Education Commons^™

What Makes A Difference? Measuring Non-Academic Outcomes, Prue Anderson, Julian Fraillon

Prue Anderson

There are some very real challenges that educators face in attempting to define, measure and improve the non-academic outcomes of students in Australian schools but there is plenty that can be done to better measure and influence them. There are many challenges in measuring non-academic outcomes but the overarching one is to determine what they are, and whether they are actually 'non-academic' at all. This article addresses each of three major challenges: (1) Defining the outcomes, followed by a recommendation; (2) measuring the outcomes; recommendation; and (3) improving outcomes; recommendation.

Group Of National Experts On The Ahelo Feasibility Study : Engineering Assessment Framework : Ahelo Feasibility Study, Hamish Coates, Sarah Richardson, Jacob Pearce, Julian Fraillon

Julian Fraillon

This AHELO Engineering Assessment Framework describes and illustrates the domain of engineering competency that is used in the AHELO Feasibility Study. The framework gives an organisational structure for the domain in terms of engineering knowledge, processes and contexts; describes the types of assessment items that have been developed; and details how reporting will be carried out. - p.4

Towards Excellence In Mathematics Teaching: Forging Links Between National Curriculum And Professional Standards Initiatives, Hilary Hollingsworth, Catherine Pearn

Catherine Pearn

No abstract provided.

The Mathematics Education Of Future Primary And Secondary Teachers : Methods And Findings From The Teacher Education And Development Study In Mathematics, Maria Tatto, Sharon Senk, Glenn Rowley, Ray Peck

Ray Peck

In 2005, the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA), Michigan State University, and the Australian Council for Educational Research took an important step in advancing the field of education by partnering to develop and implement the first international and comparative study of mathematics teacher education. The study was made possible by the substantial funding received from the National Science Foundation, the IEA, and the collaboration of 17 participating countries. The purpose of this article is to illustrate the methodology used in this major cross-national study of teacher education—the IEA Teacher Education and Development Study in Mathematics, known …

Literacy Learning: What Works For Young Indigenous Students??, Nola Purdie, Kate Reid, Sarah Buckley

Dr Sarah Buckley

The Longitudinal Literacy and Numeracy Study for Indigenous Students (ILLANS) tracked the growth in literacy and numeracy skills of a group of Indigenous students from 27 schools across Australia from the beginning of primary school until the end of Year 6. At the time the study was conceived, longitudinal studies on the school achievement of Indigenous students were comparatively rare. A desire to develop a broader picture of primary school experiences motivated data collection that included a range of other data from a variety of informants in addition to academic achievement data. ILLANS commenced in 2000, with the first phase …

Scaling Procedures For Iccs Test Items, Wolfram Schulz, Julian Fraillon

Julian Fraillon

This chapter describes the procedures used to analyse and scale the International Civic and Citizenship Education Study (ICCS) international and regional test items that were administered to measure students’ civic knowledge. The chapter covers the following topics: the scaling model used to analyze and scale the test items; test coverage and item dimensionality; assessment of item fit; assessment of scorer reliabilities for open-ended items; differential item functioning by gender; review of cross-national measurement equivalence; international item adjudication; international item calibration and test reliability; international ability estimates (plausible values and weighted likelihood estimates); estimation of changes in civic content knowledge between …

The Development Of Regional Instruments, David Kerr, Wolfram Schulz, Julian Fraillon

Julian Fraillon

The International Civic and Citizenship Education Study (ICCS) included regional modules for Europe, Latin America, and Asia. Thirty-five of the 38 countries that participated in ICCS opted to be involved in these regional modules. Twenty-four countries participated in the European module, six in the Latin American module, and five countries in the Asian module. Regional instruments were developed for each module and were administered to students after they had completed the international assessment. These instruments were designed to address aspects of civic and citizenship education specific to each region. The results of these additional data collections are reported in a …

Overview Of The Iea International Civic And Citizenship Education Study, John Ainley, Wolfram Schulz

