Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Commons^™

Acer 2013-2014 Annual Report, Australian Council For Educational Research (Acer)

ACER Annual Reports

No abstract provided.

A Review Of International Large-Scale Assessments In Education: Assessing Component Skills And Collecting Contextual Data, John Cresswell, Ursula Schwantner, Charlotte Waters

OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA)

The OECD has initiated PISA for Development (PISA-D) in response to the rising need of developing countries to collect data about their education systems and the capacity of their student bodies. This report aims to compare and contrast approaches regarding the instruments that are used to collect data on (a) component skills and cognitive instruments, (b) contextual frameworks, and (c) the implementation of the different international assessments, as well as approaches to include children who are not at school, and the ways in which data are used. It then seeks to identify assessment practices in these three areas that will …

Research Into The Financing Of Technical And Vocational Education And Training (Tvet) In The Pacific : Fiji : Country Report, Leo Maglen, Mark Weston Wall, Manaini Rokovunisei

Vocational, adult and professional education research

This study provides a detailed analysis of the financing of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in Fiji. The study team commenced its field investigations in August 2013 and completed them in October 2013. The Fijian Country Study Report into the Financing of TVET forms part of a region-wide program Research into the Financing of TVET in the Pacific, initiated under Australia’s international development assistance program in 2011. The aims of the program, as identified by its Research Brief, are to produce, in conjunction with host country governments and TVET stakeholders, a comprehensive empirical analysis of the existing …

Research Into The Financing Of Technical And Vocational Education And Training (Tvet) In The Pacific : Kiribati : Country Report, Prabir Majumdar, Teweiariki Teaero

Vocational, adult and professional education research

This report provides a detailed analysis of the financing of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in Kiribati. The Kiribati report forms part of the study Research into the Financing of TVET in the Pacific that was launched through Australia’s aid program in April 2012. Kiribati is one of seven countries taking part in the research. The study aims to produce, in conjunction with host country governments and TVET stakeholders, a comprehensive empirical analysis of the existing systems for financing TVET in each of the participating countries, identify key financing issues within the region, and the policy implications they …

Research Into The Financing Of Technical And Vocational Education And Training (Tvet) In The Pacific : Papua New Guinea : Country Report, Robert Horne, Ken Ngangan, Simaima Tavil-Melachon, Justin Brown

Vocational, adult and professional education research

This report provides a detailed analysis of the financing of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Papua New Guinea (PNG). The report is part of the study Research into the Financing of TVET in the Pacific initiated through Australia’s aid program in 2012. As well as PNG, the overall study involves six other Pacific countries; Fiji; Kiribati; Samoa; Solomon Islands; Tonga; and Vanuatu. The overall study team developed a general framework and set of data collection instruments to guide the work. Individual country teams adapted the general framework and instruments to meet national circumstances. PNG is by far …

Research Into The Financing Of Technical And Vocational Education And Training (Tvet) In The Pacific : Solomon Islands : Country Report, Andrea Bateman, Elizabeth Cassity, Judy Fangalasuu

Vocational, adult and professional education research

This report provides a detailed analysis of the financing of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Solomon Islands. The report forms part of the study Research into the Financing of TVET in the Pacific initiated through Australia’s aid program in 2012. The study aims to produce, in conjunction with host country governments and TVET stakeholders, a comprehensive empirical analysis of the systems for financing TVET in seven Pacific countries (Fiji, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu), identify key financing issues, and identify directions through which future financing for TVET could be made more efficient …

Research Into The Financing Of Technical And Vocational Education And Training (Tvet) In The Pacific : Vanuatu : Country Report, Acer

Vocational, adult and professional education research

This report provides a detailed analysis of the financing of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Vanuatu. It forms part of the study Research into the Financing of TVET in the Pacific initiated through Australia’s aid program in consultation with governments in the Pacific region. Vanuatu was one of seven countries taking part in the research. (The other participating countries are Fiji, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Tonga.) The study is intended to provide a detailed empirical analysis of TVET financing in each country, identify key TVET financing issues, and discuss directions through which future …

Research Into The Financing Of Technical And Vocational Education And Training (Tvet) In The Pacific : Tonga : Country Report, Andrea Bateman, Justin Brown, Meleoni Uera

