Education Commons^™

Evaluation Of Olpc Programs Global : A Literature Review, Dita Nugroho, Michele Lonsdale

Digital learning research

This literature review was undertaken by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) with the intention of identifying existing approaches to the evaluation of the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) programs globally. It was expected that there would be few examples, partly because the OLPC program is a relatively recent initiative, and this has proved to be the case. The knowledge base is expanding, however, with more evaluations of OLPC deployments and one-on-one computing in general being conducted.

Vet Leadership For The Future: Contexts, Characteristics And Capabilities : Research Briefing., Hamish Bennett Coates, V Lynn Meek, Justin Brown, Tim Friedman, Peter Noonan, John Mitchell

Higher education research

Key insights:

Leadership is about managing change and guiding growth in fluid environments.

Leadership requires a ‘change capable culture’ that gives space to lead.

VET needs strategies for managing the looming succession crisis.

Too little is known about leaders and their work.

Leaders’ roles and work focus are not clearly defined.

Markers of effective performance are not clearly defined and deployed.

Produce a framework of key capabilities and competencies.

Effective leadership education must be current and shaped by understanding of effective practice.

Vet Leadership For The Future: Contexts, Characteristics And Capabilities, Hamish Bennett Coates, V Lynn Meek, Justin Brown, Tim Friedman, Peter Noonan, John Mitchell

Higher education research

This study examines leadership in Australia’s vocational education and training (VET) sector. VET leaders make a vital and growing contribution to learners, industry and society, yet research on their work is limited. This has direct implications for ensuring leadership is most effective, and for framing evidence-based capacity development. To assist the sector, and in particular the people who find themselves running large and complex training organisations, this study paints a picture of what VET leaders do, and of how they can do it best.

Australian Regional Higher Education: Student Characteristics And Experiences, Sarah Richardson, Tim Friedman

Higher education research

This study was undertaken for the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) during May, June and July of 2010. It focuses on students who study at higher education institutions (HEIs) in regional parts of Australia, with particular attention paid to their characteristics, motivations, experiences and outcomes, both in terms of further study and of employment. The study catalogues a number of existing data sources which can be utilised for research into this population and identifies key gaps in the current collections which inhibit some areas of analysis into students at …

Initial Findings From The Iea International Civic And Citizenship Education Study, Wolfram Schulz, John Ainley, Julian Fraillon, David Kerr, Bruno Losito

Civics and Citizenship Assessment

The 2009 IEA study of civic and citizenship education (ICCS), conducted in 38 countries around the world, built on the previous IEA studies of civic education, but took place in a context characterized by significant societal change, including the rapid development of new communication technologies, increased movement of people between countries, and the growth of supranational organizations. The data gathered from more than 140,000 students and 62,000 teachers in over 5,300 schools during the course of the study offers information that countries and education systems worldwide can use to inform and improve policy and practice in civic and citizenship education. …

Qepr Review Of Progress: Review Of Progress Towards Implementing The Government Response To The Queensland Education Performance Review And Related State School Initiatives In Literacy, Numeracy And Science, Geoff N. Masters

Assessment and Reporting

This review was undertaken at the request of the Director-General of the Queensland Department of Education and Training. It reviews progress and makes recommendations ‘about initiatives aimed at improving the performance of Queensland students in literacy, numeracy and science’. More specifically, the Terms of Reference for the review requested an analysis and recommendations relating to:

• the effectiveness of the initiatives implemented in the Government response to the five recommendations of the Queensland Education Performance Review (QEPR); and
• the effectiveness of identified key initiatives in Queensland state primary schools to improve performance in literacy, numeracy and science.

The review was asked …

Preparedness For Active Citizenship Among Lower Secondary Students In International Comparison, Wolfram Schulz, John Ainley, Eva Van De Gaer

Civics and Citizenship Assessment

The IEA International Civic and Citizenship Education Study investigates the ways in which young people in lower secondary schools are prepared to undertake their roles as citizens in a wide range of countries from Europe, Latin America, and the Asian-Pacific region. A central aspect of students' preparedness to become citizens in a democracy is their disposition to actively participate in society. This paper contains an analysis of measures of students' intentions to participate as citizens in civic life and students' current participation in civic activities in their eighth year of schooling. It is based on data from approximately 140,000 students …

Explaining Differences In Civic Knowledge Across 38 Countries, Wolfram Schulz, Julian Fraillon, John Ainley, Eva Van De Gaer

