Education Commons^™

Educational Reform – Scottish Style!, David Leng

2009 - 2019 ACER Research Conferences

The government in Scotland has made education their defining mission, setting out a clear framework for improvement based on four key aims as articulated in the National Improvement Framework (2015). One improvement driver is Assessing Children’s Progress. This new approach to assessment has been developed to integrate curriculum, assessment (particularly classroom assessment) and pedagogy. Teacher professional judgement has been central to this, and national initiatives have focused on supporting and strengthening it. In this context, the Scottish National Standardised Assessments (SNSA) was launched in 2017, and is a national assessment tool to support improvement in classroom practice while still providing …

Acer Research Conference Proceedings (2019), Australian Council For Educational Research (Acer)

2009 - 2019 ACER Research Conferences

In a rapidly changing world, there is widespread agreement that students require new levels of skill in collaborating, communicating, thinking critically, innovating, solving problems and applying what is learnt in new contexts, underpinned by values and dispositions that include a commitment to social inclusion, responsible citizenship and respect for human rights. So how do we best prepare young people and equip them to survive and thrive in the unpredictable world of the future? Research Conference 2019 will profile research around innovative ways of conceptualising, developing and assessing this broader range of priorities for student learning and development in the 21st …

Supporting Social And Emotional Learning With Little J And Big Cuz: Case Study 3: Marion Primary School, Kathryn Moyle, Kevin Mcrae

Little J and Big Cuz

Marion Primary School is located 10 kilometres south of the Adelaide CBD. There is a high level of student transience due in part to the mobility of families in short-term rental accommodation, which includes parents who are students at the nearby Flinders University. Students come from a diversity of cultural backgrounds with more than 14 countries represented in the school. In 2018, there were 21 students enrolled who identified as being of Indigenous descent. To support these Indigenous students and their families, the school has an Aboriginal Community Education Officer, Eileen Butler, known to everyone as ‘Aunty Eileen’. A team …

Enhancing Teaching And Learning Through Design Practice, Lori Lockyer

2009 - 2019 ACER Research Conferences

Design is part of a teacher’s practice on a daily basis. Teachers are constantly designing and redesigning learning experiences for their students. However, the notions of the teacher as designer or ‘teacher design practice’ are rarely used as frameworks within teacher education or continuing professional learning. In fact, ‘teacher design thinking’, that is, how school teachers think about and engage in design practice has been an under-researched area. Design thinking has the potential to provide teachers with a scaffold to reflect upon contextual and evidence-based factors when designing learning experiences for their students. However, we need to know how teachers …

Making A Difference In Learning Through Arts-Rich Pedagogy, Robyn Ewing Am

2009 - 2019 ACER Research Conferences

There is unequivocal evidence that arts-rich pedagogies enhance student social and emotional wellbeing and, consequently, academic learning outcomes across the curriculum. Yet many primary teachers report they lack the expertise and/or confidence to embed quality arts processes and experiences in what is increasingly described as an overcrowded curriculum. This presentation reviews the research findings about the impact and sustainability of School Drama, an initiative developed through a partnership between the Sydney Theatre Company and The University of Sydney. An innovative co-mentoring teacher professional learning program and drama-based intervention, the program aims to develop primary teachers’ professional knowledge of and expertise …

Mathematical Modelling: A Guidebook For Teachers And Teams, Peter Galbraith, Derek Holton

Mathematics

This document aims to provide teachers with material that will enable them to prepare students to develop skills of mathematical modelling. Mathematical modelling is a process in which real-life situations and relations in these situations are expressed by using mathematics. Included in this publication are junior modelling problems for upper primary, junior or middle secondary levels; intermediate modelling problems for junior or middle secondary levels; and senior modelling problems for middle or senior secondary levels. A specific purpose of this material is to provide additional support to assist teachers and schools in choosing and mentoring student teams to participate in …

Basic Education: Foundation Level, Australian Council For Educational Research (Acer)

Education Analytics Service

The purpose of this module is to provide introductory information about the importance, structure, purpose, key issues and outcomes of basic education. It provides a foundation to engage in this topic and apply advice from staff with operational or expert levels of knowledge in education. On successful completion you will be able to be an informed participant in forums related to basic education.