Vocational, adult and professional education research

This report provides a detailed analysis of the financing of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Tonga. The report forms part of the study Research into the Financing of TVET in the Pacific initiated through Australia’s aid program in 2012. The study aims to produce, in conjunction with host country governments and TVET stakeholders, a comprehensive empirical analysis of the existing systems for financing TVET in seven Pacific countries (Fiji, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu), identify key financing issues within the region, and identify directions through which future financing for TVET could be …

The Southern And Eastern Africa Consortium For Monitoring Educational Quality (Superseded Version), Australian Council For Educational Research

Assessment GEMS

The Southern and Eastern Africa Consortium for Monitoring Educational Quality (SACMEQ) carries out large-scale cross-national research studies in member countries in the Southern and Eastern Africa region. It aims to assess the conditions of schooling and performance levels of learners and teachers in the areas of literacy and numeracy. SACMEQ has completed three cross-national educational research projects so far at five- to six-year intervals (SACMEQ I, 1995-1999, SACMEQ II, 1998-2004 and SACMEQ III, 2005-2010). It is currently implementing the fourth project.

Research Into The Financing Of Technical And Vocational Education And Training (Tvet) In The Pacific : Samoa : Country Report, Leo Maglen, Justin Brown, Sala Perive T. Lene

Vocational, adult and professional education research

The Samoa Country Study Report into the Financing of TVET forms part of a regionwide program Research into the Financing of TVET in the Pacific initiated by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID) in 2011. The study team for Samoa commenced its field investigations in July 2012 and completed them in September 2012. 2. The aims of the program, as identified by its Research Brief, are to produce, in conjunction with host country governments and TVET stakeholders, a comprehensive empirical analysis of the existing systems for financing TVET in seven Pacific countries (Fiji, Kiribati, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, …

Literacy And Numeracy Test For Initial Teacher Education Students. Assessment Framework, Australian Council For Educational Research (Acer)

Assessment and Reporting

The Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) was contracted by the Australian Institute of Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) to develop the assessment framework and the pools of assessment items for the first two years of implementation of an assessment of aspects of literacy and numeracy for students enrolled in initial teacher education courses. The program is known as the literacy and numeracy test of initial teacher education students (LANTITE). The framework begins by giving some background and context to the development of a literacy and numeracy test for students enrolled in initial teacher education courses. Following this are separate …

Preparing For Life In A Digital Age: The Iea International Computer And Information Literacy Study 2013 International Report, Julian Fraillon, John Ainley, Wolfram Schulz, Tim Friedman, Eveline Gebhardt

ICT - Digital Literacy

The International Computer and Information Literacy Study (ICILS) studied the extent to which young people have developed computer and information literacy (CIL) to support their capacity to participate in the digital age. ICILS is a response to the increasing use of information and communication technology (ICT) in modern society and the need for citizens to develop relevant skills in order to participate effectively in the digital age. It also addresses the necessity for policymakers and education systems to have a better understanding of the contexts and outcomes of CIL-related education programs in their countries. ICILS is the first crossnational study …

Icils International Computer And Information Literacy Study 2013: At A Glance: Highlights From The Full Australian Report – Australian Students’ Readiness For Study, Work And Life In The Digital Age, Lisa De Bortoli, Sarah Buckley, Catherine Underwood, Elizabeth O'Grady, Eveline Gebhardt

ICT - Digital Literacy

The International Computer and Information Literacy Study (ICILS) is the first international comparative study that examines students’ acquisition of computer and information literacy: ‘the ability to use computers to investigate, create and communicate in order to participate effectively at home, at school, in the workplace and in society'. This publication includes highlights from the full Australian report called ICILS 2013: Australian students’ readiness for study, work and life in the digital age which is available for download from http://research.acer.edu.au/ict_literacy/6/

Learning Metrics Partnership: A Capacity Support And Policy Strengthening Initiative To Develop And Use Common Learning Metrics For Mathematics And Reading, Unesco Institute For Statistics, Acer

Monitoring Learning

The Learning Metrics Partnership (LMP) is a joint initiative of the UNESCO Institute for Statistics and the ACER Centre for Global Education Monitoring (ACER-GEM) to develop a set of nationally and internationally comparable learning metrics in mathematics and reading, and then to facilitate and support their use for monitoring purposes, in partnership with interested countries. This document outlines the LMP’s three-phase program that aims to develop and validate common learning metrics for reading and mathematics, and to support countries to report results of their assessment activities against these learning metrics. The key features of the program are fourfold: it accommodates …

