Education Commons^™

Alternative Education : An International Perspective, Yoshiyuki Nagata

Shannon Research Press

Chapter 1 discusses how the characteristics of alternative education are to be understood, for the purposes of this research, in the contemporary context and in light of former interpretations. Chapters 2 to 8 take up cases of alternative education in practice in six countries and discuss the realities of the systems and mechanisms involved in practice and theory in alternative schools.

The Quality Of Learners' Knowledge About Teaching And Learning, Helen Askell-Williams

Shannon Research Press

The aim of this monograph is to report the development and application of a framework for identifying quality in teachers' and learners' knowledge about teaching and learning.

On Reflection, James Anthony Gibbons

Shannon Research Press

This book commences with a criticism of constructivism as the basis for curriculum design followed by an attempt to argue an alternative. It is possible to proceed to criticise constructivism as the basis for curriculum design by illustrating the issues with references to extracts from curricula used by various countries and Departments of Education. This book takes a different route. The assumption is made that criticism will be clearer if related to a substantial part of a curriculum rather than extracts from a variety of curricula from a variety of countries. The focus is on the recently developed, and currently …

Measuring School Effects Across Grades, Njora Hungi

Shannon Research Press

This study investigates the issue of the value-added components of the education provided across Grade 3 and Grade 5 in primary schools in South Australia and how these components could be measured. The study shows that it is very difficult to identify effective or ineffective schools because the amount of variance left unexplained at the school-level is small. As a solution to this problem, it is more meaningful to identify effective or ineffective schools when the school effects are expressed in terms of years of learning that a student spends at school.

Optimism And Pessimism In Children, Shirley M. Yates

Shannon Research Press

Areas of learning where performance is measured through systematic and responsible assessment can contribute to the conceptualisation and valuing of art education through the provision of evidence of learning and development of artistic skills. There is a need for measurement to be undertaken in assessment in art production, on the basis of a shared symbol system, that allows for detailed classifications of visual art works. The aim of this study was to improve validity, reliability and credibility in measuring student performance in art production, and thereby increase the positive impact of assessment in the visual arts discipline.

Changes In Mathematics Achievement Over Time In Australia And Ethiopia, Tilahun Mengesha Afrassa

Shannon Research Press

This study has five major purposes: to develop a general theoretical model which considers the multivariate structure of the available data; to examine the changes of the mathematics achievement level of Australian lower secondary school students over time; to develop a common mathematics scale to enable investigation of mathematics achievement over time and across countries; to develop a theoretical model of student level factors influencing the mathematics achievements of lower secondary students in Australia and Ethiopia and to examine these hypothesised interrelationships between variables; and to investigate the views and attitudes of Australian and Ethiopian students towards mathematics and schooling …

Listening To The Boys: Issues And Problems Influencing School Achievement And Retention, Malcolm Slade

Shannon Research Press

This work summarises the views of 1800 boys, from 60 secondary schools in South Australia, balanced across all sectors. Their views have been clear and largely uniform across the schools, year levels and levels of achievement. Several popularly held views, that the problems start in the primary years, and that the issues are reducible to matters of gender difference, gender equity, peer pressure or literacy and numeracy, are rejected, by the boys and others, as simplistic to the point of being false. Issues about masculinity are conspicuous in their absence. Instead, the boys identify a broad range of interconnected factors, …

Building A National Vocational Education And Training System, Robin Ryan

Shannon Research Press

This study seeks to establish that policy in vocational education has oscillated between two poles. At one, vocational education is seen largely as an adjunct to economic development and the primary concern of the sector is to meet the needs of industry rather than of students. At the other, vocational education is seen as primarily student centred, encompassing goals of individual self-development and the creation of a more equitable society. In practice both these perspectives are present at any time, and both may be almost equally emphasised in VET policy and rhetoric.

Science, Technology And Society In Science Education, Debra Tedman

Shannon Research Press

This study had four major purposes. First, the study developed and used scales to measure the strength and coherence of students', teachers', and scientists' views, beliefs and attitudes in relation to science, technology and society (STS). Second, the factors which influenced the development of strong and coherent views on STS by students, were examined. Third, the study investigated whether male and female students differed in the strength and coherence of their views on STS. Fourth, structured group interviews with teachers provided information for the consideration of the problems encountered by teachers and students in the introduction of STS courses.

