An investigation of the declining supply of school principals in Australia. Leadership is critical when reforming schools for new knowledge economies. Yet international and Australian anecdotal evidence suggests a declining supply of applicants for school leadership. This study investigates the existence, extent and nature of, and explanations for, this paradox across three states and all education systems against international trends. Its unique contribution lies in its focus on (i) interaction ....An investigation of the declining supply of school principals in Australia. Leadership is critical when reforming schools for new knowledge economies. Yet international and Australian anecdotal evidence suggests a declining supply of applicants for school leadership. This study investigates the existence, extent and nature of, and explanations for, this paradox across three states and all education systems against international trends. Its unique contribution lies in its focus on (i) interactions between institutional structures, cultures and professional identity,(ii) context and location, (iii) the interplay of gender, race and ethnic difference. Innovative research methods, both qualitative and quantitative, will produce evidence to inform policy development on principal recruitment, selection, induction and professional development.Read moreRead less
Tertiary education and social capital in Victoria: the effects of the new economy courses in Business and IT. Over one third of tertiary students are enrolled in the fast-growing new economy disciplines in business studies and IT. In partnership with the Victorian government, this project studies the contribution of business and IT courses to social capital, the collaborative networks that underpin economic innovation and sustainable community. The research will survey and interview Victorian 15 ....Tertiary education and social capital in Victoria: the effects of the new economy courses in Business and IT. Over one third of tertiary students are enrolled in the fast-growing new economy disciplines in business studies and IT. In partnership with the Victorian government, this project studies the contribution of business and IT courses to social capital, the collaborative networks that underpin economic innovation and sustainable community. The research will survey and interview Victorian 1500 graduates from 12 higher education and VET institutions (6 rural); and survey and interview employers and community leaders. The research will inform Victoria's education policy and Growing Victoria Together strategy, and encourage tertiary institutions throughout Australia to strengthen their contribution to social capital.Read moreRead less
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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Youth-led learning: local connections and global citizenship. Focussing on social connections across racial and religious boundaries, the project directly addresses two areas of immediate national concern: young peoples' wellbeing, and Australia's relationship with its neighbours. The project will generate a new model of sustainable partnership across NGOs and learning institutions to provide youth-led, global education programs for school-aged youth, promoting learning from a local basis about ....Youth-led learning: local connections and global citizenship. Focussing on social connections across racial and religious boundaries, the project directly addresses two areas of immediate national concern: young peoples' wellbeing, and Australia's relationship with its neighbours. The project will generate a new model of sustainable partnership across NGOs and learning institutions to provide youth-led, global education programs for school-aged youth, promoting learning from a local basis about global issues. In creating this shared evidence base the project will benefit two industry sectors (NGOs and Education) and facilitate the development of effective processes toward young people's greater participation in social life.Read moreRead less
The invisible parents project - exploring the barriers to effective parental and community involvement in three Northern Territory Schools. Education outcomes in the Northern Territory, particularly for Indigenous students, lag far behind those of other Australians, to the point that the situation can be considered a national emergency. This research program will explore ways to improve parental involvement. This will inform the Smith Family's efforts to undertake early intervention for children ....The invisible parents project - exploring the barriers to effective parental and community involvement in three Northern Territory Schools. Education outcomes in the Northern Territory, particularly for Indigenous students, lag far behind those of other Australians, to the point that the situation can be considered a national emergency. This research program will explore ways to improve parental involvement. This will inform the Smith Family's efforts to undertake early intervention for children who are at risk of education failure. It will provide benefits to the rural and regional communities who feed schools in Darwin and Katherine and provide national benefits through making a significant contribution of anthropologically-informed knowledge on the determinants of successful school outcomes.Read moreRead less
Education for a Tolerant and Multicultural Indonesia. The recent shift towards fundamentalist Islam and upsurge in religious and ethnic conflict in Indonesia are matters of great concern for Australia. This project will investigate how education can facilitate peaceful multiculturalism in Indonesia and explore the potential for the co-existence of Islamic and secular educational systems. This research will improve Australia's capacity to understand our region's 'languages, societies, politics an ....Education for a Tolerant and Multicultural Indonesia. The recent shift towards fundamentalist Islam and upsurge in religious and ethnic conflict in Indonesia are matters of great concern for Australia. This project will investigate how education can facilitate peaceful multiculturalism in Indonesia and explore the potential for the co-existence of Islamic and secular educational systems. This research will improve Australia's capacity to understand our region's 'languages, societies, politics and cultures' (National Research Priority 4). Australia has been a world leader in expertise on Indonesia; we need projects like this to train junior scholars and thus sustain Australia's international reputation for excellence in Indonesian Studies into the future. Read moreRead less
Individual, Institutional and Community 'Capacity Building' in a Cluster of Disadvantaged Schools and their Community. It is no longer ethically, socially or economically acceptable to have significant and growing proportions of the school population that are alienated, marginalised and excluded from a satisfying and rewarding educational experience. The national and community benefits for Australia expected from this research will be a better understanding of, and possibly alleviation of, the s ....Individual, Institutional and Community 'Capacity Building' in a Cluster of Disadvantaged Schools and their Community. It is no longer ethically, socially or economically acceptable to have significant and growing proportions of the school population that are alienated, marginalised and excluded from a satisfying and rewarding educational experience. The national and community benefits for Australia expected from this research will be a better understanding of, and possibly alleviation of, the structural educational impediments that operate on disadvantaged individuals, institutions and communities. It is in the national interest to have a society in which all its members, not just the privileged, gain lifelong benefit from a rewarding schooling experience.Read moreRead less