Education Commons^™

Religious Education Leadership And The 21st Century: Overcoming Disconnectedness, Michael T. Buchanan

eJournal of Catholic Education in Australasia

The role of the religious education leader is a relatively new role within Catholic education in Australia. This leadership position has evolved since the time of its emergence in the decades following Vatican II; however, there appears to be a lack of clarity and understanding about the role and its impact upon a school. While the religious education leader plays a significant role in building a school community, a recent study which sought to discover the kinds of support these leaders need found that many religious education leaders encountered experiences of disconnectedness in their own school communities. Drawing on the …

Leading The Way: Catholic School Leaders And Action Research, Anthony C. Holter, James M. Frabutt, Ronald J. Nuzzi

eJournal of Catholic Education in Australasia

Recent research extols the value of problem-based learning strategies in exemplary school leadership preparation programs as one way to provide school leaders with the appropriate tools to systematically use data to make important decisions. The purpose of this study was to address the current gap between the noted importance of problem-based learning strategies in leadership preparation programs, and the demonstrated effect these strategies have on the knowledge, skills, behaviours, and values of school leaders. The study employed a longitudinal mixed-method research design to examine discrete action research skills, behaviours, and values of 44 candidates enrolled in a Master of Arts …

Building Sustainable Leadership In Multicultural South African Catholic Schools, Mark Potterton, Cullen Mackenzie

eJournal of Catholic Education in Australasia

The article summarises an innovative approach taken to develop school leaders in multicultural South African Catholic schools by the Catholic Institute of Education. The reported program is built on the idea that leadership and administration are essentially moral activities and that teaching and educational leadership must have a moral purpose. The article recognises that with the current malaise in schooling in South Africa, there is a need for strong, inspiring leadership that is able to bring about systemic change by talking to the ‘minds and hearts’ of people. One of the most notable results of the program has been that …

Historical Inquiry Into The Construction Of Religion As A School Subject For Catholic Schools In Australia, Thomas A. O'Donoghue, David Byrne

eJournal of Catholic Education in Australasia

One of the most distinctive features of Catholic schools, both past and present, is their religious character. In Australia, as in many other parts of the world, the Catholic community invested significant energy developing and preserving this character. Central to this has been the teaching of Religion. Yet, from a historical perspective, there has been little effort undertaken to understand how Religion as a subject in Catholic schools has been constructed. This paper takes its lead from the latter observation. It is in three parts. First, the general historical background is outlined. Second, the importance of producing historical analyses of …

Educator Identities. Emerging Issues Within Personal And Professional Identities: Changes Experienced By Australian Pre-Service Teachers Following Professional Exposure To Educational Practice Within Childcare Settings, Doireann O'Connor, Christine Mcgunnigle, Tracy Treasure, Serena Davie

Education Papers and Journal Articles

This paper presents the findings of a research project investigating the perceptions and expectations held by pre-service teachers regarding the childcare sector. It presents the views of a group of pre-service teachers both before and after their exposure to practice within childcare following a ten week practicum. The personal experiences of the research participants impacted greatly on their evolutionary understanding of and attitude towards the childcare sector. Thematic analysis of the data produced several key concepts that illuminated issues of identity conflict across the care and education divide. This paper makes a necessary contribution to the current research context where …

Student Leadership Development: A Functional Framework, Gregory S.C. Hine

Education Papers and Journal Articles

This article presents a longitudinal, qualitative case study of a student leadership program in a Catholic secondary school in Perth, Western Australia. Data were collected over a period of three years through multiple methods, including one-on-one interviewing, focus group interviewing, document searches, field notes, and researcher reflective journaling. Through the analysis of the longitudinal data, key characteristics of seven models of leadership presented in the literature—transactional leadership, transformational leadership, charismatic leadership, servant leadership, distributed leadership, Christian leadership, and student leadership—are compared with those found in the leadership program of the school. This article contributes to the growing body of school-based …

Action Research: Informing Professional Practice Within Schools, Gregory Hine, Shane D. Lavery

Education Papers and Journal Articles

This research paper explores the experiences of three teacher-researchers, ‘Simone’, ‘Damian’ and ‘Michael’, who undertook an action research project in their respective schools as part of their postgraduate studies. The paper initially outlines the construct of action research in the light of its applicability to educational research. Particular reference is made to the benefits of action research for those in the teaching profession as well as to several challenges associated with action research. What then follows is the design of the case study methodology that was used to examine the individual experiences of Simone, Damian and Michael. The research used …

Australian Curriculum Linked Lessons: Reasoning In Number And Algebra, Lorraine Day

Education Papers and Journal Articles

In the Australian Curriculum: Mathematics "Number and Algebra are developed together as each enriches the study of the other". The content strands indicate what students should be learning and the proficiency strands indicate the types of learning experiences students should be exposed to in order to learn the content. Most of the content descriptors in Years F-6 algebra refer to a progression of patterning and finding unknowns in number sentences. We could see from this that there are two major themes running through the curriculum; that of patterns and relationships, and that of equations and expressions. These two aspects of …

Purposeful Statistical Investigations, Lorraine Day

Education Papers and Journal Articles

Lorraine Day provides us with a great range of statistical investigations using various resources such as maths300 and TinkerPlots. Each of the investigations link mathematics to students' lives and provide engaging and meaningful contexts for mathematical inquiry.

