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Full-Text Articles in Education

Signposts To Improved Test Scores In Literacy And Numeracy, Julie Mcmillan, Sheldon Rothman May 2012

Signposts To Improved Test Scores In Literacy And Numeracy, Julie Mcmillan, Sheldon Rothman

Dr Sheldon Rothman

A recent study of year 9 students' results on reading comprehension and mathematics tests, by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) found that a positive school climate is associated with higher literacy and numeracy test scores. In other key findings, socioeconomic status, language background, Indigenous status, gender and educational aspirations were found to have significant effects on achievement in both literacy and numeracy. Parents' education had a significant effect on literacy but not on numeracy. This article gives an overview of the findings.


Developing Standards Of Practice For Leaders In Victorian Catholic Schools, Elizabeth Kleinhenz, Lawrence Ingvarson, Anna Mcdonald Apr 2010

Developing Standards Of Practice For Leaders In Victorian Catholic Schools, Elizabeth Kleinhenz, Lawrence Ingvarson, Anna Mcdonald

Dr Elizabeth Kleinhenz

In 2003-4, the Catholic Education Commission of Victoria (CECV) and the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) undertook a project to develop standards for school leadership. A specific aim of the project was to provide a 'bridge' to leadership that would encourage teachers to undertake leadership tasks and to consider moving into formal positions of leadership. This paper reports on the experiences and challenges of developing standards that matched this purpose. It also reviews school leadership standards that have been developed in Australia and overseas over the past decade. A comparison is drawn between standards for teachers and standards for …


Teacher Accountability In Australia : Current Policies And Practices And Their Relation To The Improvement Of Teaching And Learning, Elizabeth Kleinhenz, Lawrence Ingvarson Apr 2010

Teacher Accountability In Australia : Current Policies And Practices And Their Relation To The Improvement Of Teaching And Learning, Elizabeth Kleinhenz, Lawrence Ingvarson

Dr Elizabeth Kleinhenz

The strong link between teacher quality and student learning outcomes calls for effective systems of teacher accountability. School systems in all Australian states have established policies and practices to raise levels of teacher accountability, but it remains doubtful whether they have the capacity to deliver on teacher quality assurance or improvement in teachers' practice. This paper reports some of the recent findings of an ARC funded project that mapped teacher evaluation practices across all Australian states and territories. After providing a brief historical overview of teacher evaluation in Australia, it discusses three recent initiatives at the 'accomplished teacher' level; namely …


Evaluation Of The Standards And Professional Learning Project 2003., Elizabeth Kleinhenz, Lawrence Ingvarson Apr 2010

Evaluation Of The Standards And Professional Learning Project 2003., Elizabeth Kleinhenz, Lawrence Ingvarson

Dr Elizabeth Kleinhenz

Launched in 2003, the brief of the ‘Standards and Professional Learning Project’ was: to develop professional teaching standards for full registration, and to support new teachers (who were mostly newly graduated teachers from tertiary teacher education programs) to move from provisional to full registration at the end of their first year of teaching. The role of the ACER team was to assist the VIT Standards and Professional Learning Branch (SPLB) in: Revising and using the interim Standards for Professional Practice; Developing a final set of standards, based on wide consultation on the interim standards; Developing appropriate assessment tasks to gather …


Policy Issues For Australia's Education Systems : Evidence From International And Australian Research, Gary Marks, Julie Mcmillan, John Ainley Feb 2010

Policy Issues For Australia's Education Systems : Evidence From International And Australian Research, Gary Marks, Julie Mcmillan, John Ainley

Dr John Ainley

This article discusses education policy issues in the context of empirical evidence. It notes that many commonly held beliefs about Australian education such as, the relative performance and participation levels of Australian students; the importance of socioeconomic background on educational outcomes both relative to other countries and changes over-time; gender differences in mathematics and science; and the labour market situation of early school leavers; are not supported by empirical research. Such findings have implications for government policies. The article also questions current policy directions toward increasing Year 12 participation, expanding both secondary and post-secondary vocational education and reducing class sizes. …