Dr John Ainley

The International Civic and Citizenship Education Study (ICCS) studied the ways in which young people are prepared to undertake their roles as citizens. ICCS was based on the premise that preparing students for citizenship roles involves developing relevant knowledge and understanding as well as helping them form positive attitudes toward being a citizen and participating in activities related to civic and citizenship education. It also examined differences among countries in relation to these outcomes of civic and citizenship education, and it explored how differences among countries relate to student characteristics, school and community contexts, and national characteristics. This technical report …

The Contribution Of Iea Research Studies To Australian Education, John Ainley, John Keeves, Jan Lokan, Petra Lietz, Geoff Masters, Sue Thomson

Prof Geoff Masters AO

This chapter is concerned with the contribution of the research studies conducted by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) to Australian education. During a period of 50 years education across the world has undergone a remarkable transformation. Many of the changes that have occurred have been initiated by the United Nations Organization and its agen¬cies, particularly UNESCO. From its origins within the UNESCO Institute in Hamburg, IEA and its programs have evolved to develop the worldwide conduct of research in education both through the undertaking and reporting of studies as well as the informal training of …

Translation And National Adaptations Of Iccs 2009 Instruments, Barbara Malak, Alana Yu, Wolfram Schulz, Tim Friedman

Dr Tim Friedman

In close collaboration with the participating countries, the international study center (ISC) developed an international English version of the ICCS assessment and questionnaires. These materials were subsequently translated and adapted by countries to their languages of instruction. Throughout this translation and adaptation process, the overarching aim was to create high-quality instruments that were internationally comparable yet also appropriate to each country’s national context and education system. The ICCS instruments were administered in 31 languages, the most common being English and Spanish. Even when the language of testing was English, adaptations were still required to suit the cultural setting and the …

Establishing The Criterion Validity Of Umat : A Multi-Cohort Study Of Australian Medical Students, Daniel Edwards, Tim Friedman, Hamish Coates

Dr Tim Friedman

No abstract provided.

Enhancing Education, Sheldon Rothman, David Slattery, Sarah Buckley, John Ainley

Dr Sheldon Rothman

The Analysis Of Measurement Equivalence In International Studies Using The Rasch Model, Wolfram Schulz, Julian Fraillon

Julian Fraillon

When comparing data derived from tests or questionnaires in cross-national studies, researchers commonly assume measurement invariance in their underlying scaling models. However, different cultural contexts, languages, and curricula can have powerful effects on how students respond in different countries. This article illustrates how the application of the Rasch item response theory (IRT) model (Rasch, 1960) can be used for assessing differences in measurement properties of tests and questionnaires with reference to examples from the field trial analyses for the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) International Civic and Citizenship Education Study (ICCS). It also discusses the general …

The Contribution Of Iea Research Studies To Australian Education, John Ainley, John Keeves, Jan Lokan, Petra Lietz, Geoff Masters, Sue Thomson

Dr John Ainley

This chapter is concerned with the contribution of the research studies conducted by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) to Australian education. During a period of 50 years education across the world has undergone a remarkable transformation. Many of the changes that have occurred have been initiated by the United Nations Organization and its agen¬cies, particularly UNESCO. From its origins within the UNESCO Institute in Hamburg, IEA and its programs have evolved to develop the worldwide conduct of research in education both through the undertaking and reporting of studies as well as the informal training of …

The International Civic And Citizenship Education Study (Iccs), Wolfram Schulz, Julian Fraillon, John Ainley

Dr Wolfram Schulz

The IEA International Civic and Citizenship Education Study (ICCS) investigated the ways in which young people are prepared for, and consequently ready and able to undertake their roles as citizens. Consequently, it studied student knowledge and understanding of civics and citizenship as well as affective and behavioral aspects of civics and citizenship such as value beliefs, attitudes, intended behaviors and current activities related to civic and citizenship education. Contextual data from education systems and schools were analyzed to help explain variation in these outcome variables. ICCS built on the previous IEA studies of civic education (Arnadeo et. al., 2002; Schulz …

Technology Enhanced Learning: Students' Views, Eileen O'Donnell, Mary Sharp

Eileen O'Donnell

User feedback is very important in all areas of computer science especially in the development of computer applications. Hence, student feedback on the use of technology enhanced learning in higher education in Ireland is relevant to the quality of the learning resources to be created by learning designers and academics in the future. The book “Student Reactions to Learning with Technologies: Perceptions and Outcomes” (Moyle & Wijngaards, 2012) was published by IGI Global in October 2011. This book includes contributions from various authors who are interested in students’ feedback regarding how technology has impacted on their educational experience. This book …

