Education Commons^™

Reporting And Comparing School Performances, Geoff N. Masters, Glenn Rowley, John Ainley, Siek Toon Khoo

Dr John Ainley

This report provides advice on the collection and reporting of information about the performances of Australian schools. The focus is on the collection of nationally comparable data. Two purposes are envisaged: use by education authorities and governments to monitor school performances and, in particular, to identify schools that are performing unusually well or unusually poorly given their circumstances; and use by parents/caregivers and the public to make informed judgements about, and meaningful comparisons of, schools and their offerings. Our advice is based on a review of recent Australian and international research and experience in reporting on the performances of schools. …

Participation In And Progress Through New Apprenticeships, John Ainley, Matthew Corrigan

Dr John Ainley

New Apprenticeships provide a pathway from school to adult working life for a significant proportion of each cohort of young people and thus make a potentially important contribution to the formation of skills for individuals and for the community as a whole. New Apprenticeships are based on a formal combination of study and work that links learning in the workplace with learning in an educational institution. They incorporate both traditional apprenticeships and traineeships. This report focuses on two broad research questions : What are the characteristics of young people who commence a New Apprenticeship overall, as well as of those …

Reading Comprehension And Numeracy Among Junior Secondary School Students In Australia, Gary Marks, John Ainley

Dr John Ainley

This report examines the performance, and levels of mastery, on tests of reading comprehension and numeracy of Australian students in junior secondary school between 1975 and 1995. Data for the analyses reported were drawn from two national monitoring studies and other studies of representative samples of junior secondary school students designed to monitor the progress of young people through school into further education, training and work. In each of the studies students completed tests that are similar to those conducted in the Australian states and territories and overseas to monitor student performance. The tests focussed on reading skills (which correlate …

Using Research To Advance Professional Practice, Geoff N. Masters

Prof Geoff Masters AO

This paper discusses quality in professional practice - whether as an engineer, accountant or orthopaedic surgeon - and how it depends on expert knowledge of the field, a deep understanding of underlying principles, accumulated experience in the practice of the profession, a familiarity with recent advances in the professional knowledge base, and mastery of the best available techniques and tools. Teaching qualifies as a profession to the extent that it requires the application of specialised knowledge and skill developed through research and high-level education and training. Quality in teaching practice depends on familiarity with recent advances in the professional knowledge …

Conceptualising And Researching Student Wellbeing, Geoff N. Masters

Prof Geoff Masters AO

Schools have always seen it as part of their role to support and encourage children's all-round development, including their cognitive, interpersonal, social, aesthetic, physical and moral/spiritual growth. Beyond the academic, schools have been committed to children's general wellbeing; in seeing children develop into well-rounded, healthy individuals who can take their place as informed, principled and engaged members of society. In fulfilling this role, schools have worked alongside and complemented families, churches and other institutions in the community. In recent years, Australian schools and education systems have made efforts to clarify the broad purposes of schooling and to introduce ways of …

Reporting And Comparing School Performances, Geoff N. Masters, Glenn Rowley, John Ainley, Siek Toon Khoo

Prof Geoff Masters AO

This report provides advice on the collection and reporting of information about the performances of Australian schools. The focus is on the collection of nationally comparable data. Two purposes are envisaged: use by education authorities and governments to monitor school performances and, in particular, to identify schools that are performing unusually well or unusually poorly given their circumstances; and use by parents/caregivers and the public to make informed judgements about, and meaningful comparisons of, schools and their offerings. Our advice is based on a review of recent Australian and international research and experience in reporting on the performances of schools. …

Australian Certificate Of Education: Exploring A Way Forward, Geoff N. Masters

Prof Geoff Masters AO

Geoff Masters explains why Australia needs greater national consistency in senior school certificates and how an Australian Certificate of Education would likely benefit all Australian students.

International Terrorism:Role ,Responsibility And Operation Of Media Channles, Ratnesh Dwivedi Mr

Ratnesh Dwivedi

"Terrorism" is a term that cannot be given a stable defintion. Or rather, it can, but to do so forstalls any attempt to examine the major feature of its relation to television in the contemporary world. As the central public arena for organising ways of picturing and talking about social and political life, TV plays a pivotal role in the contest between competing defintions, accounts and explanations of terrorism. Which term is used in any particular context is inextricably tied to judgemements about the legitimacy of the action in question and of the political system against which it is directed. …

The Role Of Institutional Agents In The Socialization Of Minority Students: Implications For Research And Practice, Kathleen Neville, Samuel D. Museus

Kathleen Neville

Understanding Cpd Of Adults Through An Insider's Narrative, Imran Anjum Chaudary

Dr Imran Anjum

No abstract provided.