Learning The Chinese Language In An Australian School, Ruilan Yuan

Shannon Research Press

This study deals with the learning of Chinese as a foreign language across school grades in South Australia. The purposes of the study are briefly to measure student achievement in learning the Chinese language across grade levels from Year 4 to Year 12 over a period of 12 months; investigate the factors that influence learners' continuing with the study of the Chinese language; and identify the factors that influence student achievement in learning the Chinese language within and between school grades. The term 'Chinese language' in this study refers to the Mandarin Chinese language, rather than the many other dialects …

Educational Measurement: Assessment Resource Kit., Geoff N. Masters

Assessment Resource Kit

Educational measurement is the process of estimating students' locations (abilities) on a measurement variable from their responses to a set of items. Educational measurement is one in a series of magazines in the ACER Assessment Resource Kit (ARK). It contains five chapters: 1. What is 'measurement'?; 2. Aspiring to measure; 3. A model for measuring; 4. Mapping variables; 5. Reporting measures.

Workshop Manual: Implementing Developmental Assessment., Margaret Forster, Geoff N. Masters

Assessment Resource Kit

This workshop manual has been developed as a resource for curriculum coordinators in schools, staff in curriculum and assessment support roles in regional and central offices, and others interested in the professional development of teachers in the areas of assessment and reporting. The manual provides resources for a single workshop Implementing developmental assessment. It is part of the Assessment Resource Kit (ARK), a series of magazines on assessment and reporting issues and methods. Workshop contents: Implementing developmental assessment: workshop overview. Section 1: Progress maps Section 2: Assessment methods Section 3: Judging and recording Section 4: Estimating attainment Section 5: Reporting.

Paper And Pen: Assessment Resource Kit, Margaret Forster, Geoff N. Masters

Assessment Resource Kit

A common method of assessment is to present students with a series of questions or prompts and to use students' written responses as evidence of their levels of knowledge, competence, understanding or attitude. We refer to assessments of this kind as 'paper and pen ' assessments. This issue on paper and pen assessment in the Assessment Resource Kit (ARK) magazine series contains five articles: 1. What is paper and pen assessment? 2. A variety of answer formats; 3. Teacher designed paper and pen assessments; 4. Professionally developed tests; 5. Designing paper and pen assessments.

Products: Assessment Resource Kit, Margaret Forster, Geoff N. Masters

Assessment Resource Kit

Products are items which students make, usually in technology and the visual arts. Examples include items of food and clothing, pieces of artwork (drawings, paintings, sculptures) and articles made of wood, metal, plastics and ceramics. Product assessment is the assessment of students' mastery of the processes and tools required to make products (for example, design and production processes) and the assessment of the practical and/ or aesthetic qualities of the items students make. This is a guide to assessing student products in the technology and visual arts curriculum. It is an issue in the Assessment Resource Kit (ARK) magazine series …

Acer Quest: The Interactive Test Analysis System. Version 2.1., Raymond J. Adams, Siek-Toon Khoo

Measurement and statistics

This is a guide to using Quest. Quest offers a comprehensive test and questionnaire analysis environment by providing a data analyst with access to the most recent developments in Rasch measurement theory, as well as a range of traditional analysis procedures. It includes an easy to use control language with flexible and informative output. Quest can be used to construct and validate variables based on both dichotomous and polychotomous observations. It scores and analyses such instruments as multiple choice tests, Likert type rating scales, short answer items, and partial credit items.

Download the legacy ACER Quest software here

Download the …

Portfolios: Assessment Resource Kit, Margaret Forster, Geoff N. Masters

Assessment Resource Kit

Portfolios are sources of evidence for judgements of student achievement in a range of contexts, from classroom monitoring of student performance to high-stakes summative assessment. All portfolios, whatever their purpose, contain 'pieces of evidence'. The more relevant the evidence, the more useful it is for inferring a student's level of achievement in a learning area. This issue on portfolios in the Assessment Resource Kit (ARK) magazine series contains five articles: 1. Different portfolios for different purposes; 2. Working portfolios; 3. Documentary portfolios; 4. Show portfolios; 5. Designing portfolio assessments.

