Education Commons^™

Pisa 2012 : How Australia Measures Up : The Pisa 2012 Assessment Of Students’ Mathematical, Scientific And Reading Literacy, Sue Thomson, Lisa De Bortoli, Sarah Buckley

Dr Sarah Buckley

PISA seeks to measure how well young adults at age 15 (and, therefore, near the end of compulsory schooling in most participating education systems) are prepared to use their knowledge and skills in particular areas to meet real-life challenges. PISA’s orientation reflects a change in the goals and objectives of curricula, which increasingly address how well students are able to apply what they learn at school. This report presents the results of the PISA 2012 assessment for Australia. It presents the results for Australia as a whole, for the Australian jurisdictions and (where relevant) for the other participants in the …

Addressing Academic Integrity: Perspectives From Virginia Commonwealth University In Qatar, Nancy E. Fawley

Nancy Fawley

Understanding the cultural aspects that affect a student’s ability to appropriately use resources is important in developing outreach and instruction in multicultural settings. Differences in educational philosophies, students’ previous scholastic training and cultural differences in individual motivation are all factors that may affect a freshman’s ability to understand an American university’s idea of academic integrity and can inadvertently cause problems where independent work and critical thinking are required. At Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar (VCU Qatar), a branch campus of the American university in the Middle East, a special class on academic integrity and ethical behavior was integrated into the …

Making A Difference In Developing Countries, David Tout

David (Dave) Tout

The work of ACER in education is making the difference in educational outcomes for students across the world, particularly in developing countries.

Informing Policy In Developing Countries, Petra Lietz, Mollie Tobin

Dr Petra Lietz

Petra Lietz and Mollie Tobin discuss the impact of large-scale assessment programs on education policy in developing countries.

Cultural Differences In Teaching And Learning, Hilary Hollingsworth

Dr Hilary Hollingsworth

People in different cultures might learn in fundamentally different ways, Hilary Hollingsworth explains.

University Population Dynamics As A Recontracting Allocative Proccess, Teresa M. G. Da Cunha Lopes, Jesús Martínez Linares

Teresa M. G. Da Cunha Lopes

The recent structural change of economic growth caused by the development of new technologies have placed a leading role on positive-feedback high- tech companies in modern economy. University institution can also be considered a high-tech economic agent, producing qualifyed specialist than can couple non-linearly to the market demand. Here, we explore the effect of positive-feedback on the population dynamics of University students. We find a bifurcation in the ”market share” stationary probability distribution that can serve as a signature of complex behaviour.

Realising Australia's International Education As Public Diplomacy, Caitlin Byrne, Rebecca Hall

Caitlin Byrne

Australia’s international education serves as public diplomacy, essentially engaging and influencing public audiences in ways that progress Australian foreign policy priorities and national interests. The multidimensional and increasingly globalised nature of international education presents enormous opportunity for vital exchange and interactions between and with students, academics and communities via onshore and offshore modes of delivery. Positive experiences of student mobility and the development of intellectual, commercial and social relationships can build upon a nation’s reputation, and enhance the ability of that nation to participate in and influence regional or global outcomes. This is ultimately the essence of soft power. While …

On The Use Of Rotated Context Questionnaires In Conjunction With Multilevel Item Response Models, Raymond J. Adams, Petra Lietz, Alla Berezner

Dr Petra Lietz

Sense-Making Of Teachers In The Midst Of Information Communication Technology (Ict) Reforms In Schools: An Exploratory Case Study, Vicente C. Reyes Jr

Dr. Vicente C Reyes Jr

This qualitative research inquiry attempts to explore how school teachers cope with the incessant and seemingly endless transformations that occur in schools. The central phenomenon to be studied focuses on how school teachers “make sense” of educational reform as it occurs in their local contexts. In order to do this, an exploratory case study of two target schools that took part in policy reform initiatives directed at ubiquitous use of Information Communication and Technology (ICT) would be the locus of this inquiry. Using Actor-Network Theory (ANT) as an analytical frame, for the Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and interviews, this inquiry …

It's Not Just About The Money: Motivations For Youth Migration In Rural China, Yilin Chiang, Emily C. Hannum, Grace Kao

Emily C. Hannum

This study investigates the incentives for labor migration of youth in rural China using panel data from the Gansu Survey of Children and Families, a longitudinal study of youth in rural Gansu Province of China. We investigate the individual and altruistic economic motivations featured prominently in demographic and economic research on migration. However, we propose that the non-economic goal of personal development, a motivation suggested in numerous qualitative studies of women migrants in China and elsewhere, is also important, especially for young migrants. Analyzes indicate that, while young men and young women hold different motivations for migration, the desire for …

