Education Commons^™

Constructing Scales For Reporting Growth In Numeracy : The Acer Longitudinal Literacy And Numeracy Study, Andrew Stephanou, Marion Meiers, Margaret Forster

Marion Meiers (1941-2018)

The ACER Longitudinal Literacy and Numeracy Study is set within the conceptual framework of developmental assessment. This paper describes work done on the development of a numeracy scale, and demonstrates how the progressive achievement of the LLANS cohort of students can be reported on that scale and subscales.

A Longitudinal Investigation Of Literacy Achievement And Development In The First Three Years Of School, Marion Meiers

Marion Meiers (1941-2018)

This paper describes a longitudinal study of literacy development in the early years of schooling. Monitoring the development of children’s literacy learning in the early years of school poses challenges for educational researchers, including the need for appropriate strategies for identifying the full range of literacy knowledge and skills demonstrated by young learners. The seven-year national ACER Longitudinal Literacy and Numeracy Study (LLANS) followed the growth in literacy of a single cohort of students across the years of primary school (Meiers, Khoo et al, 2006). A key research question in this study was: “What is the nature of literacy development …

Growth In Literacy And Numeracy In The First Three Years Of School., Marion Meiers, Siek Toon Khoo, Ken Rowe, Andrew Stephanou, Prue Anderson, Kathy Nolan

Marion Meiers (1941-2018)

This report describes the findings from the first three years of the ACER longitudinal Literacy and Numeracy Study (LLANS). The longitudinal study was established in 1999 in a context in which there was significant national interest in improving achievement in literacy and numeracy for all Australian children, and a particular interest in the development of foundational skills in the early years of school. A nation wide sample of 100 schools was selected in proportion to the population of each state and territory and ten students were randomly selected from each of these schools. This provided a cohort for LLANS of …

An Evaluation Of The Getting It Right: Literacy And Numeracy Strategy In Western Australian Schools, Marion Meiers, Lawrence Ingvarson, Adrian Beavis, John Hogan, Elizabeth Kleinhenz

Marion Meiers (1941-2018)

This evaluation report is presented in two volumes. Volume 1, Evaluation of the GiR-LNS is focused mainly on the survey component of the evaluation. The complete data set from the surveys undertaken in 2003 and 2004 is analysed, and conclusions drawn from these analyses. The concluding sections draw on the survey data, some research literature and the illustrative case studies to report on the effectiveness of the GiR-LNS as a strategy for professional development, and as a strategy for change. Volume 2, Getting it Right in Context, presents the findings from the illustrative case studies. Twenty schools from across Western …

The Acer Longitudinal Literacy And Numeracy Study (Llans), Marion Meiers, Margaret Forster

Marion Meiers (1941-2018)

This paper outlines the background to the ACER Longitudinal Literacy and Numeracy Study (LLANS), the general methodology, and the scope and nature of the data to be collected. A description is then given of the process by which achievement data will be reported. The study has been designed to follow the literacy and numeracy development of a national sample of students throughout the years of primary schooling. The study commenced in 1999 with children at the beginning of their school lives and runs for seven years.

Reading For Pleasure And Literacy Achievement, Marion Meiers

Marion Meiers (1941-2018)

Helping children to develop an interest in books and reading can not only be enjoyable for adults and children alike but also have an important positive influence on reading achievement. Marion Meiers outlines research that emphasises the importance of engagement with reading.

Second Languages And Australian Schooling, Suzanne Mellor

Suzanne Mellor

There are good reasons for all Australian children to study a second language from an early age according to the latest Australian Education Review.

New Effort Needed To Improve Indigenous Education, Suzanne Mellor, Matthew Corrigan

Suzanne Mellor

A recent ACER report - The Case for Change: A review of contemporary research on Indigenous educational outcomes calls for the establishment of a new national research agenda as a means to help improve educational outcomes for Indigenous students.