Affective Engagement : A Person-Centred Approach To Understanding The Structure Of Subjective Learning Experiences, Sarah Buckley, Galit Hasen, Mary Ainley Nov 2004

Affective Engagement : A Person-Centred Approach To Understanding The Structure Of Subjective Learning Experiences, Sarah Buckley, Galit Hasen, Mary Ainley

Dr Sarah Buckley

Accounts of students' learning have increasingly emphasised the role of affective engagement in achievement settings. Although most studies have focused on negative emotional experiences such as anxiety, more recent studies have investigated the role of positive emotions. This study examines the structure of students' subjective learning experiences in relation to individual interest profiles. It measured two components of affect: activation as positive arousal that indicates engagement, and valence as an evaluative quality of the students' experience. Senior secondary students (females, N=162) completed measures of individual interests, curiosity and prior knowledge, read three social issues texts and then answered some questions …


Essential Learning Prep To Year 10 : English Curriculum Area., Wayne Sawyer, Marion Meiers Jun 2004

Essential Learning Prep To Year 10 : English Curriculum Area., Wayne Sawyer, Marion Meiers

Marion Meiers

This discussion paper was prepared for the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority as theoretical background for development of the Victorian Essential Learning Standards.


Why You Have To Probe To Discover What Year 8 Students Really Think About Fractions, Catherine Pearn, Max Stephens May 2004

Why You Have To Probe To Discover What Year 8 Students Really Think About Fractions, Catherine Pearn, Max Stephens

Catherine Pearn

Many researchers have noted how children's whole number schemes can interfere with their efforts to learn fractions. This paper examines the persistence of whole number schemes among 14 year-old students who appear to have successfully mastered routine algorithms for working with fractions. Uncovering whole number thinking among such students is therefore difficult, and is illustrated through the use of several probing interview tasks, revealing quite different forms of whole number thinking. These forms of thinking can give correct answers also making it difficult for teachers to identify incorrect thinking about fractions. Representations of fractions using number lines can assist in …


Education.Au Limited And Shared/Common/Web Services - Discussion Paper, Gerald White, Claire Murray Apr 2004

Education.Au Limited And Shared/Common/Web Services - Discussion Paper, Gerald White, Claire Murray

Dr Gerald K. White

This paper encapsulates the key points raised at an Education.au workshop, in early December 2003, and in doing so provides an overview of innovation and growth prospects that Education.au could pursue in the areas of shared, common and web services


Staying Longer At School And Absenteeism : Evidence From Australian Research And The Longitudinal Surveys Of Australian Youth., Sheldon Rothman Feb 2004

Staying Longer At School And Absenteeism : Evidence From Australian Research And The Longitudinal Surveys Of Australian Youth., Sheldon Rothman

Dr Sheldon Rothman

Participation in senior secondary education in Australia has experienced tremendous growth since the late 1960s. Much of this growth has come from young people who were the first in their families to participate in schooling at this level. Many of the changes in participation and in curriculum offerings have been documented as part of a number of longitudinal surveys of young people. This paper summarises some of the knowledge gained from this research, and from research conducted by one state education department over the period.


Global Gateways: Transforming Learning Through Online Knowledge Networks, Gerald White Feb 2004

Global Gateways: Transforming Learning Through Online Knowledge Networks, Gerald White

Dr Gerald K. White

Gerry's presentation focused on issues and trends identified in the Global Gateways report.


The History Of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder., Julie Kos, A Richdale Feb 2004

The History Of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder., Julie Kos, A Richdale

Dr Julie Kos

As the number of children diagnosed with, and medicated for, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) increases at an alarming rate, there have been questions raised as to whether ADHD is really a disorder or merely a fabricated and socially constructed problem. However, there is much evidence which shows that ADHD-related difficulties have been observed in children for at least the past century. This paper provides a detailed account of this evidence and shows that ADHD is a disorder which has affected children for at least the past 100 years. [Author abstract, ed]


The New Basics Research Report, Gabrielle Matters, Allan Luke, Ray Barrett, Ray Land Dec 2003

