Education Commons^™

Scaffolding Numeracy: Pre-Service Teachers' Perspective, Irina Verenikina, Mohan Chinnappan

I. Verenikina

Scaffolding has become increasingly popular as it provides teachers with an appealing alternative to traditional classroom techniques of teaching. Recent research identified a number of different ways that scaffolding can be used in the classroom to improve students’ numeracy levels in primary schools. However, despite the importance of scaffolding, pre-service teachers experience difficulties in understanding the complex techniques of scaffolding and often fail to make connections between theoretical explanations and their practical use. This paper examines current perceptions of scaffolding by a cohort of pre-service teachers, both in its conceptual framework and its practical implications to teaching in the classroom, …

Scaffolding And Learning: Its Role In Nurturing New Learners, I. Verenikina

I. Verenikina

Recently created NSW Institute of Teachers (NSWIT) put the quality of teaching at the top of its agenda. The Framework of Professional Teaching Standards emphasises the importance of teachers’ effective communication with their students (NSWIT 2006, pg3). The importance of teacher - student communication in learner’s achievements is strongly emphasised in the socio-cultural educational theory, originated by Lev Vygotsky (1978) and further developed in modern research (Daniels 2001). This theory describes the process of teaching and learning as "much more than face-to-face interaction or the simple transmission of prescribed knowledge and skills" (Daniels 2001, pg2) but rather places stress on …

From Theory To Practice: What Does The Metaphor Of Scaffolding Mean To Educators Today?, Irina Verenikina

I. Verenikina

The current emphasis on rising educational standards in Australian society (eg A Commonwealth Government Quality Teacher Initiative, 2000) has stimulated a growing interest in Vygotsky's socio-cultural theory widely renowned for its profound understanding of teaching and learning. The metaphor of scaffolding commonly viewed as underpinned by socio-cultural theory and the zone of proximal development in particular, has become increasingly popular among educators in Australia (Hammond, 2002). Teachers find the metaphor appealing as it "offers what is lacking in much literature on education - an effective conceptual metaphor for the quality of teacher intervention in learning" (Hammond, 2002, p.2). However, there …

Indigenous Sharing, Collaboration And Synchronous Learning, Michelle Eady, Irina Verenikina, Sarah Jones

I. Verenikina

Online learning is progressively accepted in Indigenous communities with the realized potential for sharing, collaboration and learning for adults living in remote and isolated communities. This study used a design-based research approach that provided opportunity to integrate the current literature, literacy practitioners' views and community members' self identified literacy needs to generate ten draft guiding principles which guided this study. A collaborative community engagement project was created by the community members in consideration of these principles and presented in three iterations in a synchronous environment which will lead to design-based principles for working with technology and Indigenous communities. This paper …

Cycle Starters: American Indian Doctorates As Role Models, Timothy Lintner

Timothy Lintner

No abstract provided.

Disability History: Humanity Worth Defending, Darren Minarik, Timothy Lintner

Timothy Lintner

The authors consider the potential impact of teaching disability history and awareness in social studies classrooms. Social studies educators are encouraged to use disability history to move the concept of disability beyond Individualized Education Program (IEP) labels and medical pathology, allowing students to study and better understand the evolving social and cultural context of disability. An examination of disability “models” and the historical evolution of disability language is followed by strategies and resources for incorporating disability history and awareness in the social studies classroom. Ohio social studies educators are encouraged to support a Disability History and Awareness week or month …

Using Multiple Intelligence Theory To Teach K-2 Geography, Timothy Lintner

Timothy Lintner

No abstract provided.

Strategies To Assess Large Classes, Carol Kominski

Carol A Kominski

No abstract provided.