Is Our Students Learning?: Using Assessments To Measure And Improve Law School Learning, Rogelio Lasso

Rogelio A. Lasso

Is Our Students Learning?: Using Assessments to Measure and Improve Law School Learning

Using Assessments to Improve Student Performance

Rogelio A. Lasso

The primary role of a law school is to make sure students learn skills to become competent lawyers. Learning is a loop in which the teacher facilitates learning, students perform tasks to show what they have learned, the teacher assesses and provides feedback on students’ performance, and students use the feedback to improve their learning skills for the next learning task. Teacher assessment feedback is critical to student learning. Prompt and frequent feedback allows students to take control …

Evaluation Of School-Based Arts Education Programmes In Australian Schools, Jennifer Bryce, Juliette Mendelovits, Adrian Beavis, Joy Mcqueen, Isabelle Adams

Dr Jennifer Bryce (retired)

This report presents evaluations of four Australian school-based arts programmes: Arts@Direk (SA), Boys’ Business (NT), Indigenous Music Education Programme (NT), and SCRAYP – Youth Arts with an Edge (Vic). Arts@Direk and SCRAYP provided a focus on drama, while Boys’ Business and Indigenous Music Education Programme (IMEP) concentrated on music. There was a range of ages from Year 4 to Year 10 and a diverse range of backgrounds amongst the participating students. The study investigated the impact of each arts programme on students’ academic progress, engagement with learning and school attendance. It also considered which attributes of arts programmes were of …

The Review Of Teacher Education For Languages Teachers : Final Report, Elizabeth Kleinhenz, Jenny Wilkinson, Margaret Gearon, Suzanne Fernandez, Lawrence Ingvarson

Jenny Wilkinson (retired)

This report produces a comprehensive national picture of the nature and effectiveness of teacher education and re-training opportunities for languages teachers. The report investigates course entry requirements, course content and structure for primary and secondary languages teachers; identifies structural impediments relating to the development of languages teachers' linguistic and pedagogical competency; and explores the potential application of the Professional Standards for Accomplished Teaching of Languages and Cultures, developed by the Australian Federation of Modern Language Teachers (AFMLTA), in teacher education for languages teachers.

Primary Teacher Work Study Report, Jenny Wilkinson, Lawrence Ingvarson, Elizabeth Kleinhenz, Adrian Beavis

Jenny Wilkinson (retired)

This research was conducted by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) in 2005. The study was a result of the New Zealand Primary Teachers Collective Agreement 2004-2007 which specified that a workload study be complete to consider how the work of a teacher could be better structured, resourced and organised to support more effective classroom teaching. The purpose of the study was to gain an understanding of the nature and patterns of primary teachers' work. The research was commissioned by the New Zealand Ministry of Education.

Interaction Online: Above And Beyond The Requirements Of Assessment, Meg O'Reilly, Diane Newton

Dr Meg O'Reilly

Today’s literature is filled with new paradigms for learning, specifically in relation to the increasing adoption of computer-mediated techniques for interactive learning. In many cases, learning may now be enhanced through the experience of a shared online environment for critical discussion, knowledge building and the establishment of supportive social communities. Research data obtained from social science students at Southern Cross University over two semesters reveals students’ perceptions of the importance of online discussion whether these are assessable or not. This paper presents some findings and explores the impact of the emergence of a student-centred social learning environment.

Teacher Professional Development: Myth And Reality, Imran Anjum Chaudary

Dr Imran Anjum

No abstract provided.

Residents Report On The Importance Of An Undergraduate End Of Life Interclerkship, Stacey J. Kadish, Mary L. Zanetti, Laura A. Sefton, Susan V. Barrett, Marjorie Clay, David M. Clive, Julie A. Jonassen, Michele P. Pugnaire

Michele P. Pugnaire

Does the perceived value of a third year End of Life (EOL) Interclerkship change after medical students complete their first year of residency? Several research studies indicate students’ perceptions about specific learning experiences change after graduating from medical school.

The value that medical students put on their education of end of life issues increases after they leave medical school. This finding highlights the importance of teaching end of life issues to undergraduate medical students.

Presented at the AAMC (Association of American Colleges) Annual Meeting, RIME (Research in Medical Education) Program, November 2006.