Redesigning The Secondary–Tertiary Interface: Queensland Review Of Senior Assessment And Tertiary Entrance, Gabrielle Matters, Geoff N. Masters

Queensland research and reviews

A general conclusion of this Review is that senior secondary assessment and tertiary entrance in Queensland are in need of attention. It is more than twenty years since the current OP system was designed, and the broad features of the senior assessment system have been in place even longer. Over the past two decades, assessment and tertiary entrance processes have been the subject of ongoing modifications. Although the current processes have served Queensland well, we believe that they will be less adequate in meeting future needs and that the time has come for a redesign. Any redesign must recognise and …

Implementing Common Assessment: Lessons And Models From Amac Developed By The Australian Medical Assessment Collaboration, Daniel Edwards

Higher education research

The aim of this document is to provide insight into the implementation of common assessments in higher education in order to assist in future work on conducting these kinds of projects. The discussion here draws heavily on the AMAC experience, attempting to broaden the learning from this project for use in future collaborations. The focus of this project has been on medical education, and as such, much of the detail is related to this field. However, it is hoped that the general ideas discussed here can be seen as informative for other fields and disciplines in higher education and at …

Best Practice Teacher Education Programs And Australia’S Own Programs, Lawrence Ingvarson, Kate Reid, Sarah Buckley, Elizabeth Kleinhenz, Geoff N. Masters, Glenn Rowley

Initial Teacher education

This report was prepared by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) to support the work of the Teacher Education Ministerial Advisory Group (TEMAG). ACER was requested to undertake evidence-based research and benchmarking of world’s best practice teacher education programs against Australia’s own programs, which included: (a) identifying best practice principles for the design, delivery and assessment of teacher education programs; and (b) articulating the features of teacher education programs that most effectively support successful transition to effective practice.

Thinking It Through: Australian Students’ Skills In Creative Problem Solving, Lisa De Bortoli, Greg Macaskill

OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) Australia

In every PISA survey, students from every participating country are assessed in the core domains of mathematics, science and reading literacy. In addition to assessing these literacy domains, the OECD proposes additional assessments in other domains. In PISA 2003, a paper-based assessment of cross- disciplinary problem solving was first assessed, when it was included as a core domain. In PISA 2012, problem solving was once again assessed, this time as an optional computer-based assessment.

The focus of the PISA 2012 assessment of problem solving was: Are today’s 15-year-old students acquiring the problem-solving skills that will prepare them to meet the …

Unpacking Educational Inequality In The Northern Territory, Sven Silburn, J Mckenzie, S Guthridge, L Li, S Q. Li

2009 - 2019 ACER Research Conferences

Concurrent Session Block 3

Learning, Earning And Yearning: The Case For Positive Disruption, Innovation And Expansion In Indigenous Education, Tony Dreise

2009 - 2019 ACER Research Conferences

‘What for, I do this?’ asks an Aboriginal young man who has just become the first in his community to finish high school. Rather than celebrating his achievement, he felt the need to ask one of the most profound questions in education – what for or why? This particular story, discovered during the course of my PhD research, leads to an even larger question: How do we personalise education? The question seems a mile away from the perennial debate in education – ‘back to basics’ versus an expansive education agenda. Conservatives in the ‘back to basics’ corner rightly point out …

Gender And Mathematics: Quality And Equity, Sue Thomson

2009 - 2019 ACER Research Conferences

Over the past two decades, there have been no gender differences in mathematics achievement in Australia in large-scale international surveys such as the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). Similarly, when mathematical literacy was measured in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) in 2003, there were no gender differences. However, PISA 2012 found that, while average scores in mathematics had declined in Australia, males in Australia were significantly outperforming females, and females had significantly higher average levels of anxiety about and significantly lower levels of confidence in mathematics. In light of the recent report of the Australian …

Cooperative Learning: The Behavioural And Neurological Markers That Help To Explain Its Success, Robyn Gillies, Ross Cunnington