Civics and Citizenship Assessment

The IEA International Civic and Citizenship Education Study studied the ways in which young people in lower secondary schools are prepared to undertake their roles as citizens in a wide range of countries in Europe, Latin America, and the Asian-Pacific region. A central aspect of the study was the assessment of student knowledge about a wide range of civic and citizenship-related issues. This paper includes analyses that use a multi-level model to explain differences in civic knowledge on the basis of student characteristics, home background and school contexts. In addition, the analyses in this paper include a consideration of factors …

Contextual Factors That Influence The Achievement Of Australia’S Indigenous Students: Results From Pisa 2000–2006, Lisa De Bortoli, Sue Thomson

OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) Australia

Results from international programs that assess the skills and knowledge of young people have indicated that Australia’s Indigenous students perform at a significantly lower level than non- Indigenous students. An in-depth comparison of Indigenous and non-Indigenous students’ performance on the Programme of International Student Assessment (PISA) across three cycles is provided in an accompanying volume to this report, while the current report provides an understanding of how various aspects of students’ background and psychological constructs relate to each other and to student performance. Chapters 2 through 5 each focus on a different group of potential influences on the performance of …

Getting First-Year Students Engaged, Hamish Coates

Australasian Survey of Student Engagement (AUSSE)

This research briefing offers a snapshot of how Australian students’ engage in their first year of university study. It reviews participation in key learning activities, perceptions of support, correlates of retention, and important educational outcomes. The Australasian Survey of Student Engagement (AUSSE) is the largest cross-institutional survey of first-year students yet conducted in Australia, with 12,356 respondents in 2009 from 30 institutions, representing a population of 93,501. AUSSE results help universities understand the experiences of first-year students, and better grasp the factors linked with retention and success. For universities, getting the early years of study right is particularly essential given …

Student Aptitude Test For Tertiary Admission (Satta) Pilot Program: Evaluation Report For The Department Of Education, Employment And Workplace Relations (Deewr), Hamish Bennett Coates, Daniel Edwards, Tim Friedman

Higher education research

Since 2007 the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) has funded the Student Aptitude Test for Tertiary Admission (SATTA) pilot program. SATTA involves the supply, management and evaluation of uniTEST, and the evaluation of the Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT). This report documents the evaluation phase of the program, focusing in particular on various aspects of uniTEST. Seven recommendations are made. Significant policy change is planned for Australian higher education over the next few years, with both government and institutions seeking new ways to make the system larger, more inclusive and more productive. In this context, …

Australian Teachers And The Learning Environment : An Analysis Of Teacher Response To Talis 2008 : Final Report, Chris Freeman, Kate O’Malley, Frances Eveleigh

OECD Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS)

The Department of Education, Science and Training commissioned the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) to undertake the Australian component of the OECD Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS). TALIS is one of the first international surveys to focus on the learning environment and the working conditions of teachers in schools. TALIS was conducted in 24 OECD and OECD-partner countries in 2007 and 2008, though internationally comparable results were reported for only 23 countries due to requisite sampling standards for publication. This first survey is part of a planned programme of surveys which will examine various levels of schooling over …

Pyp And Myp Student Performance On The International Schools’ Assessment (Isa), Ling Tan, Yan Bibby

Monitoring Learning

This study, undertaken by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER), investigated how International Baccalaureate (IB) students enrolled in the Primary Years Programme (PYP) and Middle Years Programme (MYP) performed on the International Schools’ Assessment (ISA), relative to non‐IB students. The ISA assesses student performance in Grades 3 to 10 across four domains: Math Literacy, Reading, Narrative Writing, and Expository Writing. The math and reading components of the assessment are based on the reading and mathematical literacy frameworks of the OECD'sProgramme for International Student Assessment (PISA). The study sample included IB students (N=23,575) and non‐IB students ( …

Evaluation Of One Laptop Per Child (Olpc) : Trial Project In The Solomon Islands, Acer

Digital learning research

The Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) was commissioned by the Solomon Islands Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development (MEHRD) to undertake an evaluation of the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) trial in three schools in Marovo Lagoon, Western Province. The evaluation was to be conducted in a very short timeframe and would consist mainly of interviews with teachers, students, parents and community members, together with a questionnaire distributed to a small number of MEHRD officers and other OLPC personnel. The key purpose of the evaluation was to identify the impact of the OLPC program and its strengths and …

International Students’ Engagement With Effective Educational Practices : A Cross-National Comparison, Daniel Edwards, Hamish Bennett Coates, Ali Radloff

Higher education research

International students in USA universities have higher levels of engagement with their institution when compared to international students enrolled in Australasian universities. ❚ The largest difference between USA and Australian international students was related to student and staff interactions. ❚ The growth in engagement with their institution between first and later year students among the international cohort is more prominent among those enrolled in USA than those in Australia or New Zealand. ❚ Among Australasian higher education students the international student group on average have higher levels of engagement than domestic students. ❚ When compared cross-nationally, the engagement score difference …