Developmental Assessment: Assessment Resource Kit, Geoff N. Masters, Margaret Forster

Assessment Resource Kit

Developmental assessment is the process of monitoring a student's progress through an area of learning so that decisions can be made about the best ways to facilitate further learning. Developmental assessment uses a progress map or continuum that describes the nature of development or progress or growth in an area of learning and so provides a frame of reference for monitoring individual development. Progress is monitored in much the same way as a child's physical growth is monitored: from time to time an estimate is made of a student's location on a developmental continuum, and changes in location provide measures …

Progress Maps: Assessment Resource Kit, Geoff N. Masters, Margaret Forster

Assessment Resource Kit

A progress map describes the nature of development in an area of learning and so provides a frame of reference for monitoring individual growth. An essential feature of a progress map is that it describes and illustrates developing competence. This issue in the Assessment Resource Kit (ARK) magazine series discusses how to construct a progress map and check against student achievement for revision of progress, elaborating, and refining descriptions of typical progress through an area of learning, and setting benchmarks. It comprises five articles on different aspects progress maps: 1. What is a progress map; 2. Drafting a progress map; …

Performances: Assessment Resource Kit, Margaret Forster, Geoff N. Masters

Assessment Resource Kit

The assessment of some kinds of learning requires the observation of student performances. Examples include playing a musical instrument, dancing, using scientific apparatus, operating equipment, performing gymnastics routines, diving, problem-solving in a group, applying ball-handling skills, and participating in small group discussions. 'Performance assessment' is the assessment of students as they engage in an activity. It is the on-the-spot evaluation of performance, behaviour or interaction. This issue on the assessment of performances in the Assessment Resource Kit (ARK) magazine series contains five articles: 1. What is performance assessment? 2. Informal classroom observations; 3. Classroom performance assessment 'events'; 4. When comparability …

Projects: Assessment Resource Kit, Margaret Forster, Geoff N. Masters

Assessment Resource Kit

Projects are extended pieces of work completed over a period of time. They are investigations which involve the collection, organisation, evaluation, and presentation of material or data. Projects are usually completed by individuals or small groups of students with the teacher acting as supervisor. This issue of the Assessment Resource Kit (ARK) magazine series is intended to give teachers a deeper understanding of how to assess student projects. Topics covered in the five articles include: what is project assessment, ways of assessing the process of project work, ways of assessing the end products of project work, comparing student projects and …

Mathematics: A Curriculum Profile For Australian Schools, Australian Education Council

Mathematics

A joint project of the States, Territories and the Commonwealth of Australia initiated by the Australian Education Council, this is one of a series of sixteen documents representing collaborative curriculum development in Australia across eight areas of learning. The statements provide a framework for curriculum development by education systems and schools. They are divided into strands and further structured in four bands, roughly corresponding to the stages of schooling: lower primary, upper primary, junior secondary and post-compulsory. The statements do not provide a syllabus. Rather, they provide a foundation for courses which will meet students' needs and reflect advances in …

The Arts - A Curriculum Profile For Australian Schools, Education Council

The Arts

A joint project of the States, Territories and the Commonwealth of Australia initiated by the Australian Education Council.

Adaptive Testing, Information And The Partial Credit Model: A Simulation Study, Raymond J. Adams

Measurement and statistics

In adaptive testing each individual is tested with a set of items that is selected to match his/her estimated ability at the time of testing. In its most sophisticated form an adaptive test is interactively administered by a computer that scores the test and uses the individual's pattern of correct and incorrect responses to select new items from an item bank. In this procedure items are selected during the process of administering a test (rather than as a part of a predetermined sequence) so that the items administered to each individual are appropriate in difficulty for that individual. The result …

Rating Scale Analysis, Benjamin D. Wright, Geofferey N. Masters

Measurement and statistics

This book is a text about constructing variables and making measures. The basis is the measurement philosophy of G. Rasch. The text begins by outlining the essentials for measurement, examining data and developing models for measuring, and covers estimation procedures, verifying variables and supervising measures. The authors extend Rasch item analysis and person measurement to attitude questionnaires, performance ratings and other ordered category data.

Best Test Design, Benjamin D. Wright, Mark H. Stone

Measurement and statistics

This handbook for learning how to do Rasch measurement contains both theoretical explanation and practice problems. It is about how to make use of mental tests, and covers the measurement model, item calibration by hand and by computer, the analysis of fit, and constructing a variable. Final chapters work through designing tests, making measures and choosing a scale.