Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Commons^™

Food, Fibre And The Future : Report On Surveys Of Students’ And Teachers’ Knowledge And Understanding Of Primary Industries, Kylie Hillman, Sarah Buckley

National Surveys

Primary Industry plays a vital role in Australian’s economy and society, but the gap between rural and urban communities is growing, contributing to a lack of understanding of where food and other basic necessities of life come from. The goal of the Primary Industries Education Foundation (PIEF) is to provide a source of information on primary industries for educators, to better equip students with not only knowledge about what goes into their food and fibres but also what career opportunities exist in primary industries. In 2010, PIEF contracted the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) to design and conduct a …

Evaluation Of The Sporting Chance Program, Michele Lonsdale, Jenny Wilkinson, Stephanie Armstrong, David Mcclay, Sharon Clerke, Jocelyn Cook, Kanat Wano, Robert Simons, Gina C. Milgate, Meredith Bramich, Australian Council For Educational Research (Acer)

Program monitoring and evaluation

The objective of the Sporting Chance Program is to encourage improved educational outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students (boys and girls) using sport and recreation. Such outcomes may include an increase in school attendance, strengthened engagement with school and improved attitudes to schooling, improved achievement in learning, increased retention to Year 12 or its vocational equivalent and greater parental and community involvement with the school and students’ schooling. The program comprises two elements:

• School-based Sports Academies (Academies) for secondary school students; and

• Education Engagement Strategies (EES) for both primary and secondary school students.

The purpose of …

Current Requirements For Tertiary Qualifications In Early Childhood Education : Implications For Policy : Final Report, Glenn Rowley, Julie Kos, Bridie Raban, Marilyn Fleer, Joy Cullen, Alison Elliott

Early Childhood Education

The Office of Early Childhood Education and Child Care (OECECC) within the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) commissioned the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) to map and analyse currently available Early Childhood education and care (ECEC) tertiary courses across Australia. ACER is undertaking this project in partnership with Monash University. This report considers issues raised by the project and sets out four key issues raised by this work, detailing the possible policy implications that could flow from the findings, in addition to potential further research implications.

National Assessment Program : Civics And Citizenship Education 2010 : Year 6 And Year 10 : Technical Report, Eveline Gebhardt, Julian Fraillon, Nicole Wernert, Wolfram Schulz

Civics and Citizenship Assessment

The first cycle of the National Assessment Program – Civics and Citizenship (NAP – CC) was held in 2004 and provided the baseline against which future performance would be compared. The second cycle of the program was conducted in 2007 and was the first cycle where trends in performance were able to be examined. The most recent assessment was undertaken in 2010. This report describes the procedures and processes involved in the conduct of the third cycle of the NAP – CC. This report describes the technical aspects of NAP – CC 2010 and summarises the main activities involved in …

Uniting Teachers And Learners : Critical Insights Into The Importance Of Staff-Student Interactions In Australian University Education, Sarah Richardson

Australasian Survey of Student Engagement (AUSSE)

This briefing focuses on perhaps the most fundamental aspect of university student learning– the role of teaching staff at universities. It does so by reporting insights from both teaching staff themselves and the students whom they teach. If the scholarship of teaching requires bridges to be built between teachers and learners, this briefing examines the structural integrity of those bridges in contemporary university education in Australia. In doing so it focuses attention on perhaps the most obvious but most woefully neglected aspect of quality in higher education – the role which teaching staff play in inspiring, challenging and engaging students.

Assessing Student Learning: Why Reform Is Overdue, Geoff N. Masters

Assessment and Reporting

Advances in our understanding of human learning require new approaches to assessing and monitoring student learning. Much assessment thinking has changed little over the past fifty years. The field continues to be dominated by twentieth century introductory textbook concepts, including such dichotomies as formative versus summative assessment, criterion-referenced versus norm-referenced testing, quantitative versus qualitative assessment, informal versus formal assessment – distinctions that often hamper rather than promote clear thinking about assessment. Assessment practice also has changed little over this period. Traditional, high-stakes examinations continue to dominate what is taught and learnt in many of our schools and universities. Greater use …

Indigenous Education: Finding Face, Making Space, Having Place., Lorna Williams

2009 - 2019 ACER Research Conferences

This keynote presentation uses an Indigenous storytelling methodology to relate the success factors that institutions, policy makers, administrators, teachers and communities can attend to in making changes to support the achievement of Indigenous learners. It draws on what Indigenous students, families and communities themselves have attributed their educational success. The article serves as a witness to their stories.

