Education Commons^™

Reading For The New Era: Assessing Reading In A Digital Environment, Dara Searle, Tom Lumley, Juliette Mendelovits

Dr Tom Lumley

No abstract provided.

Reading For The New Era: Assessing Reading In A Digital Environment, Dara Searle, Tom Lumley, Juliette Mendelovits

Juliette Mendelovits

No abstract provided.

What Information From Pisa Is Useful For Teachers? How Can Pisa Help Our Students To Become More Proficient?, Juliette Mendelovits, Dara Searle, Tom Lumley

Juliette Mendelovits

A frequent objection to large-scale testing programs, both national and international, is that they are used as an instrument of control, rather than as a means of providing information to effect change. Moreover, concerns about large-scale testing often take the form of objection to the specific characteristics of the assessments as being prescriptive and proscriptive, leading to a narrowing of the curriculum and the spectre of 'teaching to the test' to the exclusion of more important educational content. Taking PISA reading literacy as its focus, this paper proposes, on the contrary, that a coherent assessment system is valuable in so …

Success Despite The Odds? Outcomes For Low-Performing Students In Australia, Sue Thomson, Kylie Hillman

Kylie Hillman

No abstract provided.

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

Julian Fraillon

This paper outlines how Rasch modelling can be used for testing assumption about measurement equivalence in international studies. Based on the Rasch model (Rasch, 1960) for dichotomous items and the Partial Credit model for polytomous items (Masters & Wright, 1982), so-called item-by-country interactions can be estimated that provide useful information about the level of measurement invariance in parameter estimates. It should be noted that item-by-country interactions are one form of differential item functioning (DIF) where groups vary in their probability of answering questions even after controlling for their levels of ability (see Hambleton, Swaminathan and Rogers, 1991). Item-by-country interactions can …

A Digital Education Revolution : Realising The Possibilities, Managing The Realities, Linda Rosman, Gerald White, Kerry-Anne Hoad

Dr Gerald K. White

This report presents the outcomes of the series of Symposia 'A Digital Education Revolution; realising the possibilities, managing the realities'. ACER initiated the Symposia, developed the program, delivered research content and managed the promotions and coordination for each event. ACER proposed the series of Symposia in response to the current interest, conversations and debate within schools and systems. The goals of the Symposia were to illuminate the possibilities and the realities of the DER initiative through informed presentations, discussions, debates and conversations, and to provide feedback to DEEWR on the school based concerns and key issues that emerged. ACER initially …

Digital Learning: An Australian Research Agenda, Gerald White

Dr Gerald K. White

The purpose of this paper is to provide some suggestions for consideration of directions for Australian educational research about ICT in education, more recently being called digital learning. A number of agencies in Australia, Canada, Europe, New Zealand, the UK, and the USA have already embarked on developing research agendas and undertaking research into the use of digital learning. This report highlights some of the significant areas in which research has been undertaken and isolates those areas where there may be a need for further research or where there are gaps in the research agenda for Australia. This paper is …

A New Scale For Measuring Socioeconomic Status In Educational Research : Development And Validation Of The Australian Socioeconomic Index 2006 (Ausei06), Julie Mcmillan, Frank Jones, Adrian Beavis

Julie McMillan

This paper introduces a new occupational status scale, the Australian Socioeconomic Index 2006 (AUSEI06), which can be used to explore a wide range of equity issues relating to educational aspirations, early school leaving, access to higher education, literacy and numeracy levels, and other aspects of educational access, achievement, and attainment. AUSEI06 was developed in response to the introduction of the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The scale provides a simple means for educational researchers to convert ANZSCO codes into more sociologically meaningful occupational status scores. The aims of this paper …

The Impact Of Values And Learning Approaches On Achievement: Do Gender And Academic Discipline Make A Difference., Petra Lietz, Liudmila Tarabashkina

Dr Petra Lietz

This paper presents results from a longitudinal study of sojourner students which was conducted at an international university in Germany from 2004 to 2007. The study followed one cohort of undergraduate students from the first week of their studies to graduation from their Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree. Participants completed three questionnaires at the beginning of each year: the Portrait Value Questionnaire (PVQ) (Schwartz et al. 2001), the Study Process Questionnaire (SPQ) (Biggs 1987), and the Student Background Questionnaire (Matthews, Lietz & Darmawan 2007). Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was used to examine how personal values influenced students’ …

Implementing A New Initiative In Mental Health In Australian Primary Schools, Michael Lawson, Helen Askell-Williams, Katherine Dix, Phillip Slee, Grace Skrzypiec, Barbara Spears

