Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Commons^™

Infographic: Australia’S Pisa Performance Over Time, Jo Earp

Teacher infographics

A report on the 2015 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) results examines trends in Australia's average performance and the change in the percentages of students considered 'high' and 'low' performers.

Pisa 2015 : A First Look At Australia’S Results, Sue Thomson, Lisa De Bortoli, Catherine Underwood

OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) Australia

The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) is an international comparative study of student achievement directed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). PISA 2015 represents the sixth such study since PISA was first conducted in 2000. Seventy-two OECD countries or partner economies participated in PISA 2015. In Australia, PISA is managed by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) and is jointly funded by the Australian Government and the state and territory governments. The goal of PISA is to measure how well 15-year-olds, who are nearing the end of their compulsory schooling in most participating educational systems, …

Pacific Islands Literacy And Numeracy Assessment : Collaboration And Innovation In Reporting And Dissemination, Michelle Belisle, Elizabeth Cassity, Ratieli Kacilala, Mere T. Seniloli, Torika Taoi

Assessment and Reporting

This case study examines the Pacific Islands Literacy and Numeracy Assessment (PILNA), which has developed as a regional model designed to enable the negotiation of a high degree of consensus among the participating countries. Commitment to a collaborative approach pervades all aspects of PILNA, from governance, operation and development through to data sharing, reporting and dissemination of results. The efforts undertaken to reach consensus, enhanced transparency and public dissemination of results have stimulated countries in the region to investigate how data on student learning outcomes may be used and shared in a common endeavour to improve the standards of education …

20-Year Slide In Maths And Science Learning, Geoff N. Masters Ao

Teacher columnist – Geoff Masters

With the release of results from the four-yearly Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), Geoff Masters discusses what it will take to lift levels of mathematics and science learning in Australian schools.

Infographic: Frequency And Enjoyment Of Writing And Reading, Jo Earp

Teacher infographics

The National Literacy Trust (UK) annual literacy survey asks eight- to 18-year-olds about writing frequency and their enjoyment of writing. Here are some of the results and comparisons with the Trust's data on reading.

Infographic: Student Health And Wellbeing, Jo Earp

Teacher infographics

The Australian Child Wellbeing Project surveyed 5400 students in Year 4, 6 and 8, asking them about their lives and wellbeing during this crucial period. Here are some of the findings.

Timss 2015 : A First Look At Australia's Results, Sue Thomson, Nicole Wernert, Elizabeth O'Grady, Sima Rodrigues

TIMSS 2015

The goal of TIMSS is to provide comparative information about educational achievement across countries to improve teaching and learning in mathematics and science. It is designed, broadly, to align with the mathematics and science curricula in the participating education systems and countries, and focuses on assessment at Year 4 and Year 8. It also provides comparative perspectives on trends in achievement in the context of different education systems, school organisational approaches and instructional practices; and to enable this, TIMSS collects a rich array of background data from students, schools and teachers, and also collects data about the education systems themselves. …

A Commitment To Growth, Geoff N. Masters Ao

Teacher columnist – Geoff Masters

Students begin each school year at very different stages in their learning and development. Nevertheless, every student should be expected to make excellent progress in their learning regardless of their starting point, Professor Geoff Masters AO writes.

Infographic: Girls’ Confidence, Jo Earp

Teacher infographics

A new survey suggests girls' confidence is sky high in primary school, but it nose-dives as they progress through secondary school and beyond.

Reform And The Senior Secondary School, Geoff N. Masters Ao

Teacher columnist – Geoff Masters

Traditional ways of thinking about learning, assessment and educational qualifications are being challenged. Professor Geoff Masters AO discusses the three challenges that a senior secondary school can expect to face.

School Staff Workload Study: Final Report To The Australian Education Union – Victorian Branch, Paul R. Weldon, Lawrence Ingvarson

School and system improvement

The School Staff Workload Study was commissioned by the Victorian branch of the Australian Education Union (the Union) in March 2016. The study involved the design and delivery of an online survey by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER). The survey was a census of the Union membership and was open to the majority of members in Term 2, June 2016. The survey targeted three groups: teachers, school leaders (Principal class), and education support staff. The survey was intended to provide a detailed picture of the workload of the Union membership and, by extension, Victorian government school staff. Attention …

Infographic: School Completion, Jo Earp

Teacher infographics

A recent study looked at the number of young people in Australia completing Year 12 or equivalent (Certificate III or higher) by the age of 19. Here are some of the findings.