An Investigation Into The Attendance And Retention Of Aboriginal And Torres Strait Island Students: Research And Theory About What Works., Stephanie Armstrong, Sarah Buckley

2009 - 2019 ACER Research Conferences

This presentation is based on an Issues paper commissioned by the Closing the Gap Clearinghouse (Purdie & Buckley, 2010). This paper was designed to inform policy makers and service providers in the area of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students’ school attendance and retention. During the presentation, we will highlight issues in analysing school attendance and retention for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students; the gap in school attendance and retention and the causes of this gap; and the success or otherwise of the various programs and initiatives designed to reduce the gap. Issues in the quality of the data …

Reporting Against The National Indigenous Reform Agreement: What Have We Learnt So Far?, Kate Connors

2009 - 2019 ACER Research Conferences

Concurrent Session Block 3

‘Hearing The Country’: Reflexivity As An Intimate Journey Into Epistemological Liminalities, John Bradley

2009 - 2019 ACER Research Conferences

Concurrent Sessions Block 3

Indigenous Mathematics: Creating An Equitable Learning Environment., Grace Sarra

2009 - 2019 ACER Research Conferences

Concurrent Session Block 3

Key Factors Influencing Educational Outcomes For Indigenous Students And Their Implications For Planning And Practice In The Nt., Jonathon Carapetis, Sven Silburn

2009 - 2019 ACER Research Conferences

This presentation considers the intrinsic link between health and education and the benefits of collaborative research for improving the education and life outcomes of Indigenous children. The Council of Australian Governments’ Overcoming Indigenous Disadvantage framework and the Closing the Gap generational strategy have resulted in significant new funding through a range of national partnership agreements to improve Indigenous child health, development and education. The focus of these reforms is consistent with the human development paradigm now advocated by international agencies such as UNICEF, WHO and OECD. They are also informed by recent advances in scientific knowledge regarding the developmental origins …

Incorporating And Understanding Different Ways Of Knowing In The Education Of Indigenous Students., Jill Milroy

2009 - 2019 ACER Research Conferences

Concurrent Session Block 2

Literacy And Numeracy Learning: What Works For Young Indigenous Students? Lessons From The Longitudinal Literacy And Numeracy Study For Indigenous Children., Kate Reid

2009 - 2019 ACER Research Conferences

Concurrent Session Block 2

Creating Indigenous Classrooms Of Tomorrow Today: What Children Will Need To Know And How To Create It?, Lester-Irabinna Rigney

2009 - 2019 ACER Research Conferences

Engagement or participation in education is a key factor affecting the life chances of all Australians. What will this look like in the future for Indigenous children who have an overall lower level of participation in education than non-Indigenous Australians? 21st century schooling for Indigenous students in the next decade will look very different to today. This paper discusses the characteristics of curriculum, policy and pedagogy for future schooling of Indigenous children. It uses national and international literature to explore 21st century learning that seeks to revolutionise the way we educate teachers and students. It highlights that Indigenous students live …

Aboriginal Languages Reclamation: Countering The Neo-Classical Onslaught., Kevin Lowe

2009 - 2019 ACER Research Conferences

Concurrent Sessions Block 1

Successful Post School Transitions For Indigenous Youth., Justin Brown, Gina Milgate

2009 - 2019 ACER Research Conferences

Concurrent Sessions Block 1

Numeracy, Mathematics And Indigenous Learners: Not The Same Old Thing., Caty Morris, Chris Matthews

2009 - 2019 ACER Research Conferences

Concurrent Sessions Block 1

Success In The Early Years For Remote Indigenous Children., Georgie Nutton

2009 - 2019 ACER Research Conferences

Concurrent Sessions Block 1

Educational Success: A Sustainable Outcome For All Indigenous Students When Teachers Understand Where The Learning Journey Begins., Jeannie Herbert

2009 - 2019 ACER Research Conferences

The statistics for educational outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students continually reinforce the notion of ‘failure’, of a specific cohort of students who are ‘not coping’, of the majority of teachers at a loss concerning what to do. Overall, it is a picture of doom and gloom, clearly demonstrating that education in this country has failed to live up to its promise for all students. In this presentation, research outcomes will be used to construct a different picture, a paradigm for a better future built on a strong foundation of sustainable education outcomes for the descendants of this …

Teaching Mathematics: Using Research-Informed Strategies, Peter Sullivan

Australian Education Review

AER 59 reviews research into aspects of mathematics teaching, focusing on issues relevant to Australian mathematics teachers, to those who support them, and also to those who make policy decisions about mathematics teaching. It was motivated by and draws on the proceedings of the well-attended and highly successful ACER Research Conference Teaching mathematics? Make it count: What research tells us about effective mathematics teaching and learning, held in Melbourne in August 2010.

Section 2 describes the goals of teaching mathematics and argues that a practical orientation should be the focus of mathematics teaching in the compulsory years, and outlines …

Gambling And Young People In Australia, Nola Purdie, Gabrielle Matters, Kylie Hillman, Martin Murphy, Clare Ozolins, Pam Millwood

Program monitoring and evaluation

This study was undertaken by the Australian Council for Educational Research Ltd (ACER) and presents a number of findings related to the gambling behaviour of young people in Australia. Three surveys were developed and administered between August 2009 and May 2010. They included on-line; pencil and paper; and computer assisted telephone interviews (CATI). The CATI interviews were administered to young people in all Australian States and Territories.