Assessment At The Program Level: Using Assessment To Improve Undergraduate Statistics Programs, Roxy Peck, Beth Chance

Beth Chance

With the growing focus on assessment and accountability, programs at many universities are now expected to define learning goals and objectives at the program level (as opposed to the course level) and to devise strategies for assessing whether these goals and objectives are being met. This paper will look at the role of assessment at the program level and how the resulting information about student learning can be used to make informed decisions about curriculum.

“Crick”? “Crack”! Jeweled Peacock Stories, Janice B. Fournillier

Janice B Fournillier

This paper discusses the challenges faced and the lessons learned in bringing forth mystory (Ulmer, 1989). The ‘Author’ a self identified native anthropologist having had an experience of the ‘peacock stories’ 3 years after her dissertation field work, finds herself caught in the third space. She returns home to the stories and chooses to use frames drawn from poststructural analytic approaches, hermeneutical phenomenology, and performance theories to make meaning of her experience via its performative representation (Denzin, 2003). She examines the metadiscursive practices (Briggs, 1993) in which she participates and explores how she constitutes and is constituted by the text …

Enhancing Engagement, Standards And Capability, Hamish Bennett Coates

Professor Hamish Coates

Learning Leaders in Times of Change has identified the capabilities that underpin effective leadership and the Changing Academic Profession survey provides information on academic staff and their work. The new online English Language Skills Assessment identifies incoming students who need further support to develop their English language proficiency. This edition also reports on the international use of the ACER developed aptitude test uniTEST, and the new Health Professional Admissions Test to assist with university admissions processes. It also reports on recent large scale analyses of how different groups of students experience university education. The Higher education update is published by …

Los Dilemas Del Profesorado En La Educación Superior Mexicana, Jesús F. Galaz-Fontes, Laura E. Padilla-González, Manuel Gil-Antón, Juan J. Sevilla-García

Jesús Francisco Galaz Fontes

El presente artículo se refiere a las tensiones que experimentan los académicos mexicanos como consecuencia de los desafíos que enfrenta la educación superior en México: aumentar la cobertura, lograr la pertinencia económica de los programas educativos, fortalecer las funciones de investigación y hacer más eficiente y transparente la gestión en las instituciones. Lo anterior ha derivado en expectativas de que realicen, de manera “equilibrada”, funciones de docencia, investigación, inculación y gestión, ejerciendo una presión desmedida sobre ellos y propiciando el rendimiento mínimo requerido en cada uno de los ámbitos, a fin de cumplir con los requisitos que diversos programas demandan …

Center For Early Literacy Learning (Cell): Achieving Adoption And Use Of Evidence-Based Early Literacy Learning Practice With Young Children With Disabilities, Carol M. Trivette, Carl J. Dunst

Carol M. Trivette

No abstract provided.

Pre-Test Assessment, Thomas D. Berry

Thomas D Berry

Self-Management For High-Functioning Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders, Lee Wilkinson

Lee A Wilkinson, PhD

Supporting children with autism spectrum disorders in the general education classroom presents a unique challenge to the teachers and schools that serve them. This article addresses the utility of self-management as a proactive strategy for increasing the task engagement and compliant behavior of high-functioning students with autism. The author discusses the rationale for self-management, outlines the steps for developing an intervention plan, and presents a case vignette to illustrate implementation of a self-management procedure.

Sustainable Teachers' Development: Exploring The Effect Of Follow-Up Support An An Element, Wasim Qazi

Wasim Qazi

A professional development program with built-in follow up support mechanism was offered during years 2004-06 in selected districts of Pakistan. The training reportedly had sustained impact on teachers’ attitude toward teaching.

This paper investigates the role of follow up support as an element of sustainable teacher development, and the part of teachers’ learning they could have implemented over the period after the end of project. Data was collected through classroom observations, interviews with these teachers and the head teachers of these schools, and analysis of lesson plans and reflective journals maintained by the teachers.

Findings affirm that the follow up …

The Mexican Education System In The Context Of The Demographic Transition: The Case Of The Tertiary Education Level, Daniel Tapia

Daniel Tapia

No abstract provided.

Review Of Career Development Services In Australian Tertiary Institutions, Craig Mcinnis, Bernadette Delaney, Justin Brown

Dr Justin Brown

No abstract provided.

Enhanced User Experiences Through Relationship Management, Michiel E. Moll

Michiel E Moll

Within libraries the need to be able to relate clearly to the customer and their needs is paramount. Although Customer Relationship management software does exist, fundamentals underlying the philosophy need to be in place first. For this librarians need to use three principles that are expressed as: 1. Be yourself, 2: Integrate as a team, 3: Go boldly!.

