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Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER)

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Articles 1081 - 1110 of 1792

Full-Text Articles in Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research

National Assessment Program : Civics And Citizenship : Year 6 And Year 10 : Technical Report : 2007, Nicole Wernert, Eveline Gebhardt, Wolfram Schulz Feb 2009

National Assessment Program : Civics And Citizenship : Year 6 And Year 10 : Technical Report : 2007, Nicole Wernert, Eveline Gebhardt, Wolfram Schulz

Civics and Citizenship Assessment

This report describes the technical aspects of the National Civics and Citizenship Sample Assessment of 2007 that was conducted in Australian schools, and summarises the main activities involved in the data collection, the data collection instruments and the analysis and reporting of the data. Chapter 2 summarises the development of the assessment domain and describes the process of item development and construction of the instruments. Chapter 3 reviews the sample design and describes the sampling process. Chapter 3 also describes the weighting procedures that were implemented to derive population estimates. Chapter 4 summarises the field administration and data management procedures, …

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Engaging Students For Success : Australasian Student Engagement Report, Hamish Bennett Coates Jan 2009

Engaging Students For Success : Australasian Student Engagement Report, Hamish Bennett Coates

Higher education research

ACER produces AUSSE Institution Reports for participating universities, providing details about the responses from students in their institution and selected benchmark groups. These reports provide a basis for publication and presentation of analyses within higher education communities, at conferences, and in magazines and journals. ACER also produces this Australasian Student Engagement Report (ASER), a series of AUSSE Research Briefings, and a series of AUSSE Enhancement Guides. These public documents are intended to convey general results to wider audiences.

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The Digest Edition 2009/2 : Talking To Learn: Dialogue In The Classroom, Catherine Scott, Marion Meiers, Pat Knight Jan 2009

The Digest Edition 2009/2 : Talking To Learn: Dialogue In The Classroom, Catherine Scott, Marion Meiers, Pat Knight

Research Digest

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 …

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Australasian Student Engagement Survey 2009 Institution Report, Ali Radloff, Hamish Coates Jan 2009

Australasian Student Engagement Survey 2009 Institution Report, Ali Radloff, Hamish Coates

Australasian Survey of Student Engagement (AUSSE)

No abstract provided.

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National Assessment Program : Civics And Citizenship Years 6 And 10 Report 2007, Ministerial Council On Education, Employment, Training And Youth Affairs (Mceetya), Suzanne Mellor Jan 2009

National Assessment Program : Civics And Citizenship Years 6 And 10 Report 2007, Ministerial Council On Education, Employment, Training And Youth Affairs (Mceetya), Suzanne Mellor

Civics and Citizenship Assessment

The 2007 National Civics and Citizenship Sample Assessment report is the second to be published on Civics and Citizenship in the cycle of three-yearly sample assessments conducted by MCEETYA as part of its National Assessment Program (NAP). The assessment measured students’ civic knowledge and understanding and their citizenship participation skills and dispositions. The assessment was conducted in October 2007 with 7,059 Year 6 students from 349 schools and 5,506 Year 10 students from 269 schools participating. The participating students were from both government and non-government schools. Results of the assessment show that nationally, 54 per cent of Year 6 students …

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The Process Of Research In Education: A Festschrift In Honour Of John P Keeves Am, Bobbie Matthews, Tony Gibbons Jan 2009

The Process Of Research In Education: A Festschrift In Honour Of John P Keeves Am, Bobbie Matthews, Tony Gibbons

Shannon Research Press

John Keeves is acknowledged internationally by colleagues, students and friends as a superb teacher and researcher. Now in his eighty-fifth year, a number of these same people have come together to write papers that, in their content, express the foci of his teaching and research activities and, that pay tribute to the considerable effect he has had on the world of educational research and, on the authors themselves. This book is the result. It is no surprise that the authors are international and diverse.

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The Digest Edition 2009/1 : The Use Of Icts In Schools In The Digital Age: What Does The Research Say?, Marion Meiers, Pat Knight, Gerry White Jan 2009

The Digest Edition 2009/1 : The Use Of Icts In Schools In The Digital Age: What Does The Research Say?, Marion Meiers, Pat Knight, Gerry White

Research Digest

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’ 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 ICT on student learning. …

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Acer 2008-2009 Annual Report, Australian Council For Educational Research (Acer) Jan 2009

Acer 2008-2009 Annual Report, Australian Council For Educational Research (Acer)

ACER Annual Reports

No abstract provided.