The New Basics Research Report, Gabrielle Matters, Allan Luke, Ray Barrett, Ray Land

Dr Gabrielle Matters

This report describes the research component of a trial in 38 Queensland state schools of a new way of preparing young Queenslanders to meet the challenges of new times and of contributing to the Smart State. The New Basics Trial investigated the viability of a new framework for integrating what is taught with how it is taught, assessed and reported. The research program complemented two other key elements of the Trial - development of the components of the framework and its implementation in selected schools. The research activities reported here provide primary data, analyses and some conclusions about the impact …


From Research To Practice : Using The Timss Video Study Findings To Enhance Australian Mathematics Teaching, Hilary Hollingsworth Dec 2003

From Research To Practice : Using The Timss Video Study Findings To Enhance Australian Mathematics Teaching, Hilary Hollingsworth

Dr Hilary Hollingsworth

The findings of the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 1999 Video Study have been reported at both international and national levels, however its impact on Australian mathematics teaching has yet to be realised. How can the results of the video study inform teachers' efforts toward excellence in mathematics teaching in Australia? This paper highlights some of the findings and recommendations in the national report, 'Teaching Mathematics in Australia: Results from the TIMSS 1999 Video Study', and anticipates ways that the products of the study might be used for improving teaching and teacher development. The broad purpose of the …


The Numeracy Skills Of Preschoolers, Ray Peck, A Grant Dec 2003

The Numeracy Skills Of Preschoolers, Ray Peck, A Grant

Ray Peck

Project Good Start is a two-year study commissioned by the Australian Government Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST) and conducted by the Australian Council for Educational Research as part of the Australian Government's Numeracy Research and Development Initiative. A number of state and national projects are being conducted which focus on improving students' outcomes in numeracy by identifying effective teaching and learning practices in the primary and pre- primary years. This article describes some of the findings of the study. The role of the Mathematical Association of Victoria (MAV) in the study is discussed.


Examining The Evidence : Science Achievement In Australian Schools In Timss 2002, Sue Thomson, Nicole Fleming Dec 2003

Examining The Evidence : Science Achievement In Australian Schools In Timss 2002, Sue Thomson, Nicole Fleming

Nicole Wernert

Australia, 10030 students in 414 schools participated in the main sample of TIMSS 2002/03. ...Results are reported as average scores with the standard error, as distributions of scores, and as percentages of students who attain the international benchmarks, for countries and specific groups of students within Australia.


Shared Online Content And Services, Gerald White Dec 2003

Shared Online Content And Services, Gerald White

Dr Gerald K. White

The purpose of this paper is to introduce thinking about shared national online content and services which are commonly used and required by stakeholders in education and training.


Scale For Mapping Progress In Mathematical Competencies, Ross Turner, Gayl O'Connor, Thomas Romberg Dec 2003

Scale For Mapping Progress In Mathematical Competencies, Ross Turner, Gayl O'Connor, Thomas Romberg

Gayl O'Connor

No abstract provided.


15 Up : Charting The Influence Of Literacy And Numeracy Achievement On Later Life., Sheldon Rothman Dec 2003

15 Up : Charting The Influence Of Literacy And Numeracy Achievement On Later Life., Sheldon Rothman

Dr Sheldon Rothman

A successful involvement with further education, training and employment can be predicted through a student's performance in literacy and numeracy at secondary school level. The Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) is a program that makes it possible to assess the influence of achievements in year 9, combined with the successful completion of year 12, while tracking the progress of students as they move through the education system to the workforce.


Positive School Climate Helps Students Achieve Positive Results, Sheldon Rothman, Julie Mcmillan Dec 2003

Positive School Climate Helps Students Achieve Positive Results, Sheldon Rothman, Julie Mcmillan

Julie McMillan

A recent ACER study of Year 9 students' results on reading comprehension and mathematics tests found that a positive school climate is associated with higher literacy and numeracy test scores. Socioeconomic status (SES), language background, Indigenous status, gender and educational aspirations were also found to have significant effects on achievement in both literacy and numeracy.