A Service-Learning Immersion In A Remote Aboriginal Community: Enhancing Pre-Service Teacher Education, Shane D. Lavery, Glenda Cain, Patrick Hampton

Education Papers and Journal Articles

This article examines a service-learning immersion undertaken by pre-service primary teachers in a remote indigenous community and school in Western Australia. The article initially presents the purpose and significance for the immersion in the light of the Australian National Professional Standards for Teachers. The article subsequently outlines the aims and structure of the immersion program. The qualitative methodology underpinning the research is then summarised. Specifically, data were collected pre-immersion (focus group interview and guided journal writing), during the immersion (guided journal writing) and post immersion (focus group interview). Student reflections generated four themes: personal development, professional knowledge, cultural awareness, and …

Developing The Big Ideas Of Number, Chris Hurst, Derek Hurrell

Education Papers and Journal Articles

The mathematical content knowledge (MCK) and pedagogical content knowledge (PCK) of primary and elementary teachers at all levels of experience is under scrutiny. This article suggests that content knowledge and the way in which it is linked to effective pedagogies would be greatly enhanced by viewing mathematical content from the perspective of the ‘big ideas’ of mathematics, especially of number. This would enable teachers to make use of the many connections and links within and between such ‘big ideas’ and to make them explicit to children. Many teachers view the content they have to teach in terms of what curriculum …

Engaging Students Through Assessment: The Success And Limitations Of The Aspal (Authentic Self And Peer Assessment For Learning) Model, Sean P. Kearney, Tim Perkins

Education Papers and Journal Articles

In 2011 the authors created a model of self- and peer-assessment known as Authentic Self and Peer Assessment for Learning (ASPAL) in an attempt to better engage seemingly disengaged students in their undergraduate coursework. The model focuses on authentic assessment tasks and engages students by involving them in every step of the process from the creation of the criteria on which they will be marked, through to providing exemplars of work, pilot marking and providing peer feedback. This article examines the ASPAL process with regard to whether or not the students are better engaged in their studies as a result …

'I'M Coming Back Again!' The Resilience Process Of Early Career Teachers, Caroline Mansfield, Susan Beltman, Anne Price

Education Papers and Journal Articles

Early career teachers face a range of challenges in their first years of teaching and how these challenges are managed as career implications. Based on current literature, this paper presents a model of early career teacher resilience where resilience is seen as a process located at the interface of personal and contextual challenges and resources. Through a semi-structured interview the challenges faced by 13 Australian early career teachers and the resources available to manage these challenges are examined. Findings show that beginning teachers experience multiple, varied and ongoing challenges and that personal and contextual resources are both important in sustaining …

Teachers Who Care And Carers Who Educate. Professional Status Issues And Differences In Pay And Conditions Are Resulting In A Tale Of Division Within Our Early Childhood Community, Doireann O'Connor, Christine Mcgunnigle, Tracy Treasure, Serena Davie

Education Conference Papers

This paper presents the findings of a research project that investigated the views of a group of pre-service teachers both before and after their exposure to practice within professional Childcare. A mixed methods approach was employed. Thirty students in their third year of a four year teaching degree at The University of Notre Dame, Australia were surveyed and interviewed before and after embarking on a ten week practicum within the Childcare sector.

A key finding of the study was that there is currently great division within the Western Australian Early Childhood Education sector. This division has arisen following a recent …

Playing For High Stakes: Findings From The Irish Neighbourhood Play Research Project And Their Implications For Education, Doireann O'Connor, M Mccormack, P Maclaughlin, J Angus, V O'Rourke

Education Conference Papers

The Irish Neighbourhood Play Research Project included almost 1700 families and 240 communities throughout Ireland. The findings hold clear implications for educational policy and practice. Using surveys, interviews and naturalistic observation, data was secured on how children in modern Ireland aged 0 - 15 are playing. An all-island approach was taken incorporating cities, towns and rural areas across a variety of socio-economic groupings. Interesting findings arose from the data relating to generational differences in levels of freedom, play, exercise, engagement with risk, with nature, with scheduled/timetabled extracurricular activities, with homework, with electronics, with creative activities and with traditional play types …

The Importance Of Action Research In Teacher Education Programs : Three Testimonies, Gregory Hine, Shane D. Lavery

Education Conference Papers

This paper explores the experiences of three teacher-researchers, 'Simone', 'Damian' and 'Michael', who undertook an Action Research project in their respective schools as part of their postgraduate studies. As Head of Professional Learning, Simone conducted a research project designed to investigate how to improve a Peer Observation Program at her secondary school. Damian, also a Head of Professional Learning, explored ways to improve the profile of the existing Professional Development program at his secondary school, with a particular emphasis on overhauling the Staff Mentor Program. Michael, a Head of Junior School, investigated ways to reduce the number of playground incidents …

We Are All Educators...Or Are We? Changes In Perceptions Of The Childcare Sector By Australian Pre-Service Teachers Following Professional Exposure To Educational Practice Within Childcare Settings, Doireann O'Connor, Christine Mcgunnigle, Tracy Treasure, Serena Davie

Education Conference Papers

This paper presents the findings of a research project investigating the perceptions and expectations held by pre-service teachers regarding the childcare sector. It presents the views of a group of pre-service teachers both before and after their exposure to practice within childcare following a ten week practicum. The personal experiences of the research participants impacted greatly on their evolutionary understanding of and attitude towards the Childcare Sector.

