Sustainable Selves: A New Assessment Model for Marginalised Secondary Students. Adolescents who have left schooling present a major challenge to Australian social, economic and educational policy. Disengaged youth are more likely to experience social, health and psychological risks, poverty and cultural marginalisation. The project develops an innovative model to assess the skills, knowledge and resources of marginalised students seeking to re-enter education. An authentic portfolio approach to ....Sustainable Selves: A New Assessment Model for Marginalised Secondary Students. Adolescents who have left schooling present a major challenge to Australian social, economic and educational policy. Disengaged youth are more likely to experience social, health and psychological risks, poverty and cultural marginalisation. The project develops an innovative model to assess the skills, knowledge and resources of marginalised students seeking to re-enter education. An authentic portfolio approach to assessment will be piloted and implemented at Queensland's largest provider of re-entry programs, Edmund Rice Foundation Flexible Learning Centre, supported by the Brisbane City Council. Read moreRead less
Discovery Indigenous Researchers Development - Grant ID: DI0775799
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$99,000.00
Summary
How young (2-4 years) Indigenous learners come to know and not know early mathematical language and processes. The project focuses on strengthening Australia's social and economic fabric by developing new knowledge about effective ways to prepare young Australian Indigenous children for mathematics success in school. Low Indigenous mathematics performance is a national shame - many school leavers have limited employment and life chances. A theory that explains 2-4 years old Indigenous students' ....How young (2-4 years) Indigenous learners come to know and not know early mathematical language and processes. The project focuses on strengthening Australia's social and economic fabric by developing new knowledge about effective ways to prepare young Australian Indigenous children for mathematics success in school. Low Indigenous mathematics performance is a national shame - many school leavers have limited employment and life chances. A theory that explains 2-4 years old Indigenous students' cognitive, affective and sociocultural development of the necessary number language and processes to ensure school entry with similar number knowledge and practices to same age non-Indigenous students has the potential to reduce unemployment and the reliance on welfare that has led to many of the social and health problems of Indigenous communities.Read moreRead less
Schooling the nation in an age of globalization: National curriculum, accountabilities and their effects. The research will contribute to the development of Australia's human capital through the enhancement of knowledge concerning the policy settings necessary at national and state systemic levels for achieving higher quality and more equitable student outcomes. The research will advance understandings of how education federalism can best be utilized to achieve such outcomes. Analyses of NAPLAN ....Schooling the nation in an age of globalization: National curriculum, accountabilities and their effects. The research will contribute to the development of Australia's human capital through the enhancement of knowledge concerning the policy settings necessary at national and state systemic levels for achieving higher quality and more equitable student outcomes. The research will advance understandings of how education federalism can best be utilized to achieve such outcomes. Analyses of NAPLAN and PISA data will also provide policy and practice relevant knowledge for systems and for schools. The project will strengthen Australia's research capacity in education policy studies and its reputation in the academic field, and contribute to improved research-based policy making in education.
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Risky spaces: Children experiencing governance across school, home and community sites. Children's lives are being increasingly governed through adult policy and practices designed to protect children, but about which children themselves have hitherto had little say. This project invites young children to account for their experiences in managing risky spaces in everyday interactions at school, home and community. Risky spaces refer to those potentially dangerous social, political and economic ....Risky spaces: Children experiencing governance across school, home and community sites. Children's lives are being increasingly governed through adult policy and practices designed to protect children, but about which children themselves have hitherto had little say. This project invites young children to account for their experiences in managing risky spaces in everyday interactions at school, home and community. Risky spaces refer to those potentially dangerous social, political and economic sites of childhood. This is the first Australian project to investigate children's understandings of these matters. Outcomes will inform national educational and social policy directions and provide strategies for educators and human service providers working with young children and their families.