Instructional Architect Teacher Professional Development Handouts, Mimi Recker, Andrew Walker, M. Brooke Robertshaw, Linda Sellers, Heather M. Leary

Linda Sellers

Three handouts for the teacher professional development workshops on the Instructional Architect (IA). Starting spring 2009 the face-to-face workshop was changed to be three different days of learning about how to use the IA, inquiry based and problem based learning, evaluation of IA projects with a rubric, and creating IA projects.

Experiences In The Field: The Evolution Of A Teacher Technology Professional Development Model, M. Robertshaw, Andrew Walker, Mimi Recker, Heather Leary, Linda Sellers

Linda Sellers

The New Science of Learning: Cognition, Computers and Collaboration in Education deftly explores the multiple relationships found among these critical elements in students’ increasingly complex and multi-paced educational experience. Starting with instructors’ insights into the cognitive effects of digital media—a diverse range of viewpoints with little consensus—this cutting-edge resource acknowledges the double-edged potential inherent in computer-based education and its role in shaping students’ thinking capabilities.

Tool Use And The Effect Of Action On The Imagination, D. Schwartz, Doug Holton

Douglas L Holton

Three studies examined the claim that hand movements can facilitate imagery for object rotations but that this facilitation depends on people's model of the situation. In Experiment 1, physically turning a block without vision reduced mental rotation times compared with imagining the same rotation without bodily movement. In Experiment 2, pulling a string from a spool facilitated participants' mental rotation of an object sitting on the spool. In Experiment 3, depending on participants' model of the spool, the exact same pulling movement facilitated or interfered with the exact same imagery transformation. Results of Experiments 2 and 3 indicate that the …

Using Moodle To Teach Constructivist Learning Design Skills To Adult Learners, Doug Holton

Douglas L Holton

As instructors move further into the incorporation of 21st century technologies in adult education, a new paradigm of digitally-enriched mediated learning has emerged. 'Adult Learning in the Digital Age: Perspectives on Online Technologies and Outcomes' provides a comprehensive framework of trends and issues related to adult learning for the facilitation of authentic learning in the age of digital technology. This significant reference source offers researchers, academicians, and practitioners a valuable compendium of expert ideas, practical experiences, field challenges, and potential opportunities concerning the advancement of new technological and pedagogical techniques used in adult schooling.

Designing To Learn About Complex Systems, Cindy Hmelo, Doug Holton, Janet Kolodner

Douglas L Holton

Complex systems are commonly found in natural and physical science. Understanding such systems is often difficult because they may be viewed from multiple perspectives and their analysis may conflict with or extend beyond the range of everyday experience. There are many complex structural, behavioral, and functional relations to understand as well. Design activities, which allow explorations of how systems work, can be an excellent way to help children acquire a deeper, more systemic understanding of such complex domains. We report on a design experiment in which 6th grade children learned about the human respiratory system by designing artificial lungs and …

Developmental And Educational Perspectives On Theory Change: To Have And To Hold, Or To Have And Hone?, Richard Duschl, Gedeon Deaak, Kirsten Ellenbogen, Doug Holton

Douglas L Holton

Eric Schwitzgebel presents an attractive argument for the use of affective indicators to both assess and extend the ''theory theory'' research agenda. A key component of his argument is an account of explanation that can be applied to both children and adults, few of whom possess the attributes and behaviors that warrant being called scientists. The core features of his account include 1) regarding a set of propositions as a theory and 2) subscribing to a theory by accepting and employing this set of propositions to explain events within the theory''s domain. We will argue that this account, while potentially …

Towards A Nation Of Educoders: A Roadmap For Sustainably Broadening And Improving Open Source Educational Software, Doug Holton

Douglas L Holton

The goal of this chapter is to review the history of educational software development and propose specific strategies for expanding the development of educational software that is free, open source, and more effective for learning. These strategies would make it easier for teachers, students, and other non-programmers to modify or design their own educational applications and better educate software programmers about how people learn.