Basic Education: Practitioner Level, Australian Council For Educational Research (Acer)

Education Analytics Service

This Practitioner level module is designed to ensure that Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) staff members who engage with and lead policy dialogue with international and domestic partners are informed about effective strategies for implementing basic education and key priorities in basic education. It is recommended that staff complete the Basic Education: Foundation level module as background information to this Practitioner level module. Topics covered by this module include definitions of basic education, how can we develop effective strategies for implementing basic education, key priorities in basic education and basic education post-2015.

Pirls 2016: Reporting Australia's Results, Sue Thomson, Kylie Hillman, Marina Schmid, Sima Rodrigues, Jessica Fullarton

Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS)

The Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) is an international comparative study of student achievement directed by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA). PIRLS 2016 represents the fourth such study since PIRLS was first conducted in 2001. Australia has participated in the two most recent cycles – PIRLS 2011 and 2016. In Australia, PIRLS is managed by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) and is jointly funded by the Australian Government and the state and territory governments. The goal of PIRLS is to provide the best policy-relevant information about how to improve teaching and …

Highlights From Pirls 2016: Australia's Perspective, Sue Thomson, Kylie Hillman, Marina Schmid, Sima Rodrigues, Jessica Fullarton

Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS)

The Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) is an international study of reading literacy directed by the IEA (International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement). In Australia, PIRLS is implemented by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER), which is Australia’s representative to the IEA. In Australia, PIRLS is part of the National Assessment Program. PIRLS has been conducted internationally at Year 4 on a five-year cycle since 2001, however, Australia participated for the first time in 2011. The main goal of PIRLS is to assist countries to monitor and evaluate their teaching of reading across time. Year …

Opening Or Closing Doors For Students? Equity And Data-Driven Decision-Making, Amanda Datnow

2009 - 2019 ACER Research Conferences

Data-driven decision-making is key pillar of educational reform initiatives in countries across the globe. While approaches to data use vary, the theory of action underlying these efforts is often similar. The common idea is that when leaders and teachers are knowledgeable about how to use data, they will become more effective in reviewing their existing capacities, identifying weaknesses, and charting plans for improvement. In the classroom, data can inform how teachers plan lessons, identify concepts for re-teaching, and differentiate instruction. For all these reasons, data use has significant implications for teaching and leadership. Ensuring equitable opportunities and outcomes for all …

The Case For Urgency: Advocating For Indigenous Voice In Education, Kevin P. Gillan, Suzanne Mellor, Jacynta Krakouer

Australian Education Review

In 2004 the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) published an Australian Education Review (AER) on Indigenous Education: The Case for Change: A review of contemporary research on Indigenous education outcomes, AER 47 (Mellor & Corrigan, 2004). In the 13 years since its publication, the state of Indigenous education outcomes has remained substantially unaltered. All the social indicators demonstrate that Australia’s First Nations people continue to be the most socio-economically disadvantaged population cohort in Australian society. This is after decades of continued policy efforts by successive Commonwealth, state and territory governments to ameliorate Indigenous education disadvantage. We still struggle with …

Girls’ Primary And Secondary Education In Malawi: Sector Review: Final Report, Sally Robertson, Elizabeth Cassity, Esthery Kunkwenzu

Monitoring Learning

Enhancing girls’ access to high-quality education is a global priority that is articulated in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is also a national priority in Malawi. The Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) was contracted by UNICEF, to conduct an education sector review of girls’ primary and secondary education in Malawi. The review aimed to: outline the current context and challenges relating to girls’ education in Malawi; identify the key factors contributing to gender inequalities in educational access and outcomes; provide an overview of the policies and strategies currently in place to enhance girls’ education; provide recommendations to help …

Solomon Islands Standardised Tests Of Achievement (Sista). English And Mathematics. Year 4 And Year 6. Report 1 Main Study 2015, Australian Council For Educational Research (Acer)

Assessment and Reporting

The SISTA program is a key monitoring tool of the Solomon Islands Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development and has the capacity to serve multiple functions to a wide range of educational stakeholders. This report provides analysis of year 4 and year 6 Literacy and Numeracy of SISTA 2015. It is both a technical report for NEAD that includes descriptions of the processes followed in data analysis and reporting and the theoretical underpinnings of the analysis, a summary of the findings of the analysis and the implications for further analysis; and a report for the wider MEHRD staff that …

Lleap 2013 Survey Report : Leading By Evidence To Maximise The Impact Of Philanthropy In Education, Michelle Anderson, Emma Curtin

Leading Learning in Education and Philanthropy (LLEAP)

There are people who wish to give in a structured and planned manner, money, time or talents to advance the education of students in need. However, they may not know what schools and their communities need or what prevents them from accessing this additional support. Conversely, what those from schools know and understand about philanthropy is limited. Historically, not-for-profit organisations, with their various programs or services, have been the intermediary between school communities and philanthropy.