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Improving Literacy, Numeracy And Science Learning. Preliminary Advice, Geoff Masters Jan 2009

Improving Literacy, Numeracy And Science Learning. Preliminary Advice, Geoff Masters

Assessment and Reporting

During January 2009, work was commenced to review available evidence concerning levels of achievement in Queensland primary schools. The focus of the early data analyses has been on students’ performances in the 2008 National Assessment Program - Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) and state-wide literacy and numeracy tests prior to the introduction of NAPLAN, and on students’ performances in the 2007 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) and in earlier studies conducted by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA). Following the release of NAPLAN and TIMSS results late in 2008, concerns were expressed about the …

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Diversity In Australian Education, Stephen Dinham Dec 2008

Diversity In Australian Education, Stephen Dinham

School and system improvement

Stephen Dinham describes the characteristics of the Australian school system, particularly the latest developments in the area of curriculum and professional training.

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Timss 2007: Taking A Closer Look At Mathematics And Science In Australia, Sue Thomson, Nicole Wernert, Catherine Underwood, Marina Nicholas Dec 2008

Timss 2007: Taking A Closer Look At Mathematics And Science In Australia, Sue Thomson, Nicole Wernert, Catherine Underwood, Marina Nicholas

TIMSS 2007

The Trends in Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS 2007) is the latest in a series of international studies of mathematics and science, conducted under the aegis of the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA). The goal of TIMSS is to provide comparative information about educational achievement across countries to improve teaching and learning in mathematics and science. TIMSS measures trends in mathematics and science achievement at Year 4 and Year 8, as well as monitoring curricular implementation. Conducted on a regular four-year cycle, TIMSS has assessed mathematics and science in 1995, 1999, 2003, and 2007. In addition …

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Highlights From Timss 2007 From Australia’S Perspective: Highlights From The Full Report, Taking A Closer Look At Mathematics And Science In Australia, Sue Thomson, Nicole Wernert, Catherine Underwood, Marina Nicholas Dec 2008

Highlights From Timss 2007 From Australia’S Perspective: Highlights From The Full Report, Taking A Closer Look At Mathematics And Science In Australia, Sue Thomson, Nicole Wernert, Catherine Underwood, Marina Nicholas

TIMSS 2007

In 2007, Australia participated in the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS 2007). TIMSS 2007 is the fourth in a cycle of internationally comparative assessments conducted under the aegis of the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) dedicated to improving teaching and learning in mathematics and science for students around the world. Carried out every four years at Year 4 and Year 8, TIMSS provides data about trends in mathematics and science achievement over time. In Australia, TIMSS is part of MCEETYA’s National Assessment Program. To inform educational policy in the participating countries, this world-wide …

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Indigenous Languages Programmes In Australian Schools - A Way Forward, Nola Purdie, Tracey Frigo, Clare Ozolins, Geoff Noblett, Nick Thieberger, Janet Sharp Dec 2008

Indigenous Languages Programmes In Australian Schools - A Way Forward, Nola Purdie, Tracey Frigo, Clare Ozolins, Geoff Noblett, Nick Thieberger, Janet Sharp

Indigenous Education Research

In 2008, over 16,000 Indigenous students and 13,000 non-Indigenous students located in 260 Australian schools were involved in an Indigenous language program. More than 80 different Indigenous languages were taught. This project sought to present practice which would strengthen the quality of Indigenous language programs in schools. The report consists of a literature review, a mapping exercise to document current practices relating to Indigenous languages in Australian schools, an analysis of existing models of teacher preparation, and six case studies of good practice examples.