Summing It Up : Mathematics Achievement In Australian Schools In Timss 2002, Nicole Fleming, Sue Thomson Dec 2003

Summing It Up : Mathematics Achievement In Australian Schools In Timss 2002, Nicole Fleming, Sue Thomson

Nicole Wernert

This document analyses and interprets the Australian data collected as part of the TIMSS study for Year 4 and Year 8 students.


The Emotional Wellbeing Of Young People : School, Further Study, Work And Beyond, Julie Mcmillan, Kylie Hillman Dec 2003

The Emotional Wellbeing Of Young People : School, Further Study, Work And Beyond, Julie Mcmillan, Kylie Hillman

Julie McMillan

Educational and labour market pathways in the early post-school years are becoming increasingly diverse. A pertinent issue for those working with young people is how young people now navigate the transition from secondary school into post-school education, training and employment, and the impact of the different paths followed on their emotional wellbeing. This paper has two aims: to describe the cross-sectional relationship between emotional wellbeing and participation in a range of post-school education, training and labour market activities; and, to assess whether movement between activities in the early post-school years is associated with changes in emotional wellbeing.


A Thousand Resources For Science Teachers, Gayl O'Connor Dec 2003

A Thousand Resources For Science Teachers, Gayl O'Connor

Gayl O'Connor

The Science Education Assessment Resource (SEAR) project is an online resource bank of science assessment tasks for the compulsory years of schooling (P-10). The bank includes a variety of items that can be used for diagnostic, formative or summative assessment purposes. The Australian Council for Educational Research is responsible for the overall management of the project, working in collaboration with Curriculum Corporation and other organisations.


Iea Civic Education Study: Technical Report, Wolfram Schulz, Heiko Sibberns Dec 2003

Iea Civic Education Study: Technical Report, Wolfram Schulz, Heiko Sibberns

Dr Wolfram Schulz

During 1999, researchers surveyed nearly 90,000 14-year-old students in 28 countries. Findings for this age group were released in 2001 and reported in Citizenship and Education in Twenty-eight Countries: Civic Knowledge and Engagement at Age Fourteen (Torney-Purta, Lehmann, Oswald, & Schulz). In the following year, over 50,000 upper secondary students (ranging in age from 16 to 19 years) from 16 countries received a similar test and the same survey of civic concepts and attitudes. Findings for the upper secondary students were released in 2002 and reported in Civic Knowledge and Engagement. An IEA Study of Upper Secondary Students in Sixteen …


Getting The Most Out Of Our Online Teaching Resources, Gerald White Dec 2003

Getting The Most Out Of Our Online Teaching Resources, Gerald White

Dr Gerald K. White

Australia’s achievements in developing quality online resources for vocational education and training are exemplary. A number of well coordinated national initiatives have paved the way in developing an infrastructure for the creation and deployment of online content for learning and training. The Australian Flexible Framework initiative, which has adopted a holistic approach to content development, has had a significant impact on transforming flexible learning through professional development, community building, mentoring, and building its capacity to share teaching and learning resources across state boundaries. But many challengers remain. How do we ensure that mechanisms are in place to facilitate unrestricted access …


Then And Now : Texts In English Classrooms, Marion Meiers Dec 2003

Then And Now : Texts In English Classrooms, Marion Meiers

Marion Meiers

What is anything has been consistently considered essential learning for students in English classes in secondary schools over the past fifty years, asks the author? This article considers the similarities and differences in the teaching of English since the 1950s focusing on the many facets of English texts in contemporary Australian classrooms.


Signposts To Improved Test Scores In Literacy And Numeracy, Julie Mcmillan, Sheldon Rothman Dec 2003

Signposts To Improved Test Scores In Literacy And Numeracy, Julie Mcmillan, Sheldon Rothman

Julie McMillan

A recent study of year 9 students' results on reading comprehension and mathematics tests, by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) found that a positive school climate is associated with higher literacy and numeracy test scores. In other key findings, socioeconomic status, language background, Indigenous status, gender and educational aspirations were found to have significant effects on achievement in both literacy and numeracy. Parents' education had a significant effect on literacy but not on numeracy. This article gives an overview of the findings.