The Leading Learning in Education and Philanthropy (LLEAP) survey provides a comprehensive study on these issues.

Among the 2013 LLEAP survey findings:

The good news …

Solomon Islands Standardised Tests Of Achievement (Sista). English And Mathematics. Year 4 And Year 6. Report 1 Main Study 2013, Australian Council For Educational Research (Acer)

Assessment and Reporting

The SISTA program is a key monitoring tool of the Solomon Islands Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development and has the capacity to serve multiple functions to a wide range of educational stakeholders. This report provides analysis of year 4 and year 6 Literacy and Numeracy of SISTA 2013. The SISTA results contain a wealth of data about how well students have responded to items that are indicators of curriculum attainment. The observed improvements in overall performances may be attributed to: a. Better tests and improved alignment of the tests with the target population; and b. In the case …

Lleap Dialogue Series (No.2) : A Practical Guide To Grow Your Ideas For Maximum Impact, Michelle Anderson, Emma Curtin

Leading Learning in Education and Philanthropy (LLEAP)

This Guide, number 2 in the series, has been designed as a user friendly tool that could be used by different groups within education and philanthropy to suit their needs (e.g. in the training of philanthropic program managers in education; in the development of educational projects in schools; or supporting school-philanthropic-not-for-profit collaborations). Included are two ‘think pieces’ around collaboration: one on socially intelligent schools by Bill Lucas; the other on philanthropy and Indigenous education by Tony Dreise. These are followed by frameworks and guiding principles; and specific tools, tips and strategies for improving collaboration and engagement. Fifteen cases are also …

Case 8: Ruskin Park Primary School, Australian Council For Educational Research (Acer)

Tender Bridge

Ruskin Park Primary School has been a Tender Bridge subscriber for a year, since two parents from the school, Lisa Dalmau and Ajne Graham, attended Tender Bridge’s ‘Grantseeking for Success’ professional learning program in May 2012. As the only parent participants in that program, they felt that grantseeking was the best way that they could contribute to the school. In discussions with the school principal, Elle May, Lisa talked to Tender Bridge about the school’s success in resourcing its ideas.

Building A Culture For Partnering, Australian Council For Educational Research (Acer), Schools Connect Australia

Tender Bridge

'Building a culture for partnering' has been developed because there is a growing body of evidence that shows that school-community partnerships are an effective tool for improving outcomes for students, but for many schools this presents a whole new way of thinking and working. The program has been developed with both primary and secondary schools in mind. Included in this publication are the aims and structure of the Building a Culture for Partnering program and its relationship to the Teaching and Learning School Improvement Framework. Following this is a pre-program kit which outlines a number of activities and includes a …

The Processes Of Change On Learning Literacy And Numeracy In South Australian Primary Schools, I Gusti Ngurah Darmawan, Carol Aldous

Shannon Research Press

Success in science and mathematics is predicated on successful literacy and numeracy learning. Yet schools and communities across the country struggle to negotiate factors that both impede and facilitate such learning - particularly factors over which they have some control. Working with data more comprehensive than that used previously and applying statistical methods only recently developed, researchers from the South Australian hub of the centre for Science, Information and Communication Technology and Mathematics Education for Rural and Regional Australia (SiMERR-SA) seek answers to three basic questions. What factors influence performance in Literacy and Numeracy? Does living in a rural and …

Lleap 2012 Survey Report : Schools, Not-For-Profits, Philanthropic Foundations And Trusts In Australia : Building Knowledge To Maximise The Impact Of Philanthropy In Education, Michelle Anderson, Emma Curtin

Leading Learning in Education and Philanthropy (LLEAP)

LLEAP – Leading Learning in Education and Philanthropy began because of a widespread view that effective engagement of philanthropy in education was hampered, in many cases unnecessarily, by gaps in knowledge, understanding and ways of doing things better. LLEAP explores issues from the perspectives of philanthropic education grant making foundations and trusts, schools, and not-for-profits working with schools. One key part of LLEAP is a national annual survey.