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Output Measurement In Education, Andrew Dowling Dec 2008

Output Measurement In Education, Andrew Dowling

Program monitoring and evaluation

Governments can no longer justify their performance in education in terms of inputs; that is, in terms of the amount of new money they have provided, or the number of new teachers they have employed, or the range of new computers they have installed. It has been observed that ‘today, educators need to show how they have transformed current and new dollars into student achievement results, or the argument that education needs more - or even the current level of - money will be unlikely to attract public or political support’. Output measures, particularly those related to student achievement, are …

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Reporting And Comparing School Performances, Geoff N. Masters, Glenn Rowley, John Ainley, Siek Toon Khoo Dec 2008

Reporting And Comparing School Performances, Geoff N. Masters, Glenn Rowley, John Ainley, Siek Toon Khoo

Assessment and Reporting

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. …

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The Occupations And Earnings Of Young Australians : The Role Of Education And Training, Gary Marks Nov 2008

The Occupations And Earnings Of Young Australians : The Role Of Education And Training, Gary Marks

LSAY Research Reports

This report investigates the effect of post-secondary education and training on the occupation and earnings of young people. The majority of young Australians undertake further education and training after leaving school, and it is important to better understand the pathways that they follow, and the impact of different types of experience on the early career. Such analyses can help young people in choosing appropriate programs as well as assist policy makers in identifying resource priorities. They can also contribute to debates about the role of education in promoting social mobility and economic development. The data analysed are from a sample …

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Digital Learning: An Australian Research Agenda, Gerald K. White Nov 2008

Digital Learning: An Australian Research Agenda, Gerald K. White

Digital learning research

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 …

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Initial Educational Experiences Of Tertiary Students, Australian Council For Educational Research (Acer) Oct 2008

Initial Educational Experiences Of Tertiary Students, Australian Council For Educational Research (Acer)

LSAY Briefing Reports

This Briefing presents information about the initial tertiary education experiences, such as satisfaction with aspects of student life and changes to initial enrolments, of two groups of young people, based on two recent LSAY research reports. One study focussed on the first year experiences of a group of young people who completed Year 12 in 2001 and entered tertiary education (university and TAFE) the following year.In this study, TAFE students who were enrolled in traineeships or apprenticeships were excluded from the analyses. The second study examined course changes and attrition from university study among a group of young people who …

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Career Advice In Australian Secondary Schools: Use And Usefulness, Sheldon Rothman, Kylie Hillman Oct 2008

Career Advice In Australian Secondary Schools: Use And Usefulness, Sheldon Rothman, Kylie Hillman

LSAY Research Reports

This report examines young people’s participation in career advice activities while at school and their perceptions of the usefulness of the advice they receive. The data are from the 2003 15 yearold cohort of the Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY). Most members of this LSAY Y03 cohort were in Year 10 in 2003. The present report examines how much career advice students accessed in Years 10, 11 and 12 across three years of data collection (2003–2005). A smaller group of the cohort is followed each year; this group was in Year 10 in 2003, Year 11 in 2004, and …

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School Non-Completers: Profiles And Initial Destinations, David D. Curtis, Julie Mcmillan Oct 2008

School Non-Completers: Profiles And Initial Destinations, David D. Curtis, Julie Mcmillan

LSAY Research Reports

This study examines non-completion of Year 12 at school for a nationally representative sample of young people who were 15 years old and still attending school in 2003. The study explores relationships between non-completion and selected socio-demographic and school-related factors, and changes in rates of school non-completion from the early 1980s to 2005. There is a particular emphasis on how socio-demographic and school-related factors over that period have influenced early school leaving. This study also examines the use of an alternative measure of ‘school completion’, which incorporates participation in a vocational education and training program after leaving school.

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Schools First: Final Report, Michele Lonsdale Oct 2008

Schools First: Final Report, Michele Lonsdale

Program monitoring and evaluation

The purpose of this report is to provide both a context and an evidence base for the Schools First Awards, particularly the key criteria that have been developed for the Awards. The basis of the report is a literature review. There are three parts to the review: an overview of the concept of social capital and its relationship to school–community partnerships and school improvement; an outline of several effective school–community partnerships; and a review of a number of national and international award schemes. Building social capital is about building personal and community assets. The concept of ‘asset building’ is at …

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Participation In Vet In Schools, Hamish Coates, Sheldon Rothman Oct 2008

Participation In Vet In Schools, Hamish Coates, Sheldon Rothman

LSAY Briefing Reports

This Briefing looks at participation in VET in Schools programs by members of three groups of young people who have been part of LSAY since 1995, when VET in Schools offerings experienced sustained growth. The first group comprises young people who were in Year 9 in 1995 and included VET subjects as part of their Year 11 or Year 12 studies in 1997 and 1998. The second group comprises young people who were in Year 9 in 1998 and included VET subjects as part of their senior secondary studies in 2000 and 2001. Both of these groups participated in VET …

