Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Commons^™

Shifting The Focus Of Naplan, Geoff N. Masters Ao

Teacher columnist – Geoff Masters

The decision to move NAPLAN online provides an opportunity to place less emphasis on comparing the performances of schools and more emphasis on supporting student learning, according to Professor Geoff Masters AO.

Opening Or Closing Doors For Students? Equity And Data-Driven Decision-Making, Amanda Datnow

2009 - 2019 ACER Research Conferences

Data-driven decision-making is key pillar of educational reform initiatives in countries across the globe. While approaches to data use vary, the theory of action underlying these efforts is often similar. The common idea is that when leaders and teachers are knowledgeable about how to use data, they will become more effective in reviewing their existing capacities, identifying weaknesses, and charting plans for improvement. In the classroom, data can inform how teachers plan lessons, identify concepts for re-teaching, and differentiate instruction. For all these reasons, data use has significant implications for teaching and leadership. Ensuring equitable opportunities and outcomes for all …

But Can We Measure It?, Geoff N. Masters Ao

Teacher columnist – Geoff Masters

It’s often asserted that some things can’t be measured, Professor Geoff Masters AO writes in his latest column. But how true is this? And if we can’t measure something, should we stop pretending we can teach or develop it?

Infographic: Books In The Home And Student Achievement, Rebecca Vukovic

Teacher infographics

The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) is an international comparative study of student achievement. Here, we look at TIMSS data on books in the home and the percentage of Australian students at or above the proficient standard for maths and science.

The Case For Urgency: Advocating For Indigenous Voice In Education, Kevin P. Gillan, Suzanne Mellor, Jacynta Krakouer

Australian Education Review

In 2004 the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) published an Australian Education Review (AER) on Indigenous Education: The Case for Change: A review of contemporary research on Indigenous education outcomes, AER 47 (Mellor & Corrigan, 2004). In the 13 years since its publication, the state of Indigenous education outcomes has remained substantially unaltered. All the social indicators demonstrate that Australia’s First Nations people continue to be the most socio-economically disadvantaged population cohort in Australian society. This is after decades of continued policy efforts by successive Commonwealth, state and territory governments to ameliorate Indigenous education disadvantage. We still struggle with …

Infographic: Student Behaviour Hindering Learning, Jo Earp

Teacher infographics

In PISA 2015 principals were asked to report on five student-related behaviours which are hindering learning. This infographic shows the percentage of students whose principals reported the behaviours occurring at least once a month.

Principles Of Good Practice In Learning Assessment, Australian Council For Educational Research (Acer), Unesco Institute For Statistics

Monitoring Learning

The Principles of Good Practice in Learning Assessment (GP-LA) are a central element of the international commitment to the management of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 4 data quality for learning outcomes. The GP-LA is an independent articulation of good practices that accommodates the diversity of large-scale learning assessment activities being undertaken throughout the world. Within SDG 4 reporting processes it serves two purposes. First, it serves as the conceptual framework to evaluate the quality of large scale assessments and data from these assessments submitted for SDG 4 reporting. Second, the principles described in the GP-LA will support the diagnosis of …

The School Curriculum: About Time, Geoff N. Masters Ao

Teacher columnist – Geoff Masters

'Too often in our schools, the time-bound curriculum does not deliver learning experiences matched to individuals’ present levels of achievement and learning needs,' Professor Geoff Masters AO writes in his latest Teacher column.

The School Curriculum: About Time, Geoff N. Masters, Ray Adams

Teacher columnist – Geoff Masters

When it comes to the school curriculum, it’s about time we asked a question about time.

An essential feature of the school curriculum is the specification of what teachers are to teach and students are to learn at particular times in the schooling process. In other words, the curriculum spells out not only what teachers are to teach and students are to learn, but also whenthis is to occur.

When it comes to the school curriculum, it’s about time we asked a question about time.

An essential feature of the school curriculum is the specification of what teachers are …

Infographic: School Teaching As A Highly Regarded Profession, Jo Earp

Teacher infographics

Since 1976, a Roy Morgan annual survey has asked Australians to rate 30 professions for ethics and honesty. This year, the rating for school teachers hit an all-time high. Find out more in today's infographic.

Infographic: Student Wellbeing And Pe Classes, Jo Earp

Teacher infographics

The latest cycle of PISA explored the wellbeing of 15-year-old students. Survey topics included Physical Education classes at school. Here are results from a selection of the 70+ countries and economies that participated.

Assessment Online: Informing Teaching And Learning, Geoff N. Masters Ao

Teacher columnist – Geoff Masters

Online assessments are capable of providing significantly improved feedback to teaching and learning. Experience in schools is demonstrating the potential of online assessment – provided the foundations are right.

Assessment Online: Informing Teaching And Learning, Geoff N. Masters

Teacher columnist – Geoff Masters

Online assessments are capable of providing significantly improved feedback to teaching and learning. Experience in schools is demonstrating the potential of online assessment – provided the foundations are right.

The advantages of online assessment are often described in terms of its administrative convenience, efficiency and lower costs. However, well-constructed online assessments also are capable of providing more timely, more instructionally useful feedback to teaching and learning. For a number of years ACER has been investigating ways to enhance the educational value of online assessments.