Post-School Education And Training Pathways To Age 20., Sheldon Rothman

Dr Sheldon Rothman

This Briefing summarises three recent LSAY research reports based on a sample of 13 613 young people who were in Year 9 in 1995. It focuses on those young people who entered formal post-school study at a university or a TAFE institution, or undertook an apprenticeship or traineeship since leaving secondary school. The majority of these young people completed Year 12 in 1998, and 1999 was their first year of post-school study. About one in five members of the cohort had left school before completing Year 12 and about 60 per cent of them entered some other form of study …

Participation In Vocational Education And Training To Age 24, Sheldon Rothman

Dr Sheldon Rothman

University study holds a distinct place in Australian society, as it provides a pathway into professional occupations. University graduates are consistently shown to have superior outcomes, in terms of employment and earnings. Does VET study provide an equivalent pathway for young people interested in non-academic careers? Are there similar benefits for those who participate in VET programs? The data for this Briefing are from the 1995 cohort of the Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY). The findings reported here are from three recent LSAY research reports, which are listed at the end of this Briefing. The cohort comprises young people …

Gender Differences In Educational And Labour Market Outcomes., Kylie Hillman, Sheldon Rothman

Dr Sheldon Rothman

Despite numerous changes in policy and legislation, issues of gender equity in the Australian education system and labour market remain a concern of the Australian public. Males and females differ in academic performance at various points in their education; there are differences in the numbers of young men and women participating in education and training; men and women experience differential success in the labour market. This Briefing focuses on differences between young males and females on a range of educational and labour market outcomes. The educational outcomes include achievement on tests of reading and mathematics, retention in secondary school, performance …

The Changing Influence Of Socioeconomic Status On Student Achievement: Recent Evidence From Australia, Sheldon Rothman

Dr Sheldon Rothman

This paper examines the influence of SES on student achievement using data from the Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY), a national program of research on the transitions young people make from school. LSAY encompasses data from earlier Australian longitudinal studies—Youth in Transition (YIT; 1978-2002), the Australian Longitudinal Survey (ALS; 1984-1987), and the Australian Youth Surveys (AYS; 1989-1997)—and earlier studies of student achievement—Australian Studies in School Performance (1975 ASSP), the Australian Studies in Student Performance (1980 ASSP). At present, there are two active cohorts: those who were in Grade 9 in 1995 (1995 LSAY) and those who were in Grade …

Lsay Cohort Report The Year 9 Class Of 1998 In 2000: School And Non-School Experiences, Sheldon Rothman

Dr Sheldon Rothman

This report provides details of the experiences of the 1998 cohort of the Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth in 2000. Information on this cohort was first collected in 1998, when these young people were Year 9 students in Australian schools.

Estimating Attrition Bias In The Year 9 Cohorts Of The Longitudinal Surveys Of Australian Youth: Technical Report No. 48, Sheldon Rothman

Dr Sheldon Rothman

This technical paper examines the issue of attrition bias in two cohorts of the Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY), based on an analysis using data from 1995 to 2002. Data up to 2002 provided eight years of information on members of the Y95 cohort and five years of information on members of the Y98 cohort. This amount of time was considered adequate to evaluate the extent of attrition bias and the performance of weights in correcting for bias. At the time each cohort was drawn, the sample represented the population of 15 year-old Australian students attending Australian schools, but …

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

Dr Sheldon Rothman

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.

Young People From Low-Ses Families And Participation In Higher Education: Evidence From Five Australian Cohorts, Sheldon Rothman

Dr Sheldon Rothman

LSAY research has concentrated on pathways taken by young people and on relationships between outcomes and various background factors. Socioeconomic status (SES) has been one factor of interest, although there has been no consistent identification of SES across all reports, especially in light of the multidimensional nature of SES and components of occupation, education and wealth (Ainley et al., 1995). Of course, because these studies began before these young people entered the labour force, student SES is based on parent occupation and educational attainment. Two reports have examined participation in higher education among the Youth in Transition and LSAY cohorts, …

Non-Apprenticeship Vet Courses : Participation, Persistence And Subsequent Pathways., Julie Mcmillan, Sheldon Rothman, Nicole Wernert

Dr Sheldon Rothman

This report examines recent school leavers who commenced non-apprenticeship VET courses in Australia during the late 1990s. The focus is on the early post-school years, up to age 20. The report has two broad aims: to describe the educational, training and labour market pathways of non-apprenticeship VET course entrants; and to identify factors associated with persistence in non-apprenticeship VET courses. The report uses data from the Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) to address each of these aims. The findings are based upon a sample of young people who had been in Year 9 in 1995 and who commenced a …

Participation In Science, Mathematics And Technology In Australian Education, John Ainley, Julie Kos, Marina Nicholas