Fostering Understanding Of Early Numeracy Development, Kate Reid, Nicola Andrews

Monitoring Learning

In 2012, the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) began the Longitudinal Literacy and Numeracy Study: Transitions from Preschool to School (LLANS:TPS). The study is part of a program of longitudinal literacy and numeracy research at ACER that started with a seven-year longitudinal study of children’s developing literacy and numeracy throughout primary school, which began in 1999 with a cohort of 1000 children from 100 schools around Australia (Meiers et al., 2006). The original Longitudinal Literacy and Numeracy Study (LLANS) developed new instruments for assessing children’s literacy and numeracy understanding in the first three years of primary school and described …

Assuring The Quality Of Future Victorian Teachers : Acer Response To Det Discussion Paper: Working Together To Shape Teacher Education In Victoria, Lawrence Ingvarson

Teaching standards and teacher evaluation

ACER’s response to the August 2016 discussion paper on teacher education titled, 'Working Together To Shape Teacher Education in Victoria' released by James Merlino, the Minister for Education and Training in Victoria. This response addresses focus areas including:

1. Raising the quality and status of teaching: a profession of choice
2. Ensuring high quality pathways into the profession
3. Improving course quality
4. Developing Early Career Teachers

Infographic: Out-Of-Field Teaching, Jo Earp

Teacher infographics

A new ACER report looks at the extent to which secondary school teachers in Australia are teaching subjects they haven't specialised in during their studies. It includes data on the proportion of Years 7-10 teachers teaching out-of-field in 20 subject areas.

Mapping Progress – Using Data For Teaching And Learning, Geoff N. Masters Ao

Teacher columnist – Geoff Masters

It’s important to keep in mind that there are three central uses of data in school education. Professor Geoff Masters AO discusses.

Promoting Girls’ And Boys’ Engagement And Participation In Senior Secondary Stem Fields And Occupational Aspirations, Helen Watt

2009 - 2019 ACER Research Conferences

Sufficient numbers of people with science and mathematics qualifications are needed for continuing growth in productivity and industry innovation. The Australian Industry Group (2015, p. 5) cautioned, ‘the pipeline of STEM skills to the workforce remains perilous’ because participation in sciences and advanced mathematics at school and university is in decline, participation is not comparable with other nations, and our students underperform in major international studies. Gender differences in enrolments and career plans continue to fuel the concern of researchers with interest in gender equity. Many have argued girls prematurely restrict their options by discontinuing particular STEM subjects in adolescence, …

Sharing The Stories Of Near Novices To Impact Mainstream Change, Bronwyn Stuckey

2009 - 2019 ACER Research Conferences

This case study research is designed to examine the ways in which teachers are bringing gameful practices into their classrooms as part of a STEM learning agenda. It is hypothesised that one of the best persons to inform or improve the practice of novices is a near novice; someone who was most recently themselves a novice. In many case study programs, we hold up exemplary practitioners as models, but these experts may be too far removed in their levels of expertise to impact the practice of true novices. Experts and evangelists might be useful in creating vision for change, but …

Infographic: Wise Words On Teacher Wellbeing, Jo Earp

Teacher infographics

The 2016 Teacher reader survey includes the question: "Looking back on your experience as an educator, if you could share a piece of advice with your peers, what would it be?" Here are some of our favourite responses so far on the topic of wellbeing.

Attitudes Toward Migration Across European Countries: Results From Iccs 2009, Wolfram Schulz, Bruno Losito

Civics and Citizenship Assessment

The European Union is a region with high levels of migration, both from outside the EU as well as between member countries (OECD, 2012). The movement of people into some European countries from former colonies, as well the recent increased movement of people between countries in Europe, is leading to more multicultural communities in many European countries. Recent events resulting from the Syrian refugee crisis have highlighted the challenges that results from having to balance the rights, cultures and traditions of diverse groups in society. Education plays an important role in facilitating cohesion in society (Ajegbo, Kiwan, & Sharma, 2007; …

Monitoring Student Growth, Geoff N. Masters Ao

Teacher columnist – Geoff Masters

In any given classroom, students are likely to be at very different points in their learning and development. Professor Geoff Masters AO explores why it is important for teachers to be able to track the long-term progress that each student makes.

