Education Commons^™

Evaluating The Impact Of Teaching Assistants, Mirkka Jokelainen

International Developments

ACER assessments support research into evidence-based teaching and learning in England, as Mirkka Jokelainen explains.

Super Synthesis: Evidence Of What Works In Education For Development, Jeaniene Spink

International Developments

A synthesis of research evidence identifies the impact of interventions that offer high value in meeting education’s greatest challenges in development contexts, as Jeaniene Spink explains.

Implementing Large-Scale Education Assessments, Geoff N. Masters

International Developments

ACER is helping education researchers, policymakers and practitioners understand the issues related to the inception, design, implementation and reporting of large-scale education assessments, as Geoff Masters explains.

International Developments (No.8) 2018

International Developments

In this issue of International Developments we investigate a synthesis of research evidence that identifies the impact of interventions that offer high value in meeting education’s greatest challenges in development contexts. We explore how ACER’s school assessments are playing a part in supporting improvements in teaching and learning, and we examine the benefits of a program to collect evidence of education quality for governments, schools, communities and students in the Pacific region. This issue of International Developments also looks at ACER’s work with partners across South Asia to ensure inclusive and quality education for all, the development of a ‘road …

Critical Reflections In International Contexts: Polyethnographic Accounts Of An International Doctoral Research Seminar, Lisa Fedoruk, Jon Woodend, Janet Groen, Avis Beek, Sylvie Roy, Xueqin Wu, Xiang Li

The Qualitative Report

As the world becomes more globally interconnected, international partnerships, including those within higher education, have increased. In an exemplar of these international partnerships from an academic standpoint, selected doctoral students and faculty from Australian, Chinese, and Canadian universities participated in an International Doctoral Research Seminar held in China in December 2015. The objective of this seminar was to have academic debate regarding educational reform. A critical by-product of this seminar was the meaning made by the participants from this experience. This paper reviews the critical polyethnographic reflections of the Canadian participants for three salient and influential topics including the role …

Internationalization Of Higher Education In Turmoil, Patrick Arsenault

The Vermont Connection

The goal of this piece is to provide an overview of the internationalization of the University of Missouri using historical artifacts from the institution’s archives. As a result of bringing together these artifacts, the author identifies three distinct internationalization stages that demonstrate where the institution is currently situated. The University of Missouri’s internationalization process has been slow and cumulative, like its peer institutions, until recently. However, the author argues that current events, including travel bans and uncertainty around immigration policies, have disrupted this pattern and created turmoil and uncertainty.

Pathways To Strengthen Multicultural Education. A Book Review Of Citizenship Education And Global Migration: Implications For Theory, Research, And Teaching, Isolde De Groot

Democracy and Education

The edited book Citizenship Education and Global Migration, published by the founding director of the University of Washington’s Center for Multicultural Education, James Banks, offers a rich and multivocal account of conceptual and empirical work on multicultural education in light of persistent—and perhaps intractable—issues that follow from migration movements in the history of mankind, as well as recent shifts in migration patterns. To illustrate the significance of the book, I highlight some of the theoretical frameworks that the authors adopt and some of the teacher initiatives employed within and across different contexts. As a teacher educator in citizenship and …

Students With Disabilities: Transitioning From Pk-18 To The Workplace, Cheri Beverly, Jane B. Thall

Dilemmas in Education: A Casebook for Ethical Reasoning

The case study investigates the conflict that arises when a student who has received extensive assistance and accommodation for an invisible disability throughout her education (PK-12 through graduate school) transitions to her first job. The case explores the tension between the employee and her employer.

Connecting Students From Tajikistan To The World: A Teacher's Journey, Hamadony Muzafarov

Journal of Educational Research and Innovation

Implementing English language programs for my students in Tajikistan was a dream come true that opened an endless world of possibilities to them. Without knowing the English language, it would have been impossible for them to travel both physically and virtually to see the world, and build connections with people around the world. I try to make my students believe in themselves, dream big, and follow their dreams.

Public/Private Partnership Schools In New Zealand: Justifications And Context, Mark Olofson

The William & Mary Educational Review

Recent policy changes in the New Zealand educational context have introduced privatization into the system through partnership schools. Parties on all sides of the issue use a framework of economic values consisting of efficiency, equity, and liberty to frame themselves and their opposition. This holistic case study uses interviews, observations, and field evidence to explore how partnership and public schools align themselves with these values, and how public discourse frames both types of schools. Cross analysis of the different voices revealed differences in constructions concerning innovation, how best to serve struggling learners, school funding, and school evaluation. These differences fuel …

The Purpose Of Education: What Should An American 21st Century Education Value?, Krista Shilvock

Empowering Research for Educators

A survey taken by 511 respondents dealt with such issues as past and current educational practice preparation, educational purposes in America, core class subjects, and soft skill teachings. Its results revealed a public opinion believing the primary goal of education as teaching students to adapt to any situation they find themselves in. Other results include a lack of preparation in current practices for life beyond education, although workforce preparation is adequate. Also, soft skills ought to see a curriculum of their own and taught explicitly to students in education instead of implicitly enforced, hoping parents alone taught these skills previously. …