Dr Katherine Dix

I'M A Girl, You're A Boy. You Study Social Science, I Study Natural Science:, Petra Lietz, Ognyan Seizov

Dr Petra Lietz

In this multiple case study (n= 8) with process orientation (Yin, 2003) in-depth interviews were conducted annually over a three-year period with undergraduate students from eight countries at an international university. They had been purposely selected to reflect a mix of learning approaches, gender and discipline areas. Interviews probed students about their instructional experiences, such as evaluation of teaching, assessment preferences and preparation, adaptation of learning approaches and plans for the future. The systematic content analysis was aimed at comparing responses across learning approaches, gender and discipline areas. Results indicated commonalities across learning approaches, gender and discipline areas in terms …

The Contribution And Standards Processes Of Private Higher Education Providers, Daniel Edwards, Hamish Coates, Ali Radloff

Dr Daniel Edwards

This research project has been conducted by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) for the Australian Council for Private Education and Training (ACPET). The main purpose of this work is to provide information about the standards processes and practices among private1 higher education providers (HEPs) in Australia. This project has used quantitative modelling to determine the size, diversity and recent growth of HEPs in Australia, and to provide a contextual base for this part of the sector in comparison with the public universities. A number of HEPs have also participated in consultations undertaken as part of this research. Participating …

The Contribution And Standards Processes Of Private Higher Education Providers, Daniel Edwards, Hamish Coates, Ali Radloff

Ali Radloff

This research project has been conducted by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) for the Australian Council for Private Education and Training (ACPET). The main purpose of this work is to provide information about the standards processes and practices among private1 higher education providers (HEPs) in Australia. This project has used quantitative modelling to determine the size, diversity and recent growth of HEPs in Australia, and to provide a contextual base for this part of the sector in comparison with the public universities. A number of HEPs have also participated in consultations undertaken as part of this research. Participating …

Certificating Ielts Writing And Speaking Examiners, Sacha Develle

Dr Sacha DeVelle

IELTS examiners are subject to rigorous procedures for the certification of new examiners and the re-certification of experienced examiners. The IELTS Professional Support Network (PSN) integrates these procedures via a global system of recruitment, induction, training, standardisation, certification and monitoring. Research funded by the IELTS Joint-funded Research Program (Brown 2000, Furneaux and Rignall 2007), and outcomes from The IELTS Speaking Test Revision Project (1998-2001) and Writing Test Revision Project (2001-2005) have provided valuable insights into examiner training and the regular updating of examiner certification and training materials. Studies in Language Testing 19 (Taylor and Falvey 2007) documents Speaking and Writing …

Reporting And Comparing School Performances, Geoff 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. …

Questionnaire Construct Validation In The International Civic And Citizenship Education Study, Wolfram Schulz

Dr Wolfram Schulz

International studies tend to use student, teacher, and/or school questionnaires to collect contextual data on student and teacher characteristics, background, and activities, and the school’s learning environment. Student measures of values, attitudes, and behavioral intentions are also often viewed as important learning outcomes, in particular within the context of studies of civic and citizenship education. The scaling of questionnaire items to obtain measures of students’, teachers’, and principals’ perceptions and attitudes should therefore ideally be subject to a thorough cross-country validation of the underlying constructs. However, whereas those conducting international studies spend considerable effort ensuring measurement equivalence for international test …

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

Dr Wolfram Schulz

This paper outlines how Rasch modelling can be used for testing assumption about measurement equivalence in international studies. Based on the Rasch model (Rasch, 1960) for dichotomous items and the Partial Credit model for polytomous items (Masters & Wright, 1982), so-called item-by-country interactions can be estimated that provide useful information about the level of measurement invariance in parameter estimates. It should be noted that item-by-country interactions are one form of differential item functioning (DIF) where groups vary in their probability of answering questions even after controlling for their levels of ability (see Hambleton, Swaminathan and Rogers, 1991). Item-by-country interactions can …

Talking To Learn: Dialogue In The Classroom, Marion Meiers

Marion Meiers

This Digest is focused on research studies about using classroom talk for improving learning, and particularly on the use of teaching methods incorporating classroom dialogue. A selection of websites is listed and a full reference list provided. Links to those references for which full-text online access is freely available are also included. Classrooms are full of talk: some commentators have even suggested that schools are ‘saturated’ with it. There are different types of classroom talk for a range of different purposes. An international research study conducted in primary classrooms in five countries (the ‘Five Nations Study’) has demonstrated the powerful …

Issues Facing Scientific Research Employment In Australia, Daniel Edwards

Dr Daniel Edwards

Do higher research qualifications help or hinder job seekers? A recent ACER research project sought Australian labour market expectations and impressions from employers and prospective employees.