The Digest Edition 2010/1 : Successful Professional Learning, Marion Meiers, Sarah Buckley, Pat Knight

Research Digest

This edition of The Digest is focused on research into teacher learning and professional development. Teacher learning includes not only activities such as conferences and workshops, but also includes participation in many formal and informal learning activities. Recent research has focussed, amongst other things, on characteristics of successful professional learning, and on the connections between teachers’ professional learning and improvements in student learning. This research has the potential to assist teachers and schools in selecting and planning for professional learning, so that it will maximise the benefits for participants. The first section of this digest presents some research findings on …

The Digest Edition 2010/2 : Language In The Mathematics Classroom, Marion Meiers, Jenny Trevitt

Research Digest

A recent Australian review of numeracy teaching noted the significant role of language in mathematics learning. The National Numeracy Review Report (2008), commissioned by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG), synthesised evidence on effective numeracy teaching to support the goal of improving numeracy outcomes for Australian students. The report of the review acknowledged the significance of language in mathematics learning, and recommended: That the language and literacies of mathematics be explicitly taught by all teachers of mathematics in recognition that language can provide a formidable barrier to both the understanding of mathematics concepts and to providing students access to assessment …

The Digest Edition 2010/3 : Civics And Citizenship Education, Suzanne Mellor, Marion Meiers, Pat Knight

Research Digest

The Melbourne Declaration on Educational Goals for Young Australians set out two broad goals, the second of which stated that by the end of secondary schooling: All young Australians become successful learners, confident and creative individuals, and active and informed citizens. (MCEETYA, 2008) Some important attributes of ‘active and informed citizens’ are listed in the elaboration of this goal. These indicate a broad view of the student learning outcomes that are expected to be gained from civics and citizenship education, including: appreciate Australia’s social, cultural, linguistic and religious diversity, and have an understanding of Australia’s system of government, history and …

Iccs 2009 European Report : Civic Knowledge, Attitudes, And Engagement Among Lower Secondary Students In 24 European Countries, David Kerr, Linda Sturman, Wolfram Schulz, Bethan Burge

Civics and Citizenship Assessment

The International Civic and Citizenship Education Study (ICCS) studied the ways in which countries prepare their young people to undertake their roles as citizens. ICCS was based on the premise that preparing students for citizenship involves helping them develop relevant knowledge and understanding and form positive attitudes toward being a citizen and participating in activities related to civics and citizenship. These notions were elaborated in the ICCS assessment framework (Schulz, Fraillon, Ainley, Losito, & Kerr, 2008). Regional contexts are important aspects of civic and citizenship education because they help us understand how people are differentially influenced to undertake their roles …

Iccs 2009 International Report: Civic Knowledge, Attitudes And Engagement Among Lower Secondary School Students In Thirty-Eight Countries., Wolfram Schulz, John Ainley, Julian Fraillon, David Kerr, Bruno Losito

Civics and Citizenship Assessment

The International Civic and Citizenship Education Study (ICCS) studied the ways in which countries prepare their young people to undertake their roles as citizens. ICCS was based on the premise that preparing students for citizenship roles involves helping them develop relevant knowledge and understanding and form positive attitudes toward being a citizen and participating in activities related to civic and citizenship education. These notions were elaborated in the ICCS framework, which was the first publication to emerge from ICCS (Schulz, Fraillon, Ainley, Losito, & Kerr, 2008).

Acer 2009-2010 Annual Report, Australian Council For Educational Research (Acer)

ACER Annual Reports

No abstract provided.

Kidsmatter Primary Evaluation: Technical Report And User Guide, Katherine Dix, John P. Keeves, Phillip T. Slee, Michael J. Lawson, Alan Russell, Helen Askell-Williams, Grace Skrzypiec, Laurence Owens, Barbara Spears

Student learning processes

This Technical Report and User Guide is the culmination of an evaluation investigating the effectiveness of KidsMatter Primary, involving over 5000 participants in 100 Australian primary schools over a two year period. It brings together an extensive data gathering exercise and presents technical aspects of the statistical and thematic analyses used in the KidsMatter Evaluation Final. The series of data files and the analysis in which the files have been used, are from the KidsMatter Evaluation Whole Cohort Longitudinal Study (predominantly quantitative data) and the Stakeholder and Student Voice Studies (qualitative data), in addition to data obtained from Project Officers …

International Students’ Engagement With Effective Educational Practices: A Cross-National Comparison, Daniel Edwards