“We Txt 2 Sty Cnnectd”: An African American Mother And Son Communicate: Digital Literacies, Meaning-Making, And Activity Theory Systems, Tisha Lewis

Tisha Lewis Ellison

This research demonstrated how an African American mother and son communicated with each other via texting and instant messaging (IM) at home. Data from a 2007 larger ethnographic case study of a family’s digital literacy practices were collected and analyzed. Situated within the framework of New Literacy Studies and multimodality, this research explored: a) how and why an African American mother and son communicated through texting and IM, b) how this family drew on multimodal meaning-making resources, and c) how texting and IM between these family members demonstrated the potential to change the perceptions of literacy researchers regarding the dynamics …

Deconstructing ‘One Voice’ The Movie: Diversity, Justice, And The Media In Taiwan, Chiehwen Ed Hsu

Chiehwen Ed Hsu

A new documentary about the Sunflower Movement seeks to inspire citizen journalists to do their part.

Reflections On An Inherent Tension Between Peer Collaboration And Individual Assessment In Online Professional Learning, Elizabeth Hartnell-Young, Leena Vainio

Dr Elizabeth Hartnell-Young

In this paper, the authors reflect on potential tensions between peer learning among adult students and current forms of assessment in two professional learning contexts: one in Finland, and one in Australia. The two groups participated separately in online and face to face learning that required them to gather data, reflect, communicate and try out new strategies in their workplaces. Formal learning outcomes and assessment were expected.

Determining The Quality Of Assessment Items In Collaborations: Aspects To Discuss To Reach Agreement, Lambert Schuwirth, Jacob Pearce

Dr Jacob Pearce

No abstract provided.

Using Competencies To Explain Mathematical Item Demand: A Work In Progress, Ross Turner, Werner Blum, Morgens Niss

Ross Turner

Perceptions Of Instructors And Students With Respect To Synchronous Video Learning, John Griffith, Marian C. Schultz

John Griffith

Can The Strong Get Stronger? A Laboratory Investigation Of Natural Selection For Antimicrobial Resistance, Tracie Ivy, Natalie Spivey, Sarah Keaveany, Elizabeth Ramsey, Patrick Sellars, Deborah Stripling

Elizabeth Ramsey

The students, Sarah Grace Keaveany and Elizabeth Ramsey, completed original research with to investigate 1) standing variation among common bacterial species (Escherichia coli and Stapholococcus epidermidis) in the amount of resistance to triclosan, a common anti-microbial used in hand washes; and 2) the capacity for these bacteria to develop increased resistance to triclosan through selection. The students have developed lab modules based on this research. One module includes a wet lab, where students will culture their own bacteria. The other module allows students to obtain data from photographs of bacterial plates in lieu of a wet lab component.

Factors Underlying Farm Diversification: The Case Of Western Australia's Olive Farmers, Jeremy Northcote, Abel Alonso

Abel D Alonso

The growth of niche markets in rural industries has been one response to the restructuring of established agricultural industries in developed countries. In some cases entry into niche markets is part of a iversification of activities from other areas of farm-based production or services. In other cases, operators have sought to diversify from niche market production into other areas, such as onsite selling and agritourism. This paper outlines the findings of an exploratory qualitative study of the factors that olive farmers in Western Australia take into account when considering diversification, with a special focus on diversification into servicing visitors in …

Stories Of Place, Tom Keegan

Tom Keegan

Addressing a crowd of over 500 freshman honors students at the University of Iowa, Tom Keegan discusses the merits of not remaining anonymous at a large state institution and coming to see oneself as part of a bigger community.

Buried Or Not? What’S Happened To Numeracy?, David Tout

David (Dave) Tout

International surveys reveal a worrying decline in adult numeracy development. Dave Tout makes the case for a renewed focus.

Improving Engineering Work And Study, Daniel Edwards, Jacob Pearce

Dr Daniel Edwards

Daniel Edwards and Jacob Pearce discuss a study that explores the perceptions of the engineering workforce, including engineering education and barriers to participation and career advancement.

Maths + Confidence = Higher Scores For Boys, Sue Thomson, Lisa De Bortoli

Lisa De Bortoli

Teenage boys outperform Australian girls in mathematics by the equivalent of about one-third of a school year, according to the latest PISA survey, as Sue Thomson and Lisa De Bortoli explain.