It offers a contribution to the developing body of research relevant to the Australian Government policy that requires qualified teachers to be employed in Childcare Services by 2014. This policy evolved as a …

Shall We Play Us And Them Or All Together Now? Leadership Opportunities For Cohesiveness And Unity Within A Fractured Western Australian Early Childhood Education Sector, Doireann O'Connor, Christine Mcgunnigle, Tracy Treasure, Serena Davie

Education Conference Papers

This paper presents the qualitative and quantitative findings of a research project that examines the perceptions and expectations held by pre-service teachers regarding the Childcare sector. It presents the experience based position of a group of pre-service teachers both before and after their exposure to practice within Childcare following a ten week practicum.

It offers a contribution to the evolving body of research relevant to a recent Government decision that requires the employment of qualified teachers in all Childcare Services by 2014. This decision came about as a response to the 2006 report by the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and …

The Importance Of Fractions In Being A Successful Mathematics Student, Derek Hurrell, Lorraine Day

Education Conference Papers

Research and experience tells us that fractions are not easy to teach and learn and that a solid conceptual understanding of fractions has far reaching ramifications in the secondary mathematics classroom. A failure to acknowledge and remediate 'inherited' challenges to this understanding may result in the further success of students being severely impeded.

What Are The Professional And Personal Needs Of Beginning Western Australian Catholic School Principals During The First Four Years Of Their Appointment?, Debra Sayce

Theses

The purpose of this research was to explore the professional and personal needs of beginning Western Australian Catholic school principals in the first four years of their appointment. The role of the Catholic school principal is becoming increasingly complex and demanding as society, schooling and the Catholic Church undergo rapid and unprecedented change. It is imperative that educational authorities redress the impact of the demands and complexities of school principalship in order to better recruit, prepare, and sustain principals. It is therefore timely that the professional and personal needs of beginning Catholic school principals are examined.

The review of literature …

Developing Tomorrow's School Leaders: The Western Australian Catholic Education Aspiring Principals Program, Shane A. Glasson

Theses

The Aspiring Principals Program is a two-year principal preparation program convened by the Catholic Education Office of Western Australia. The program targets selected primary school assistant principals and secondary school deputy principals aspiring to principalship of Western Australian Catholic schools. The eight aspirants who commenced the program in January 2011 and graduated in December 2012 participated in the research. The purpose of the research was to explore aspirant perceptions of Catholic principalship before, during and upon completion of the program together with the influences provoking discernible perception changes. Specifically, four aspirant perceptions were explored by the research: Catholic principalship role …

Perceptions Of Leaders, Teachers, Students And Parents In High Performing West Australian Catholic Secondary Schools Within The Context Of Tertiary Entrance Examinations, Michael O'Neill

Theses

As for most of the developed world, Australia is no different in its scrupulous evaluation of school performance data. Annually much attention is given to data surrounding the performance of students, teachers and schools in high stakes Tertiary Entrance Examinations as students seek to qualify for a variety of university programs. So called ‘league tables’ are produced measuring school performance on a number of criteria which differ marginally from state to state. Such tables identify both successful and less successful schools. Notwithstanding the limitations of such comparisons and the fact that success is a relative term there is a great …

Service-Learning As A Way Of Developing Pre-Service Teachers’ Knowledge, Perceptions, And Cultural Awareness Of Aboriginal Education, Glenda Cain

Theses

This research explored service-learning as a way of developing pre-service teachers’ pedagogical literacy skills and cultural perceptions with regard to Aboriginal education through involvement in an Aboriginal educational setting. The purpose was for pre-service teachers to gain a better understanding of Aboriginal education whilst developing their own literacy knowledge and instructional skills. Service-learning was the teaching method chosen as it involves experiential learning with structured opportunities for critical thinking and reflection.

A qualitative approach was favoured whereby investigations occurred in a naturalistic setting. As such, the direct experiences of pre-service teachers formed the basis of data gathering and analysis. Field …

The Role Of Values Education In Primary School Bullying Prevention And Mediation, Janine Brown

Theses

This study explores the incidence and implications of bullying in primary school and the beliefs parents and educators share about the explicit application of a values based approach to bullying interventions and mediations. Interviews and focus group discussions explored current anti-bullying practices employed by teachers and principals. The study also examined specific values perceived to be relevant by parents and educators, in the endeavour to successfully resolve the growing incidence of bullying conflict situations and the serious implications for both victims and bullies.

Individual interviews and focus group discussions were administered in three Catholic systemic primary schools to a sample …