“If Our English Isn’T A Language, What Is It?” Indonesian Efl Student Teachers’ Challenges Speaking English, Mukhlash Abrar, Amirul Mukminin, Akhmad Habibi, Fadhil Asyrafi, Makmur Makmur, Lenny Marzulina

The Qualitative Report

Research on students’ skill speaking English in a non-English speaking country such as Indonesia is limited. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to document Indonesian EFL student teachers’ experiences in speaking English at one public university in Jambi, Indonesia. Data came from demographic questionnaires and semi-structured interviews obtained from eight participants. We organized our analysis and discussion around Indonesian EFL student teachers’ perspectives and the contexts in which experiences they encountered emerge. Our analysis of the text revealed overarching themes and sub-themes including (1) language barriers (vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar, and fluency); (2) psychological factors (anxiety, attitude, and lack of …

Factors Associated With Academic Performance Among Second-Year Undergraduate Occupational Therapy Students, Tore Bonsaksen, Brian J. Ellingham, Tove Carstensen

The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy

Background: Research into occupational therapy education and its outcomes for students is growing. More research is needed to determine the factors of importance for occupational therapy students’ academic outcomes. This study aimed to investigate factors associated with academic performance among second-year undergraduate occupational therapy students in Norway.

Methods: Occupational therapy students (n = 111) from two education programs completed questionnaires asking for sociodemographic, work-related, and education-related information. Hierarchical linear regression analysis was used to examine factors independently associated with the students’ academic performance.

Results: A higher age was associated with better average academic performance among the students, whereas having …

Improving Mental Health Outcomes For Young Children Through The Implementation Of The Primary Project, Mary Anne Peabody, Kristi L. Perryman, Margaret Hannah, Lynn Smith, Shelley M. Sanyshyn

Journal of School-Based Counseling Policy and Evaluation

Primary Project (formerly known as Primary Mental Health Project) is one of the longest standing and wellestablished school-based preventative mental health interventions for addressing the social, emotional, behavioral, and learning needs of preschool through primary grade children. Existing now for over 60 years and building on its historical antecedents, this article describes the history, current state, and future implications of Primary Project. We discuss children’s mental health needs and the role of the school in addressing these needs. We present Primary Project’s current research efforts with a specific focus on University-community studies in Arkansas and Massachusetts. Implications for future research …

Commentary: On School-Based Counseling Policy And Evaluation, Christopher A. Sink, Jay C. Carey

Journal of School-Based Counseling Policy and Evaluation

The writers of this commentary advocate for increased attention to school-based policy development, effective policy implementation, and high quality policy research across the world. A new organization (International Society for Policy Research and Evaluation in School-Based Counseling) focused on these topics is introduced. In closing, the article contents comprising the first issue of Society’s scholarly journal are overviewed.

Recommendations For The Role And Responsibilities Of School-Based Mental Health Counselors, David D. Christian, Cian L. Brown

Journal of School-Based Counseling Policy and Evaluation

School counselors (SCs) are tasked with addressing the academic, career, and personal/social development of all students. As mental health issues experienced by school-aged children have increased, SCs have been unable to provide adequate mental health services. Because of barriers to receiving communitybased mental health services, school-based services are becoming increasingly necessary. In this article we propose that School-Based Mental Health Counselors (SBMHCs), specifically trained to work with schoolaged children and placed within a school setting, are appropriate for meeting students’ mental health needs. Although SBMHCs are not new to counseling, we make specific recommendations and suggestions for the training and …

Using School-Based Career Development To Support College And Career Readiness: An Integrative Review, Lia D. Falco, Sam Steen

Journal of School-Based Counseling Policy and Evaluation

For current college and career readiness efforts to be effective, it is important to recognize the value and contribution of career development activities in schools and take a critical look at the most effective strategies, programs, and research in this area. This integrative review synthesizes research related to the impact of school-based career development on student achievement, retention, post-secondary transitions, and other career-related outcomes. Using an iterative key word search, in multiple scholarly databases including JSTOR, PsycInfo, and EBSCOhost Fulltext Finder, 157 studies published in years 1961-2017 were selected for this review. Findings are examined within the context of college …

School-Based Counseling In Mainland China: Past, Present, And Future, Qi Shi

Journal of School-Based Counseling Policy and Evaluation

This article provides a comprehensive review of the past, present, and future of school-based counseling in mainland China. First, this article summarizes the historical antecedents and important policies that have influenced the progress of school-based counseling in China. Next, the current situation of the profession is discussed, including relevant government policy, school and school counselor practice, and current challenges. In the final section, the implications for policy-makers to further support the profession are explored

School Counselor Knowledge, Beliefs, And Practices Related To The Implementation Of Standards-Based Comprehensive School Counseling In The United States, Alexandra A. Lauterbach, Karen Harrington, Ayse D. Yakut, Michael Krezmien

Journal of School-Based Counseling Policy and Evaluation

As school counselors have adapted to changing policy and social structures, their beliefs, knowledge, and practices have evolved. Over the past two decades, a body of survey research has examined school counselors’ beliefs, knowledge, and practices, though no systematic review exists. In this review, we synthesize and evaluate survey research on the knowledge, beliefs, and practices relevant to the implementation of a standards-based comprehensive school counseling model in the United States. We identify the most salient findings, evaluate the research, identify the most rigorous studies, discuss their findings, and provide recommendations for future research. Considering the recent changes to how …