2009 - 2019 ACER Research Conferences

Cooperative learning is widely recognised as a pedagogical practice that promotes socialisation and learning among students from preschool to post-secondary education and across different key learning areas and subject domains. It involves students working together in small groups to achieve common goals or complete group tasks. Interest in cooperative learning has grown rapidly over the last three decades, as research clearly demonstrates how it can be used to promote a range of achievements in reading and writing, conceptual understanding and problem-solving in science and mathematics, and higher level thinking and reasoning. It has also been shown to promote interpersonal relationships …

Negotiating Competing Education Values: Equality, Equity, Quality And Indigenous Rights, Peter Buckskin, Gary Thomas, Zane Ma Rhea

2009 - 2019 ACER Research Conferences

Concurrent Session

Financing The Future: Australian Students’ Results In The Pisa 2012 Financial Literacy Assessment, Sue Thomson

OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) Australia

This report reveals that Australia is in the top five in the world’s first international assessment of young people’s financial literacy. Conducted in 2012 as part of the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) of the OECD with support from the Australian Securities and Investments Commission as the Australian Government agency responsible for financial literacy, the supplementary PISA financial literacy assessment measured 15-year-olds’ knowledge of personal finances and ability to apply it to financial problems. A total of 29 000 students from 18 countries and economies participated in the assessment, including approximately 3300 Australian students from 768 schools. According to …

Independent Evaluation Of Asic’S Implementation Of The Helping Our Kids Understand Finances Initiative, Robert Simons

Program monitoring and evaluation

In May 2013, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) commissioned the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) to conduct an independent evaluation of its implementation of the Helping Our Kids Understand Finances (HOKUF) initiative. The purpose was to conduct an independent evidence-based assessment of whether ASIC implemented the HOKUF initiative in a way that met the following key criteria: 1) Appropriate – the extent to which the program developed by ASIC was useful and ‘fit for purpose’ in supporting the delivery of the consumer and financial literacy content aligned to the Australian Curriculum. 2) Effective − the extent to …

Promoting Regional Education Services Integration: Apec University Associations Cross-Border Education Cooperation Workshop: Workshop Report: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 20 – 22 May 2014, Sarah Richardson

Higher education research

This report has been prepared to summarise discussions at the APEC University Associations Cross-Border Education Cooperation Workshop. The workshop was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia between 20 and 22 May 2014 and was attended by delegates from Australia; Canada; Hong Kong, China; Indonesia; Japan; Korea; Malaysia; Papua New Guinea; The Philippines; Singapore; Thailand; Viet Nam; and the United States. The workshop brought together representatives from university associations, universities and governments to support, pursue and work towards the achievement of the priorities outlined by APEC Economic Leaders. The workshop focused on four key themes within cross-border education cooperation – student mobility, …

Comparison Of Piaac And Pisa Frameworks For Numeracy And Mathematical Literacy, Iddo Gal, David Tout

OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA)

This paper describes key aspects of the frameworks for the assessment of adult numeracy and mathematical literacy in PIAAC and PISA, which are OECD two flagship programs for international comparative assessment of competencies. The paper examines commonalities and differences in how the constructs of adult numeracy and mathematical literacy were assessed in PIAAC and PISA, and sketches selected challenges associated with interpretation of results from these surveys.

Student Assessments In India, Richa Jain

International Developments

ACER is working with social enterprise Gray Matters to deliver strong student assessments for school improvement in India. Richa Jain reports.

International Developments (No.4) 2014

International Developments

Table of contents for this issue: (a) Supporting educational progress for all learners; (b) Student assessments in India; (c) Pacific; (d) Educational progress for all; (e) Informing policy in developing countries; (f) Building connections in South East Asia; (g) Improving learning in China; (h) Current international projects.

Focus Groups For Informing Awpa’S Engineering Workforce Study 2014: Final Report, Daniel Edwards, Jacob Pearce, Kate Perkins, Justin Brown

Higher education research

This report highlights the findings of a project undertaken by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) for the Australian Workplace and Productivity Agency (AWPA) that will contribute to a wider study of the Engineering Workforce. The project involved the development, coordination, implementation of focus groups and the reporting of outcomes in a way that generates first-hand information about the experiences and attitudes of specific groups of people in relation to the engineering labour market – women, mature-age workers and new graduates. The work here also explored the views of the next generation of engineers, gathering information from school students …