In 2012, the LLEAP Survey received a total of 507 responses from 359 school (Government 69%; Independent 20%; Catholic 11%, from every state and territory), 87 not-for-profit and 61 philanthropic foundation or …

Lleap Dialogue Series : Cases Companion Document, Michelle Anderson, Emma Curtin

Leading Learning in Education and Philanthropy (LLEAP)

Collaboration is not the destination. It is one strategy to advance a project of mutual interest and maximise its impact. It is one reflection of engagement, signalling the importance of mutual commitment in the relationship. It is one forum where learning, informal and formal, can take place. It is the one issue that came up again and again in the author’s fieldwork and reviews of effective philanthropic endeavour in education. The issue people wanted to know more about was how could we better connect with one another around an area of mutual interest? This companion document in the LLEAP Dialogue …

Lleap Dialogue Series : A Guide To Grow Your Ideas In Education For Maximum Impact, Michelle Anderson, Emma Curtin

Leading Learning in Education and Philanthropy (LLEAP)

This Guide and the companion case studies, report the largest assessment ever conducted in Australia of needs, interests, priorities, opportunities, achievements and challenges in the field of philanthropy in education. A notable feature is that, while the rank order may differ in small ways, the needs of schools and the priorities of the philanthropic sector lie in efforts to ensure that all students in all sectors succeed. This they seek to accomplish at a time when concerns are raised about the large gap in achievement of low and high performing students and when the challenge in transforming schooling in the …

Philanthropic Funding Eligibility Requirements, Catherine Brown

Tender Bridge

This two page document was developed to assist schools determine whether they are eligible to apply for a grant. The eligibility requirements often relate to the legal tax status of the applicant organisation. Outlined and explained are the key requirements and their impact on funding sources.

Case 5: Two Rocks Primary School, Western Australia, Emma Curtin

Tender Bridge

Tender Bridge subscriber Two Rocks Primary School have been successful in securing funding for a range of projects over the last two years to support its Strategic Plan. Eliza Yeo, Teacher, Media and Marketing Officer at the school, spoke to the Tender Bridge team about the school’s programs and why she believed they had been so successful in securing additional resources through grant seeking.

Leading Learning In Education And Philanthrophy : 2011 Survey Report, Michelle Anderson, Emma Curtin

Leading Learning in Education and Philanthropy (LLEAP)

The findings of the first national survey on philanthropy in education have confirmed that when it comes to grant seeking, those least equipped can often be the ones most in need, with nine out of ten Australian schools surveyed considering themselves novices at philanthropic grant seeking. The three-year Leading Learning in Education and Philanthropy (LLEAP) project seeks to explore whether the full potential of funding and partnerships across the philanthropic and education sectors is being achieved. The 2011 Survey Report, released in November, uses the responses of 302 schools, not-for-profits, philanthropic foundations and trusts to help form a clearer picture …

Lleap 2011 Overview For Schools, Australian Council For Educational Research (Acer)

Leading Learning in Education and Philanthropy (LLEAP)

This brief document provides an overview specifically for schools of findings from the Leading Learning in Education and Philanthropy (LLEAP) 2011 survey. LLEAP is a three-year national project that explores the impact of philanthropy in education in Australia. The survey findings cover what philanthropic foundations and trusts offer, the extent of school knowledge about the work of philanthropic foundations and trusts and how philanthropic foundations and trusts perceive how grant seeking applications can improve.

Lleap 2011 Overview For Not-For-Profits, Australian Council For Educational Research (Acer)

Leading Learning in Education and Philanthropy (LLEAP)

LLEAP is a three-year national project that explores the impact of philanthropy in education in Australia. A survey was conducted in 2011 by LLEAP of schools, philanthropics and not-for-profits. This brief overview reports on the survey findings in relation to not-for-profit organisations.

Lleap 2011 Overview For Philanthropic Foundations And Trusts, Australian Council For Educational Research (Acer)

Leading Learning in Education and Philanthropy (LLEAP)

Leading Learning in Education and Philanthropy (LLEAP) is a three-year national project that explores the impact of philanthropy in education in Australia. A survey was conducted of schools, philanthropic organisations and not for profits. This brief report provides a brief overview of the survey in relation to what philanthropic foundations and trusts reported were their key priority areas and target audiences.

Case 4: Padbury School Community Links Project, Australian Council For Educational Research (Acer)

Tender Bridge

Padbury Primary School have found several funds and potential partners through Tender Bridge to assist them in developing a key school-community initiative: Padbury School Community Links Project. In this Tender Bridge Case, Aaron Young (Principal of Padbury Primary School) explains where the idea for the Padbury School Community Links Project came from, and how they are going about growing their great educational project to improve outcomes for the children at Padbury.