Reporting And Comparing School Performances, Geoff 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. …

Economics Of Quality Schooling, Gerald Burke, Phil Mckenzie

Dr Phillip McKenzie

The case for public expenditure on education is based on its contribution to the good of society over and above the benefits received by the individual educated. These benefits can be economic, the benefits of a larger pool of educated labour that allow for rapid economic development, and social, including the benefits of more committed law abiding citizens and the relief of poverty.

Some of the issues are considered in this paper:

1. The level of public expenditure on education and its distribution in relation to need

2. Where expenditure can yield most benefits

3. The incentives and system level …

Supply, Demand And Approaches To Employment By People With Postgraduate Research Qualifications In Science And Mathematics: Final Report, Daniel Edwards, T Smith

Dr Daniel Edwards

This is the final report bringing together knowledge and understanding of issues relating to the supply, demand and employment outcomes for people with higher degree research (HDR) qualifications in science and mathematics. The report highlights a number of key findings from the overall project. They are: * Australia has a growing supply of people with HDR science and mathematics qualifications. However, university completions in the science and mathematics fields is below that in non-scientific disciplines. * Consultations and case studies suggest that the demand for HDR qualifications in science and mathematics fields is low within private industry. * There is …

Supply, Demand And Approaches To Employment By People With Postgraduate Research Qualifications In Science And Mathematics: Case Studies, Daniel Edwards, T Smith

Dr Daniel Edwards

This is the third report of a research project which examines the supply and demand of people with postgraduate research qualifications in science and mathematics. In the report, four organisations showcase examples of good employment practices which cover issues associated with recruitment, retention, staff development and career paths. The report was completed in November 2008. To gain an overall perspective of the factors influencing supply and demand for this group it is important to consider all the reports in this project.

Supply, Demand And Approaches To Employment By People With Postgraduate Research Qualifications In Science And Mathematics: Stakeholder Consultations, Daniel Edwards, T Smith

Dr Daniel Edwards

This is the second report of a research project which examines the supply and demand of people with postgraduate research qualifications in science and mathematics. Consultations were conducted with key employers of the target group to identify levels and patterns of demand and their views about issues associated with employing these postgraduates. Key factors relating to salary levels, facilitators and barriers to employment were also considered.

Pisa Mathematics - An Insider's View, Ross Turner

Ross Turner

A New National University In Regional Australia Feasibility Study, Daniel Edwards

Dr Daniel Edwards

No abstract provided.

Highlighting The Similarities And Differences Of The Mathematical Knowledge And Strategies Of Year 4 Students, Catherine Pearn

Catherine Pearn

Research has shown that successful mathematics students use different types of strategies from those struggling with mathematics. Year 4 students were tested using the One Minute Tests of Basic Number Facts and a paper and pencil Number Screening Test developed by the author and colleagues. Observation of the students during the assessment procedures highlighted the vast difference in the students' speed and accuracy when recalling basic facts and the types of strategies they used when solving mathematical tasks. [Author abstract]

The Use Of Ict In Schools In The Digital Age: What Does The Research Say?, Marion Meiers

Marion Meiers

This edition of The Digest is focused on research that has investigated aspects of digital learning. The body of research sometimes described as ‘e-learning research’ (Andrews & Haythornthwaite, 2007) encompasses many aspects of ICT in education, at many levels and in many contexts. For the purposes of this digest, the key question is What does research tell us about digital learning in schools? The first section of the digest is focused on the diverse uses of ICT in schools, and evidence about the ICT literacy of Australian students. This is followed by an overview of evidence about the impact of …

Effect Of Gender And Reading Ability On Questions In The Target Language In L2 Listening Tests, Luc Le, Anna Filipi, Bernadette Brouwers

Dr Luc Tu Le

No abstract provided.

The Ausei06: A New Socioeconomic Index For Australia, Julie Mcmillan, Adrian Beavis, Frank Jones

Julie McMillan

This article provides an overview of the development of a new occupational status scale, the Australian Socioeconomic Index 2006 (AUSE106). This is the latest in the series of ANU scales, which since 1965, have provided a means for researchers to convert data coded in accordance with official occupational classifications into occupational status scores. The ANU scales have been widely used in fields such as sociology, education, economics and health. The new scale has been developed in response to the introduction of the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Recent changes in …