Reconciliation Begins At Home, Geoff N. Masters Ao

Teacher columnist – Geoff Masters

'Sitting down with our children to watch programs that demonstrate and celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing and being, such as Little J & Big Cuz, is one small ‘next step’ that each of us can take on the journey towards reconciliation.'

Pisa 2015: Financial Literacy In Australia, Sue Thomson, Lisa De Bortoli

OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) Australia

The main focus of the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) financial literacy assessment is on measuring the proficiency of 15-year-old students in demonstrating and applying the knowledge and skill that they have learned in and out of school. Like other PISA domains, financial literacy is assessed using an instrument designed to provide data that are valid, reliable and interpretable. PISA is an international comparative assessment of student achievement directed by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). PISA measures how well 15-year-olds, who are nearing the end of their compulsory schooling in most participating educational systems, are prepared …

Infographic: Student Exercise Outside School, Jo Earp

Teacher infographics

How do students in Australia compare with their counterparts in New Zealand, Singapore and the UK when it comes to physical exercise before and after school? Our latest infographic explores new OECD data.

Acer 2015-2016 Annual Report, Australian Council For Educational Research (Acer)

ACER Annual Reports

No abstract provided.

Infographic: Offensive Behaviour Against School Leaders, Jo Earp

Teacher infographics

The 2016 Australian Principal Health & Wellbeing Survey includes prevalence rates of offensive behaviour against school leaders, compared to the general population. Our latest infographic explores some of the results.

How Well Are We Learning From Naplan?, Geoff N. Masters Ao

Teacher columnist – Geoff Masters

Some Australian schools and school systems have seen greater improvements in NAPLAN results than others. How well do we understand where improvements are occurring and why? Professor Geoff Masters AO discusses.

Infographic: Cyberbullying And Other Digital Dangers, Rebecca Vukovic

Teacher infographics

In 2016 the Office of the Children's eSafety Commissioner undertook a national survey of kids, teens and parents, to ask them about their internet use and online practices. Here are some of the findings.

Promoting Long-Term Learning Progress, Geoff N. Masters Ao

Teacher columnist – Geoff Masters

How well do we help students recognise and reflect on the long-term progress they make at school? Could progress in school mathematics learning be more like progress in music learning? Professor Geoff Masters AO discusses.

Australian General Practice Training Program: National Report On The 2016 Registrar Satisfaction Survey, Ali Radloff, Daniel Edwards, Darren Matthews

Higher education research

The AGPT Registrar Satisfaction Survey was an annual, national survey of GP registrars currently training in the AGPT program that collects information about registrar satisfaction, experience and future career plans. The survey undertaken in November and December 2016 was part of the Department of Health’s monitoring and quality improvement activities and the information used to assure the quality of training provision, enable continuous improvement and allow results to be benchmarked nationally. It also collected information on registrars’ demographics, training contexts, career plans and other aspects of their training experience.

Infographic: Classroom Discipline, Jo Earp

Teacher infographics

In the 2015 PISA cycle, students were asked to respond to five statements about the disciplinary climate in their science classes. Here are the results from 10 participating countries.

Infographic: Classroom Seating Arrangements, Jo Earp

Teacher infographics

Are you ‘old school’ when it comes to your classroom seating layout? Do you prefer small groups or an arrangement that leaves space in the middle? Here are just a few of the many (many) variations out there.

Timss 2015: Reporting Australia’S Results, Sue Thomson, Nicole Wernert, Elizabeth O'Grady, Sima Rodrigues

TIMSS 2015

The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) is an international comparative study of student achievement directed by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA). TIMSS 2015 represents the sixth such study since TIMSS was first conducted in 1995. Forty-nine education systems were tested at Year 4 level and 39 tested at Year 8 level. In Australia, TIMSS 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 TIMSS is to provide comparative information about educational achievement across countries …

Infographic: Workload And Quality Of Teaching, Jo Earp

Teacher infographics

A recent school staff workload survey in Victoria, Australia asked teachers to consider 17 demands of quality teaching. Here are some of the results.

Pisa 2015 Australia Student And Achievement Data [Spss] [Data Set], Sue Thomson, Lisa De Bortoli, Catherine Underwood

OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) Australia

This dataset (SPSS zipped) is a data source for the report PISA 2015: Reporting Australia’s results.

Pisa 2015 Australia School Questionnaire Data [Sas] [Data Set], Sue Thomson, Lisa De Bortoli, Catherine Underwood

OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) Australia

This dataset (SAS zipped) is a data source for the report PISA 2015: Reporting Australia’s results.

Timss 2015 Australian Year 4 Data [Sas & Spss], Sue Thomson, Nicole Wernert, Elizabeth O'Grady, Sima Rodrigues

TIMSS 2015

This dataset is available for download as a zipped file

SAS & SPSS

This is a data source for the report TIMSS 2015: Reporting Australia’s results.

Timss 2015 Australian Year 8 Data [Sas & Spss], Sue Thomson, Nicole Wernert, Elizabeth O'Grady, Sima Rodrigues

TIMSS 2015

Dataset is available for download as zipped file.

SAS and SPSS

This is a data source for the report TIMSS 2015: Reporting Australia’s results.