jan, 2019. — Image: Chicks Who Ride Bikes

What is CWRB?

Chicks Who Ride Bikes is a social network connecting women around the world through a shared passion for cycling.

Founded in Brisbane in 2013, CWRB is the fastest growing women’s cycling community IN THE WORLD!

CWRB hold some great events and work hard to build a welcoming and engaged community. Head Chick Jordana Blackman must be one of the busiest people I know because I not only run into her at cycling meets, races and CWRB events, but she is also often travelling all over the country (and beyond) working on all manner of major cycling tours, events and media junkets…Impressive!

For this event, CWRB is hosting a breakfast with a panel of three Aussie female cycling icons.

I really like the idea of merging breakfast with the panel event.

The panel has a great line up (see below) and I’m keen to hear the speakers unique experiences, advice and stories. It will also be good to meet other attendees.

Here are the event details that CWRB released this week.

The Climb Every Mountain Breakfast

Join us for a lovely breakfast and coffee, meet some like-minded ladies and ‘climb your mountain’.

The event is hosted by Olympian and cycling commentator Katey Bates who will be joined by a panel of legends including Chief CWRB Jordana Blackman, Aussie cycling legend Loren Rowney and Media guru Jane Aubrey.

The panel will share the ups and downs of their life and career, their strategies to tackle challenges, embrace the stumbles, and come out on top… or at least come out with a smile on their face and some good stories to tell!

We’ll have some incredible door prizes and our full range of 2019 CWRB kit to try on.

The Host

Katey Bates
An Olympian and world champion cyclist, Katey loves her cycling like Eskimos love their ice. Fuelled by a passion for two wheels, she scaled the heights of international cycling.

Her stacked results sheet is highlighted by winning a coveted rainbow jersey with world championship victory in the points race, Commonwealth Games GOLD at back to back games, and a green and gold National champions jersey o the road.

Katey is one of only two Australian women to represent Australia at the Olympics in both track and road cycling, and since retirement, works in broadcasting, commentating on major international cycling events such as the Olympic and Commonwealth Games, World Championships and the Tour Down Under.

The Panel

Jordana Blackman
Chief Chick at Chicks Who Ride Bikes, Jordana was drawn to cycling after a shock cancer diagnosis in her 20s. While in recovery, she saw a poster for a Ride To Conquer Cancer event at her local cafe, and decided to challenge the 200km in 2 day ride ….. but there was just one problem.

After buying her first bike (and falling off it on more occasions that she’d like to remember), she rode her first charity bike event alongside her partner and 2,000 other fundraisers – each of which had been touched in some way or another by cancer.

She spent a lot of time training on her own or on an indoor wind trainer because she couldn’t find a group of girls to ride with at her pace, so when she moved interstate in 2013, she decided to create a Facebook group to make friends and meet other women who rode, and Chicks Who Ride Bikes was born.

Loren Rowney
Over half a decade, Loren Rowney was a highly sought after rouler in the international cycling scene. Riding for the world’s best teams including Mitchelton-Scott and Canyon/SRAM, as well as wearing the green and gold for the Australian National Team, Loren was known for her tactical know how, resilience, and ability to make her team mates smile.

An avid blogger about mental health and the challenges she has faced while transitioning from a professional sportswoman to civilian, Loren remains a keen road and MTB cyclist, with a passion for seeing women achieve equal rights and equality in sport.

Jane Aubrey
Over the last two decades, Jane’s career has spanned journalism and production working on the world’s largest sporting events including Olympic & Commonwealth Games and has held media and operational roles in UCI teams, WorldTour events and the inaugural Indian Pacific Wheel Race.

A former Editor at Cyclingnews and Cyclist Australia & New Zealand, Jane has also worked in the Public Affairs Unit teammates Department of Defence of Australia, and as Media Manager for Basketball Australia and Athletics Australia.

Now providing consulting advice in communications and public relations, Jane’s spare time is spent preparing to take on some of the world’s highest mountains and she’s working on a plan to conquer the Seven Summits.

Register for tickets

The breakfast is being held at the Shipp Inn (Southbank) on Thursday 28 February 2019 at 7:00 am – 8:30 am AEST.

Tickets are $43.29 per head. Click here to book.

See you there!

04/01/201911/11/2019

Animals on Bikes – Tourist Trail

The new year break is a time when many families hit the road for an annual holiday.

Cars full of people travel up and down the Australian East Coast heading to their favourite travel destination.

If you find yourself travelling through Central NSW, why not check out the Animals on Bikes tourist trail?

Animals on Bikes is a 120km creative ‘paddock art’ installation of…. well…. animals on bikes… that you can see from your car as you drive along.

What is Animals on Bikes?

Originally, the inspiration for the project (started by Christine Western), was to capitalize on local tourist services and attractions, such as the Dubbo Zoo.

But as 8 years of drought continued to ravage local farms, it also become a way ‘to boost morale and improve the economic health of our rural-reliant central west communities’.

Animals on Bikes started in 2009 as a series of 45 creative 2-metre high sculptures and some smaller ones created by local farmers, farmers wives, Men’s sheds, bus drivers, preschool kids, playgroup mums and other locals.

Now, there are over 100 sculptures on display.

All installations are located off the main highway, between Molong and the Dubbo Zoo, via Cumnock and Yeoval. You can download a map and self-drive a route that suits you.

Animals on Bikes - Tourist Trail. Bicycles Create Change.com. 4th Jan, 2019. — Image: Animals on Bikes

This project is quite remarkable.

Its impressive that the local community galvanised to link into, and extend, the local region’s tourism industry in creative and unique ways – as well as showcasing the talent, humour and ingenuity of local residents.

Many rural areas are being negatively affected by new highway developments that bypass communities – a theme immortalized as per Radiator Springs in the Disney movie ‘Cars’ for instance. This project is a great example of one community’s proactive approach to redress this.

What a great idea – and what an awesome theme!

See Animals on Bikes for more information. Here’s a few Animals on Bikes.