Iccs 2009 Encyclopedia : Approaches To Civic And Citizenship Education Around The World, John Ainley, Wolfram Schulz, Tim Friedman

Dr John Ainley

The International Civic and Citizenship Education Study (ICCS 2009) investigated the ways in which countries prepare their young people to undertake their roles as citizens. It studied student knowledge and understanding of civics and citizenship as well as student attitudes, perceptions, and activities related to civics and citizenship. ICCS also examined differences among countries in relation to these outcomes of civic and citizenship education, and it explored how differences across countries relate to student characteristics, school and community contexts, and national characteristics. Thirty-eight countries participated in ICCS 2009. Among these were five from Asia, 26 from Europe, six from Latin …

Iccs 2009 Encyclopedia : Approaches To Civic And Citizenship Education Around The World, John Ainley, Wolfram Schulz, Tim Friedman

Dr Tim Friedman

The International Civic and Citizenship Education Study (ICCS 2009) investigated the ways in which countries prepare their young people to undertake their roles as citizens. It studied student knowledge and understanding of civics and citizenship as well as student attitudes, perceptions, and activities related to civics and citizenship. ICCS also examined differences among countries in relation to these outcomes of civic and citizenship education, and it explored how differences across countries relate to student characteristics, school and community contexts, and national characteristics. Thirty-eight countries participated in ICCS 2009. Among these were five from Asia, 26 from Europe, six from Latin …

Iccs 2009 Encyclopedia : Approaches To Civic And Citizenship Education Around The World, John Ainley, Wolfram Schulz, Tim Friedman

Dr Wolfram Schulz

The International Civic and Citizenship Education Study (ICCS 2009) investigated the ways in which countries prepare their young people to undertake their roles as citizens. It studied student knowledge and understanding of civics and citizenship as well as student attitudes, perceptions, and activities related to civics and citizenship. ICCS also examined differences among countries in relation to these outcomes of civic and citizenship education, and it explored how differences across countries relate to student characteristics, school and community contexts, and national characteristics. Thirty-eight countries participated in ICCS 2009. Among these were five from Asia, 26 from Europe, six from Latin …

The Mobility Of Ethics And The Ethics Of Mobility, David Shallenberger, Susan Mcgury

David B Shallenberger

Academic intercultural encounters inevitably involve ethical questions and quandaries around such issues as academic standards, pedagogical differences, the nature of the professor-student relationship, professional practices and the like. Different cultures bring differing understandings of what is right, wrong, appropriate, or feasible, and these discrepancies need to be considered fully and fairly.

We begin by presenting key points regarding these ethical considerations, illuminated by examples from our practice of several decades working in Latin America, Asia (including the Middle East), and Europe. We engaged participants in adding their own examples, as well. We then presented 3 scenarios for deliberation by participants …

Inexpensive, Yet Impactful Ideas For Internationalisation, David B. Shallenberger, C K. Kwai, Lori Reynolds

David B Shallenberger

While virtually all institutions would like to internationalize comprehensively, many have limited resources and are looking for less costly steps they can take that have a positive impact and are sustainable. Drawing on experiences in the United States, Latin America, Asia and the Middle East, this session presents powerful ideas that are successful in enhancing internationalization for minimal investment.

The Difficulties Of Learning English: Perceptions And Attitudes In Mexico, Colette Despagne

Colette Despagne

The political, cultural, and economical relationship between the United States and Mexico is becoming more interdependent, and in general, Mexico’s participation in the world economy has increased the spread of English as a Second Language (ESL). English is ubiquitous in Mexico’s everyday life, as opposed to indigenous languages which are mostly hidden. The diffusion of English makes ESL learning mandatory if Mexicans want to aspire to a better social and economic life. Nevertheless, this contextual ‘imposition’ highly influences perceptions and attitudes Mexicans have towards the language. This in turn may create a strong barrier to the whole language learning process. …

Education By Any Means Necessary: Peoples Of African Descent And Community-Based Pedagogical Spaces, Ty-Ron M. O. Douglas Ph.D., Craig Peck Ph.D.

Ty-Ron M. O. Douglas, Ph.D.