Homework Plans: A Tool For Promoting Independence, Patricia Hampshire, Gretchen Butera, Jack Hourcade

Jack Hourcade

With long brown braids and a huge smile, Kelly is a 12-year-old sixth grader attending an intermediate school in a large suburban community. Kelly is currently receiving special education services to address academic and behavioral learning needs. When given extended time and reminded (sometimes repeatedly) to think about what she has to do, Kelly usually completes at least part of her school and homework assignments.

At school, Kelly spends the majority of her day in the general education classroom. Debbie, her general education teacher, works hard to include Kelly in daily classroom activities. Kelly's special education teacher, Tina, works with …

Session E - Perspectives On Quality And Equity From Large-Scale Assessment Studies, John Ainley, Eveline Gebhardt

Dr John Ainley

Concurrent Session Block 1

Swimming Upstream: A Study Of Black Males And The Academic Pipeline, Rhonda Wilkins

Rhonda D Wilkins PhD

ABSTRACT SWIMMING UPSTREAM: A STUDY OF BLACK MALES AND THE ACADEMIC PIPELINE Rhonda D. Wilkins Post secondary participation and graduation rates of Black males are declining rapidly. Black women, however, are realizing substantial growth in both of these areas and account for the majority of the increase in Black student college enrollment. This qualitative case study addresses the decline in Black male participation in higher education by focusing on six Black men who completed college programs and the academic pipeline that brought them to their degree. The purpose of the research inquiry was to determine various factors that either helped …

Personalizing Software Development Practice Using Mastery-Based Coaching, Chris Boesch, Sandra Boesch

Chris BOESCH

The authors previously developed a system to facilitate the self-directed learning and practicing of software languages in Singapore. One of the goals of this self-directed learning was to enable the development of student mentors who would then be able to assist other students during classroom sessions. Building on this work, the authors extended the platform to support personalized coaching with the goals of further enabling and preparing students to mentor their peers. This paper covers the challenges, insights, and features that were developed in order to develop and deploy this mastery-based coaching feature.

Independent Evaluation Of Asic’S Implementation Of The Helping Our Kids Understand Finances Initiative, Robert Simons

Dr Robert Simons

In May 2013, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) commissioned the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) to conduct an independent evaluation of its implementation of the Helping Our Kids Understand Finances (HOKUF) initiative. The purpose was to conduct an independent evidence-based assessment of whether ASIC implemented the HOKUF initiative in a way that met the following key criteria: 1) Appropriate – the extent to which the program developed by ASIC was useful and ‘fit for purpose’ in supporting the delivery of the consumer and financial literacy content aligned to the Australian Curriculum. 2) Effective − the extent to …

Leadership In Indigenous Education, Nola Purdie, Jenny Wilkinson

Jenny Wilkinson

This brief scoping paper was developed around the theme of ‘What’s happening in Indigenous leadership in education in Australian schools?’ A dual focus for this theme was noted: leadership for Indigenous education; and leadership by Indigenous principals and teachers. The authors provide an overview of current issues in educational leadership that were derived, in the main, from papers presented at the 2007 ACER conference on educational leadership. Current offerings and opportunities in the area of Indigenous leadership and leadership for Indigenous education include those operating through the Australian Principals Associations Professional Development Council (APAPDC), principally through the Dare to Lead …

Mentor's Introduction, Christine Thompson

Christine Thompson

No abstract provided.

Authenticity And Everydayness, Christine Thompson

Christine Thompson

No abstract provided.

Viva Las Libraries: Celebrating Maine Shared Collections, Matthew Revitt

Matthew I Revitt

No abstract provided.

Adult Literacy And Numeracy - What’S The Story?, Juliette Mendelovits

Juliette Mendelovits

Adult literacy and numeracy are important to Australia’s economic and social health, so we need to understand the full picture, says Juliette Mendelovits.