Dr Julie Kos

This report was commissioned to update and extend the Background Data and Analysis component of the report, Australia’s Teachers: Australia’s Future – Advancing Innovation, Science, Technology and Mathematics (Committee for the Review of Teaching and Teacher Education, 2003a) that informed the Main Report (Committee for the Review of Teaching and Teacher Education, 2003b). In the five years since the 2003 review, there have been developments in science, technology and mathematics education that have been impacted on by initiatives in policy and practice as well by changes in the context. So that changes in science, technology and mathematics education can be …

Staff In Australia’S Schools 2007, Phillip Mckenzie, Julie Kos, Maurice Walker, Jennifer Hong, Susanne Owen

Dr Julie Kos

The SIAS project, undertaken by the Australian Council for Educational Research in collaboration with the Australia College of Educators, gathered information from over 13,000 secondary and primary school teachers and leaders across the country. It aimed to address key gaps in the data available to characterise the teaching profession to support workforce planning. The project's findings and recommendations are presented in two components: the Staff in Australia's Schools data survey; and a report on Teacher Workforce Data and Planning Processes in Australia. The reports produced through the SIAS project provide a wide range of comprehensive data and advice on a …

What Do Primary School Teachers Know, Think And Do About Adhd?, Julie Kos

Dr Julie Kos

Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common childhood disorder affecting approximately 5% of primary school-aged children. The disorder is characterised by severe difficulties in one or more of three areas; inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity. Considering that primary school teachers are often the first to notice behavioural difficulties in children, it is surprising that relatively little research has been undertaken with teachers. The limited research that has been conducted on teachers’ knowledge has shown that knowledge scores range from 50 to 70%, and most attitudinal research has merely assessed knowledge. There is also a dearth of research assessing teachers’ classroom management of …

Simulated Basic Skills Training: Graduate Nursing Students Teaching Medical Students: A Work In Progress, Janet Hale, Sarah M. Mcgee, Mary L. Zanetti, Mai-Lan Rogoff, Melinda F. Taylor, Carolyn Kelly, Mitchell Cahan, Robin Toft Klar, Carol A. Jaffarian, Sheldon L. Hollins, Linda Chellali, Steven Degurski, Melissa Plourde, Susan Lattanzi, Ann Defosse, Nancy Bettez, Joan Morrison, Stella Quartey

Mary L. Zanetti

For a number of years, Advanced Practice Nursing (APN) students have taught interested 1st year medical students to perform intramuscular injections prior to their participation in community flu clinics. When several 4th year medical students needed documentation of competency in intravenous (IV) cannulation prior to participating in an elective rotation at another institution, the Medical School's Dean of Students called the Director of Interdisciplinary Partnerships in the Graduate School of Nursing to request assistance. In fact, all medical students need IV therapy training prior to graduation, not just those who seek out visiting clerkships at other medical schools. Integration of …

Pre/Post Comparison Of Medical Students' Self-Reported Competence Ratings For Content And Skill Areas Included In An End Of Third Year Assessment, Mary L. Zanetti, Eric J. Alper, Wendy L. Gammon, Michele P. Pugnaire, Michele M. Carlin, Urip Purwono, Susan V. Barrett, Laura A. Sefton

Mary L. Zanetti

The End of Third Year Assessment (EOTYA) evaluates medical students using multiple objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE) and offers comprehensive feedback to students on their content knowledge and skills. This study measures the change in students' perceived level of competence before and after completing the EOTYA.

Presented at the AAMC (Association of American Colleges) Annual Meeting, RIME (Research in Medical Education) Program, November 2004.

Residents Report On The Importance Of An Undergraduate End Of Life Interclerkship, Stacey J. Kadish, Mary L. Zanetti, Laura A. Sefton, Susan V. Barrett, Marjorie Clay, David M. Clive, Julie A. Jonassen, Michele P. Pugnaire

Mary L. Zanetti

Does the perceived value of a third year End of Life (EOL) Interclerkship change after medical students complete their first year of residency? Several research studies indicate students’ perceptions about specific learning experiences change after graduating from medical school.

The value that medical students put on their education of end of life issues increases after they leave medical school. This finding highlights the importance of teaching end of life issues to undergraduate medical students.

Presented at the AAMC (Association of American Colleges) Annual Meeting, RIME (Research in Medical Education) Program, November 2006.