This study examines how and why peoples of African descent access and utilize community-based pedagogical spaces that exist outside schools. Employing a theoretical framework that fuses historical methodology and border-crossing theory, the researchers review existing scholarship and primary documents to present an historical examination of how peoples of African descent have fought for and redefined education in nonschool educative venues. These findings inform the authors' analysis of results from an oral history project they conducted into how Black Bermudian men utilized learning spaces outside schools, such as the family, Black church, and athletics clubs, to augment their personal and scholastic …

Report On The 2013 Forum Survey To Its Members And Subsequent Dialogue With International Officers Of Brazilian Institutions At The Faubai, David Shallenberger

David B Shallenberger

This report summarizes the study done of the perspectives of members of the Forum on Education Abroad on their experience in partnership with Brazilian HEIs, as well as the subsequent workshop and discussion with Brazilian international educators.

This report is available through the Forum on Education Abroad (www.forumea.org).

Getting Real About Globalization And Legal Education: Potential And Perspectives For The U.S., Carole Silver

Carole Silver

This article addresses whether US law schools are preparing their JD students to work in the global environment that many - if not most – law graduates will encounter. It begins by considering the significance of globalization for legal education, drawing on research analyzing its influence on legal practice as well as on higher education. It then explores possible settings and opportunities for learning to work in a global environment. For the vast majority of students whose learning must occur in the US, the presence of international students in their law school offers the potential for creating a global learning …

Lessons Learnt From International Assessments: Part 2., Dave Tout

David (Dave) Tout

This article discusses an often overlooked value of international assessments - they provide an insight and description of task development and complexity that teachers can refer to when creating their own classroom tasks and assessment. It focuses on the Adult Literacy and Life Skills Survey and the Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies.

Language Policy And Education: Space And Place In Multilingual Post-Soviet States, Kara D. Brown

Kara D. Brown

Institutional isomorphists and other proponents of world culture theory argue that schools around the world are converging in many ways, while anthropologists and others question this conclusion, often arguing that local cultural differences belie superficial similarities. These viewpoints are not merely academic explanations of the spread and apparent convergence of education policies and practices around the world, but are often present in policy and practice. The authors seek both to shed new light on these often-entrenched positions and to refocus the debate by considering the presence and influence of such views in the policies and practices of international teacher exchanges. …

Issues Of Citizenship, National Identity And Political Socialization In Singapore: Implications To The Singapore Education System, Vicente C. Reyes Jr

Dr. Vicente C Reyes Jr

This inquiry attempts to address the question: How has the Singapore city-state used its education system in integrating three important cornerstones of nation-building? Using selected data from the National Orientations of Singaporeans Survey complemented by policy documents, this article explores three specific questions: (1) How is citizenship education pursued? (2) How is national identity forged? And (3) How is political socialization engendered? The inquiry concludes with challenges that the Singapore education system faces as it tries to address its nation-building project.

Convergent Validity Of The Finnish Behavioral And Emotional Rating Scale-2 With Teachers And Parents As Raters, Hannu Savolainen Dr., Philip D. Nordness Dr., Erkko T. Sointu, Kristiina Lappalainen, Michael H. Epstein

Philip D. Nordness Dr.

In previous research the Finnish version of the Behavioral and Emotional Rating Scale-2 (Epstein,2004) has demonstrated adequate internal consistency and reliability. The purpose of the present study was to examine the convergent validity of the Finnish BERS-2 by comparing it with the Finnish version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, with teachers and parents as the raters. The results add to the research base to suggest that the Finnish BERS-2 is a valid and reliable instrument for assessing the emotional and behavioral strengths of children and youth.

Confessions Of A Border-Crossing Brotha-Scholar: Teaching Race With All Of Me, Ty-Ron M. O. Douglas Ph.D.

Ty-Ron M. O. Douglas, Ph.D.

No abstract provided.

La Universidad Constructora De Estado, Imanol Ordorika

Imanol Ordorika

This book presents a critical analysis of State Building Universities (SBU’s) by looking at the origins, development and contemporary crisis of Mexico’s National Autonomous University under the economic and political constraints posed by neoliberal policies and globalization. The UNAM, as well as other SBU’s, has faced enormous difficulties in order to maintain its centrality on State projects.

Una Nueva Hegemonía: Gestación De La Ley Orgánica De 1944-45, Imanol Ordorika

Imanol Ordorika

La Universidad que hoy conocemos tomó forma más notablemente a partir del final de la Revolución Mexicana. Los grupos y fuerzas póliticas que se forjaron a su interior fueron parte de las diversas contiendas que dieron lugar al estatus jurídico que se consolidó en la Ley de 1945 y que persiste hasta nuestros días. Las tradiciones y discursos que emergieron en su interior, así como los grupos y fuerzas que la dominaron, se gestaron durante las distintas etapas de la evolución del Estado posrevolucionario y el desarrollo del sistema político autoritario mexicano.