How People Learn With Computer Simulations, Doug Holton

Douglas L Holton

Not only have educators and trainers alike begun to harness the power of instructional technology and human performance techniques, but now businesses and industries have incorporated these technologies for training development and performance improvement. The 'Handbook of Research on Human Performance and Instructional Technology' provides theoretical understanding of the essential link between education, training development, organization development, performance improvement, and instructional technology. An innovative publication useful to worldwide businesses, industry, schools, and higher academic institutions, this Handbook of Research is instrumental in providing the latest knowledge related to instructional technology and human performance in order to meet the needs and …

Designing Animated Simulations And Web-Based Assessments To Improve Engineering Education, Doug Holton, A. Verma

Douglas L Holton

Rapid advances in computer technology and the internet have created new opportunities for delivering instruction and revolutionizing the learning environment. This development has been accelerated by the significant reduction in cost of the Internet infrastructure and the easy accessibility of the World-Wide-Web. 'Web-Based Engineering Education: Critical Design and Effective Tools' evaluates the usefulness of advanced learning systems in delivering instructions in a virtual academic environment for different engineering sectors. This reference source aims at providing a deep probe into the most relevant issues in engineering education and digital learning and will offer a survey of how digital engineering education has …

Virtual Worlds: New Social Practices, New Literacies, J. Connelly

Dr. CONNELLY, Jennifer

No abstract provided.

Report On The Development Of The University Experience Survey, Ali Radloff, Hamish Coates, Richard James, Kerri-Lee Krause

Ali Radloff

In 2011, the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) commissioned a Consortium led by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) and including the University of Melbourne’s Centre for the Study of Higher Education (CSHE) and the Griffith Institute for Higher Education (GIHE) to develop an instrument and methodology for a new national survey of the experience of university students—the University Experience Survey (UES). The University Experience Survey (UES) is one of a number of initiatives being developed by the Australian Government to help ensure the ongoing improvement in the quality of teaching and learning in Australian universities. …

The Effectiveness Of A Mixed Methodology Implemented In A Beginner’S Spanish Course To Develop The Four Language Skills: A Quasi-Experimental Study, Kerwin A. Livingstone

Kerwin A. Livingstone

This present article seeks to provide a mixed methodological model for the development and implementation of a Teaching Module for Spanish as a Foreign Language in the face to face environment. The primary objective is to portray how methodological principles from different language teaching approaches - in this case, task based language teaching and cooperative learning - can be combined effectively in designing activities for face to face contexts. In this regard, empirical evidence is analysed in order to determine the effectiveness of the mixed methodology in the teaching-learning of Spanish as a Foreign Language in the said settings, in …

Wiki Leaks Revelations In Global Context—The War Between ‘Right To Publish’ And ‘Ethical Code Of Conduct, Ratnesh Dwivedi Mr

Ratnesh Dwivedi

WikiLeaks is an international non-profit organisation that publishes submissions of private, secret, and classified media from anonymous news sources, news leaks, and whistleblowers. Its website, launched in 2006 under The Sunshine Press organisation claimed a database of more than 1.2 million documents within a year of its launch. WikiLeaks describes its founders as a mix of Chinese dissidents, journalists, mathematicians, and start-up company technologists from the United States, Taiwan, Europe, Australia, and South Africa. Julian Assange, an Australian Internet activist, is generally described as its director. The site was originally launched as a user-editable wiki, but has progressively moved towards …

A Critical Study Of Organizational Communication And Organizational Communication Theories- A Historical Perspective, Ratnesh Dwivedi Mr

Ratnesh Dwivedi

Organizational Communication is the study that looks at human communication within and outside the organization. Conrad and Poole (1998) break the definition of organizational communication in parts, by first defining communication and then analyses the organization. These researchers define communication as “a process through which people, acting together, create, sustain, and manage meanings through the use of verbal and nonverbal signs and symbols within a particular context” (Conrad and Poole, 1998, p. 5). In the context of this book, Kenyans and their leaders are communicating their views and final decision through the ballot box to elect their third president, during …