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Participation In Vocational Education And Training To Age 24, Sheldon Rothman, Australian Council For Educational Research (Acer) Oct 2008

Participation In Vocational Education And Training To Age 24, Sheldon Rothman, Australian Council For Educational Research (Acer)

LSAY Briefing Reports

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 …

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School Experiences Of 15 And 16 Year-Olds, Catherine Underwood, Sheldon Rothman, Australian Council For Educational Research (Acer) Oct 2008

School Experiences Of 15 And 16 Year-Olds, Catherine Underwood, Sheldon Rothman, Australian Council For Educational Research (Acer)

LSAY Briefing Reports

This Briefing provides a summary of students’ experiences at school and their attitudes and perceptions of these experiences at ages 15 and 16. It is based on information obtained in both years from these young people who participated in PISA in 2003 and are now part of the LSAY 2003 cohort. Table 1 shows the distribution, by year level, of the cohort in both 2003 and 2004.

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University Study In Australia: Persistence, Completion And Beyond, Julie Mcmillan Sep 2008

University Study In Australia: Persistence, Completion And Beyond, Julie Mcmillan

LSAY Briefing Reports

The data for this Briefing were collected from two LSAY cohorts: the Year 9 class of 1995 and the Year 9 class of 1998. Information on the education and labour market activities of these groups has been collected annually. The findings reported here follow the experiences of university entrants from these groups up to age 23. The findings are discussed in further detail in three recent LSAY research reports on the first year experience (Hillman, 2005), university completion (Marks, 2007) and unmet demand (Marks, 2005). Earlier LSAY research, based upon previous groups of young people followed over longer periods of …

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Constructing A Described Achievement Scale For The International Civic And Citizenship Education Study, Julian Fraillon Sep 2008

Constructing A Described Achievement Scale For The International Civic And Citizenship Education Study, Julian Fraillon

Civics and Citizenship Assessment

This paper presents a draft described civic and citizenship cognitive achievement scale based on the International Civics and Citizenship Education Study (ICCS) field trial cognitive test items and student achievement data. The paper briefly outlines the process of generating the described scale before presenting and examining the substance of the scale. The scale is based on data from the 80 test items used in the ICCS field trial that have been included in the ICCS main survey test instrument. The described scale comprises four discrete described achievement levels that are further articulated by examples of achievement. Key aspects of the …

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Questionnaire Construct Validation In The International Civic And Citizenship Education Study, Wolfram Schulz Sep 2008

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

Civics and Citizenship Assessment

International studies tend to use student, teacher or school questionnaires for the collection of contextual data on student or teacher characteristics, background, activities and the school's learning environment. Furthermore, student measures of values, attitudes and behavioural intentions are also frequently viewed as important learning outcomes, in particular in the context of studies of civic and citizenship education. Data obtained from these instruments become frequently important predictors of student performance or are treated as learning outcome variables of interest. Therefore, the scaling of questionnaire items to obtain measures of students', teachers' and principals' perceptions and attitudes should ideally be subject of …

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Alternative Scaling Models And Dependencies In Pisa, Greg Macaskill Sep 2008

Alternative Scaling Models And Dependencies In Pisa, Greg Macaskill

OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA)

This paper examines trends between PISA 2003 and PISA 2006 for the reading and mathematics scales for the OECD countries using both the standard one parameter (1PL) model that has been used in published OECD reports, and a generalised partial credit model, as implemented in ACER ConQuest, which estimates optimal values for each possible score on an item.

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Vet Pathways Taken By School Leavers, David D. Curtis Sep 2008

Vet Pathways Taken By School Leavers, David D. Curtis

LSAY Research Reports

This report examines the vocational education and training (VET) pathways pursued by young people since leaving school. It investigates the characteristics of those who pursue VET, their persistence in those programs, and the labour force and related outcomes that they experience following their VET participation. The investigation uses data collected as part of the Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) program. It is based on survey data collected annually since 1995 from young people who were in Year 9 at school at that time (the Y95 cohort). Their progress through school, into any postschool education they had undertaken by 2001 …

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What Do Teachers Know, Think And Intend To Do About Adhd?, Julie Kos Sep 2008

What Do Teachers Know, Think And Intend To Do About Adhd?, Julie Kos

School and system improvement

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 …

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