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Family literacy practices, pedagogy and achievement in year one: A quantitative sociological study. Who succeeds and fails in the first year of school literacy? Why and how? Standards and methods for teaching initial literacy are the topic of national policy debate. Yet the debate often is based upon generic and populist claims about the efficacy of instructional methods, relying upon small scale and overseas studies. This is the first large scale quantitative study of variable sociodemographic ....Family literacy practices, pedagogy and achievement in year one: A quantitative sociological study. Who succeeds and fails in the first year of school literacy? Why and how? Standards and methods for teaching initial literacy are the topic of national policy debate. Yet the debate often is based upon generic and populist claims about the efficacy of instructional methods, relying upon small scale and overseas studies. This is the first large scale quantitative study of variable sociodemographic factors, home experiences, instructional treatment and literacy achievement. It addresses policy debates on phonics, early intervention and standards. It will offer guidance for the development of early childhood curriculum strategies and programs.Read moreRead less
Numeracy, Youth and Employment: A study of numeracy demands in contemporary workplaces in regional Queensland. In contemporary workplaces, the numeracy demands are varied, yet little is known about their form or skill requirements. In order for schools and other agencies to better prepare Australian youth for the demands of contemporary work, a clearer understanding of the intersection of numeracy and work is needed. This project seeks to identify the numeracy demands across a range of industr ....Numeracy, Youth and Employment: A study of numeracy demands in contemporary workplaces in regional Queensland. In contemporary workplaces, the numeracy demands are varied, yet little is known about their form or skill requirements. In order for schools and other agencies to better prepare Australian youth for the demands of contemporary work, a clearer understanding of the intersection of numeracy and work is needed. This project seeks to identify the numeracy demands across a range of industries in the Gold Coast region of Queensland. As well as examining the types of numeracy demands, the project identifies some of the best ways in which numeracy skills can be improved to meet the demands across those industries.Read moreRead less
The International Baccalaureate in Australian schools: a sociological case study. The International Baccaluareate is being adopted by many Australian schools seeking an alternative to state curricula. In current debates over a national curriculum, there has been federal government and media support for the IB as a prototype for policy reform. This project will provide the first documentation on the spread of the IB, its target student/family cohorts, school implementation issues, student experie ....The International Baccalaureate in Australian schools: a sociological case study. The International Baccaluareate is being adopted by many Australian schools seeking an alternative to state curricula. In current debates over a national curriculum, there has been federal government and media support for the IB as a prototype for policy reform. This project will provide the first documentation on the spread of the IB, its target student/family cohorts, school implementation issues, student experiences and outcomes. It will evaluate its claims about the preparation of students for new economies, global citizenship and identity.
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Smart Education Partnerships: Testing a Research Collaboration Model To Build Literacy Innovations in Low Socio Economic Schools. The social and economic benefits of success at school are felt at individual, local and the national levels. Literacy is a significant factor in school success. This project will build and test a model of school improvement that will develop increased capacity for effective literacy teaching, and will address significant issues of equity in the provision of high q ....Smart Education Partnerships: Testing a Research Collaboration Model To Build Literacy Innovations in Low Socio Economic Schools. The social and economic benefits of success at school are felt at individual, local and the national levels. Literacy is a significant factor in school success. This project will build and test a model of school improvement that will develop increased capacity for effective literacy teaching, and will address significant issues of equity in the provision of high quality schooling for Australian students from diverse cultural, linguistic and/or socioeconomic backgrounds. The project has both local benefit, addressing needs in some of Queensland's most challenged schools, and will inform policy for school change in many of Australia's socially disadvantaged communities.Read moreRead less
Young Australians and their identification with Australia: Implications for schooling and school success. Aims
*Identify adolescents' conceptions of and commitment to Australian national identity (ANI) and compare gender, regional and ethnic variations.
*Examine images of Australia promoted in schools (subject curricula, celebrations, special events, extra-curricula activities).
*Explore relationships between adolescents' ANI, academic achievement, personal aspirations, personal and social de ....Young Australians and their identification with Australia: Implications for schooling and school success. Aims
*Identify adolescents' conceptions of and commitment to Australian national identity (ANI) and compare gender, regional and ethnic variations.
*Examine images of Australia promoted in schools (subject curricula, celebrations, special events, extra-curricula activities).
*Explore relationships between adolescents' ANI, academic achievement, personal aspirations, personal and social development.
Significance
*Locates ANI within contect of adolescent training and development.
*Timely research given the current 'clever country' push.
Expected Outcomes
*Development of a reliable and valid measure of ANI.
*Assisting educators, and relevant political and social agencies in development of curricula and national policy, heedful of adolescents' conceptions of ANI.Read moreRead less
Re-engaging Disadvantaged Youth Through Science. 17000 youth have become disconnected from the education system across Australia. The project will provide a model to reengage these youth by providing relevant scientific content where students actively interact with peers in widely dispersed locations. The groups of students will engage in investigative projects where their performances are able to extend beyond traditional literacy-based assessment techniques. Investigations of body image will b ....Re-engaging Disadvantaged Youth Through Science. 17000 youth have become disconnected from the education system across Australia. The project will provide a model to reengage these youth by providing relevant scientific content where students actively interact with peers in widely dispersed locations. The groups of students will engage in investigative projects where their performances are able to extend beyond traditional literacy-based assessment techniques. Investigations of body image will be used as a vehicle to integrate academic teaching, promoting good health and well-being within a social values framework to develop citizenship and social awareness with scientific skills. The research will help us understand the factors required to reengage at-risk youth with their community.
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