Infographic: How Are Teachers Using Networked Technologies?, Rebecca Vukovic

Teacher infographics

From online videos to digital comics and video games – there are countless different ways teachers can use technology to support their lessons. So how are teachers using networked technologies in the classroom? Find out in this Teacher infographic.

Infographic: Distribution Of Class Time, Jo Earp

Teacher infographics

The OECD Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS) 2013 asked lower secondary education teachers about the distribution of class time during the average lesson. So, how much time is actually spent on teaching and learning?

Improving Quality Education And Children’S Learning Outcomes And Effective Practices In The Eastern And Southern Africa Region : Zimbabwe : Country Case Study, Elizabeth Cassity

Monitoring Learning

This case study of Zimbabwe provides an understanding of the specific practices implemented to measure and improve the literacy and numeracy learning outcomes of Zimbabwean primary school children in the long term. It explores emerging trends from the 2014 Zimbabwe Early Learning Assessment (ZELA) in student learning outcomes and the provision of textbooks and teaching materials procured through the Education Development Fund (EDF). It also reviews the multiyear programme of an intensive capacity-building partnership with the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) and the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER). The capacity-building programme supports the longterm sustainability of ZELA through system …

Improving Quality Education And Children’S Learning Outcomes And Effective Practices In The Eastern And Southern Africa Region : Main Report, Tim Friedman, Ursula Schwantner, Jeaniene Spink, Naoko Tabata, Charlotte Waters

Monitoring Learning

In order to understand the major impediments to student learning in the region, UNICEF Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office commissioned this study to map and compare existing assessments of literacy and numeracy in primary education in the region, to examine how the data can be used to characterise children who are experiencing only limited learning outcomes to inform education policy, and to document practices that could help improve learning outcomes of disadvantaged children. The report concludes with a macro theory of change combining assessment, analysis and action. The research was jointly supported by ACER's Centre for Global Education Monitoring.

Measuring The Impact Of Citizen-Led Assessments For Improving The Quality Of Education, Mollie Tobin, Petra Lietz

Assessment GEMS

Effective communication and advocacy activities are essential components in initiating change in education practices and policies. ACER, through the Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Centre provided support to OMAES (Oeuvre Malienne d’Aide à l’Enfance du Sahel), a non-governmental organisation in Mali, for the development of an internal monitoring and evaluation system for the Beekunko assessment in Mali. Bεεkunko is a household-based assessment of children’s learning outcomes in literacy and numeracy for children in Mali whether currently attending school or not, and who are six to 14 years of age. OMAES’ primary aim through Bεεkunko is to motivate stakeholders at various levels …

Improving Quality Education And Children’S Learning Outcomes And Effective Practices In The Eastern And Southern Africa Region : Appendices, Tim Friedman, Ursula Schwantner, Jeaniene Spink, Naoko Tabata, Charlotte Waters

Monitoring Learning

These appendices comprises a collection of tables, figures, methodology and country case study notes to support the main report of this study: Improving Quality Education and Children’s Learning Outcomes and Effective Practices in the Eastern and Southern Africa Region : Main report.

Improving Quality Education And Children’S Learning Outcomes And Effective Practices In The Eastern And Southern Africa Region : Rwanda : Country Case Study, Ursula Schwantner

Monitoring Learning

This case study of Rwanda provides an understanding of the specific practices implemented to measure and improve the literacy and numeracy learning outcomes of Rwandan primary school children in the long term. An important development regarding the quality standards and assurance programme of education in Rwanda is the 2011 introduction of Learning Achievement in Rwandan Schools (LARS). This case study outlines the main purposes and components of LARS, the main findings regarding effective strategies and factors from the LARS baseline report and the capacity building component of LARS.

Citizen-Led Educational Monitoring Shows Promise

International Developments

A citizen-led approach to the collection of information about schooling and children’s learning is showing great promise in terms of educational monitoring and policy making.

The Big Picture : The Impact Of Assessments On Education Policy

International Developments

ACER’s analysis of the impact of large-scale assessments on education policy in the Asia-Pacific region aims to help stakeholders improve the design and usefulness of assessments.