A Synthetic Teaching-Learning Model: A Contextualized Study, Wasim Qazi

Wasim Qazi

The paper aims at institutionalizing instructional technology with a view to improving the quality of education. The conceptual framework developed in this paper reviews the existing status of training programs in light of the suggested initiatives of education sectors reforms (Ministry of Education, Government of Pakistan -August-2003). It has been argued that major purpose of imparting professional training to teachers and administrators should be directed towards improvement of quality of education. In stating the problem the malaise underlining the teaching-learning process has been identified as a core issue. The teaching-learning process which is the hallmark of quality of education has …

Proyecto De Tesis De Magister, Kerwin A. Livingstone

Kerwin A. Livingstone

No abstract provided.

What Do I Do With The Data Now?: Analyzing Assessment Information For Accountability And Improvement, S. Pieper, K. Fulcher, Donna L. Sundre, T. D. Erwin

Donna L. Sundre

Most colleges and universities have implemented an assessment program of some kind in an effort to respond to calls for accountability from stakeholders as well as to continuously improve student learn- ing on their campuses. While institutions administer assessment instruments to students and receive reports, many campuses do not reap the maximum benefits from their assessment efforts. Oftentimes, this is because the data have not been analyzed in a way that answers questions that are important to the institution or other stakeholders. This paper describes four useful analytical strategies that focus on the following key educational research questions: (a) Differences: …

Health Education Achievement Test, Dr. Uche J. Obidiegwu

Prof. Uche J. Obidiegwu

This study developed and validated a diagnostic health education achievement test for adult learners in Anambra State. Two research questions and a research hypothesis guided the study. The instrument was pretested. Following the result of the pilot test, a total of 96 multiple choice test items were administered to 1, 342 adult learners. The analysis of the data was carried out using item analysis. Kuder-Richardson formula ‘21’ was used to determine the internal consistency of the instrument. Finally, t-test was used to test the hypothesis. Based on the results, some recommendations were made.

Counterbalance Assessment: The Chorizo Test, Nolan L. Cabrera, George A. Cabrera

Nolan L. Cabrera

No abstract provided.

Training Future Scientists: Predicting First-Year Minority Student Participation In Health Science Research, Sylvia Hurtado, M Kevin Eagn, Nolan L. Cabrera, Monica H. Lin, Julie Park, Miguel Lopez

Nolan L. Cabrera

Using longitudinal data from the UCLA Cooperative Institutional Research Program (CIRP) and Your First College Year (YFCY) surveys, this study examines predictors of the likelihood that science-oriented students would participate in a health science undergraduate research program during the first year of college. The key predictors of participation in health science research programs are students’ reliance on peer networks and whether campuses provide structured opportunities for first-year students even though only 12% of freshmen in the sample engaged in this activity. These experiences are particularly important for Black students. The findings inform efforts to orient students at an early stage, …

Teacher Perception About Implementation Strategy Of B.Ed Teaching Practice In Real School Classrooms: Issues And Challenges, Wasim Qazi, Khalid Jamil Rawat, Muhammad Yousuf Sharjeel, Shila Devi

Wasim Qazi

Teaching practice is the core component of all pre-service teacher education programs. Through teaching practice, a novice teacher is assumed to have inculcated a supposedly viable pedagogic experience to transfer the core competency of the subject knowledge to students in real classroom situation.

This study encompasses the challenges and issues that the novice teachers experience at post-training level of their B.Ed programme of studies. The investigations also enlighten the gaps that the trained teachers have shared with the researchers. The study highlights the extent to which the on-training components of teaching practice is reflected in the attitude of the trained …

Marketing To Helicopter Parents: Hovering Headache Or Untapped Economic Resource, Oscar T. Mcknight, Ronald Paugh, Aaron Mcknight, Heidi Parker

Oscar T McKnight Ph.D.

Too often helicopter parents are deemed bothersome to professionals in higher education. However, this research indicates that helicopter parents are a niche market. Thus, incorporating the helicopter parent into a university's offical target marketing campaign appears warranted and necessary given the current economic climate.

The Silent Death Of Food Technology Rigor In School Curriculum, Angela Turner, Kurt W. Seemann

Dr Angela Turner

There is a major concern in the world supply of food (Martin, 2007; World Health Organization, 2008). The main response to this world problem is more likely to come from food science and technology innovation, rather than from food hospitality skilling. In acknowledging the scale of this very real issue, we need to ask, are we getting intoxicated with the skills rhetoric given that the social, environmental and technical world students face is increasingly complex, and involves systems whose interactions are difficult to predict? An emerging concern throughout some states is a politically driven lack-lustre vision that fosters a comfort …