Australasian Survey of Student Engagement (AUSSE)

Findings from the Australasian Survey of Student Engagement (AUSSE) provide a new and unique means of tracking international students’ participation in higher education. The AUSSE is the largest cross-institutional collection of data from currently enrolled students in Australasia, and has formative links with the 1,200-institution USA National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). The AUSSE has been validated rigorously for use in Australasia, and taps into fundamental aspects of educational quality – students’ engagement with effective educational practices, including important beyond class experiences. Evidence-based feedback such as this plays a critical role in growing and improving Australasia’s international higher education industry. …

Doing More For Learning : Enhancing Engagement And Outcomes : Australasian Survey Of Student Engagement : Australasian Student Engagement Report., Ali Radloff, Hamish Coates

Australasian Survey of Student Engagement (AUSSE)

The 2009 Australasian Survey of Student Engagement (AUSSE) involved over 30,000 students from 35 higher education institutions. AUSSE reports on the time and effort students devote to educationally purposeful activities and on students' perceptions of other aspects of their university experience including interactions with university staff. The research shows that the contact students have with staff are among the strongest influences on positive learning outcomes. When students have the opportunity to speak with their teachers about their performance, their grades, or ideas from their classes, particularly outside of the classroom, and engage with their teachers on an individual level, students …

The On Track Survey 2009 : The Destinations Of School Leavers In Victoria. Statewide Report, Sheldon Rothman, Justin Brown, Kylie Hillman, Gary Marks, Phillip Mckenzie

Transition and Post-School Education and Training

Findings presented in this report are based on the On Track telephone survey of 36,022 Year 12 or equivalent completers and 4,676 early leavers from the 2008 school year in Victoria. Year 12 or equivalent completers are defined as those who completed a Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE), International Baccalaureate (IB) or Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL, Senior or Intermediate). The sample includes those who completed such qualifications in schools (98.7%), or in TAFE colleges or adult and community education providers (1.3%). Early leavers are defined as those students in Years 10, 11 and 12 who had registered their …

Annual Transitions Between Labour Market States For Young Australians, Hielke Buddelmeyer, Gary N. Marks

Transition and Post-School Education and Training

This study uses an annual timeframe to evaluate the influence of labour market status in one period on status in the subsequent period. Understanding the role of past labour market experiences is important when it is the objective of policy-makers to increase the proportion of time spent by young Australians in desirable labour market states, such as full-time work, and reduce the time they spend in marginalised activities, such as unemployment. These concerns are heightened during lean economic times, but they never really go away. A natural question that may arise, especially in a weak labour market for youth, is …

Production Of A Prototype Online Leadership Learning Tool And System For Australian Universities, Geoff Scott, Hamish Coates, Michelle Anderson

Higher education research

This ALTC project has involved more than 600 experienced leaders in higher education within and beyond Australia in the production of a comprehensive Online Leadership Learning System (OLLS) for our universities. The report outlines the project's outcomes, approach and methodology; indicates its contribution to the field; identifies key factors assisting and constraining success; summarises its achievements in terms of dissemination and linkages; and evaluates its quality and impact.

Teaching And Learning School Improvement Framework, Geoff N. Masters

Monitoring Learning

The Teaching and Learning School Improvement Framework brings together findings from research into the practices of highly effective school leaders. The focus of the Framework is not on everything that effective leaders do, but on those leadership practices that appear to be most directly related to school-wide improvements in teaching and learning. The Framework was developed initially in collaboration with the Queensland Department of Education and Training and was used as the basis for a teaching and learning ‘audit’ of every government school in that state during the 2010 school year. The Framework consists of eight interrelated ‘domains’. Each domain …

Preschool Education In Australia, Andrew Dowling, Kate O’Malley

Policy Briefs

Early childhood education (ECE) in Australia will soon experience a ‘radical makeover.’ In 2008, all Australian governments made a commitment through the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) that by 2013, all children in the year before formal schooling will have access to high quality early childhood education programs delivered by degreequalified early childhood teachers, for 15 hours per week, 40 weeks of the year, in public, private and community-based preschools and child care. The purpose of this policy brief is to summarise the current structure of preschool in Australia in contemplation of this major policy shift. This paper describes the …

Successful Sustainable Literacy Practice For Indigenous Students, Nola Purdie

Indigenous Education Research

The author discusses current approaches to the literacy education of Indigenous students within the context of best practice literacy education for all students. Issues addressed include: Literacy and disadvantaged groups; Literacy programs for Indigenous Australian Students; Teachers and literacy learning; Assessment and measurement of literacy learning; and good literacy curriculum.