The study found that overall 77% of young people have participated in a gambling activity at least once within the 12 month period preceding the study. Gambling frequency as reported by young people …

The Power Of Expectation, Geoff N. Masters

Assessment and Reporting

Success in most fields of endeavour depends on an ability to visualise success. It has long been known that elite athletes mentally rehearse each performance prior to its execution. Advances in neuroscience show why this may be so important: the neurological processes involved in visualising a performance are almost identical to those involved in the performance itself. Indeed, simply watching somebody else perform activates ‘mirror’ neurons in the observer paralleling neuronal activity in the performer. The ability to visualise success and an accompanying belief that success is possible appear to be prerequisites for most forms of human achievement.

Student Demand Projections: Supporting Analysis: Gippsland Tertiary Education Plan, Daniel Edwards, Paul R. Weldon

Higher education research

There is considerable interest in the provision of, and access to, tertiary education within Victoria by the State Government. In 2010, a Tertiary Education Plan was released by the Government, detailing various targets and policy objectives in this sector. Despite a change of Government, the broad objectives in the plan continue to be pursued. As such, a number of more specific plans, based on geographic locations within Victoria, are being constructed. One such plan is being constructed for Gippsland. An Expert Panel has been formed to create the plan for Gippsland, chaired by Professor Kwong Lee Dow. This document provides …

Literacy And Numeracy Learning: Lessons From The Longitudinal Literacy And Numeracy Study For Indigenous Students, Nola Purdie, Kate Reid, Tracey Frigo, Alison Stone, Elizabeth Kleinhenz

ACER Research Monographs

In 2000, ACER commenced the Longitudinal Literacy and Numeracy Surveys for Indigenous Students (ILLANS), which set out to track the development of English literacy and numeracy skills in a group of Indigenous students from school entry through the early years of schooling and beyond, to establish a data-rich picture of educational opportunities for Indigenous students. Phase 1 of ILLANS collected data from Indigenous students at 13 schools across Australia that had been nominated by education systems as examples of good practice in education for Indigenous students. The first three years of the study were reported in the monograph Supporting …

Assessment Of Current Process For Targeting Of Schools Funding To Disadvantaged Students: A Report Prepared For The Review Of Funding For Schooling Panel, Adam Rorris, Paul R. Weldon, Adrian Beavis, Phillip Mckenzie, Meredith Bramich, Alana Deery

Program monitoring and evaluation

The key research questions considered in this report are: How do existing programs seeking to address educational disadvantage in schools work? Are existing programs effective in reducing the impact of disadvantage on educational outcomes? What alternative funding approaches should be considered? To answer these questions, the report aimed to:

• map the current processes at Commonwealth, state and territory and system levels for targeting funding towards disadvantaged students with the highest level of educational need. This mapping included describing how educational needs are defined, identified and measured.
• assess the effectiveness of the funding and other processes in use. Part of this …

Student Profile: Supporting Analysis: Gippsland Tertiary Education Plan, Daniel Edwards, Catherine Underwood

Higher education research

There is considerable interest in the provision and access to tertiary education within the Victoria by the State Government. In 2010, a Tertiary Education Plan was released by the Government, detailing various targets and policy objectives in this sector. Despite a change of Government, the broad objectives in the plan continue to be pursued. As such, a number of more specific plans, based on geographic locations within Victoria are being constructed. One such plan is being constructed for Gippsland. An Expert Panel has been formed to create the plan for Gippsland, chaired by Professor Kwong Lee Dow. This document provides …

Dropout Dna, And The Genetics Of Effective Support, Hamish Coates, Laurie Ransom

Australasian Survey of Student Engagement (AUSSE)

Australia is seeking to expand participation in higher education – to get more students into the system and keep these people engaged in effective learning through to completion. In 2009 the Australian Government set attainment targets coupled with an explicit mandate to diversify the student mix, in particular by balancing the inclusion of people from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds. Supporting students’ engagement in higher education is fundamental to the success of these reforms. To support engagement meaningfully requires data on the effectiveness of engagement activities and conditions which goes beyond commonly collected data regarding student satisfaction with the quality of provision. …

Student Engagement At New Zealand Institutes Of Technology And Polytechnics : Key Results From The 2010 Pilot, Ali Radloff

Australasian Survey of Student Engagement (AUSSE)

The Australasian Survey of Student Engagement (AUSSE) provides data that tertiary institutions throughout New Zealand and Australia can use to attract, engage and retain their students. Through measuring the time and effort students devote to educationally purposeful activities and other aspects of their experience at their institution the AUSSE provides a greater understanding of students’ engagement with study and their learning. Instead of focusing on student satisfaction, retention and completion rates, looking at the way in which students learn and the outcomes they achieve allows institutions to gain a better understanding of the quality of education students are getting. The …

Industry, Employment, And Population Profile: Supporting Analysis: Gippsland Tertiary Education Plan, Daniel Edwards, Paul R. Weldon, Tim Friedman

Higher education research

There is considerable interest in the provision and access to tertiary education within the Victoria by the State Government. In 2010, a Tertiary Education Plan was released by the Government, detailing various targets and policy objectives in this sector. Despite a change of Government, the broad objectives in the plan continue to be pursued. As such, a number of more specific plans, based on geographic locations within Victoria are being constructed. One such plan is being constructed for Gippsland. An Expert Panel has been formed to create the plan for Gippsland, chaired by Professor Kwong Lee Dow. This document provides …