Middle Years Transition, Engagement and Achievement in Mathematics - The MYTEAM Project. It is a Commonwealth policy objective that all students attain essential numeracy skills. In reality, 30% of 15 year olds do not attain these skills. Alongside this are declining enrolments in mathematics, a trend away from advanced mathematics courses, and an emerging 'skills shortage' in mathematics-related pathways. The MYTEAM project provides new solutions to national problems associated with disengageme ....Middle Years Transition, Engagement and Achievement in Mathematics - The MYTEAM Project. It is a Commonwealth policy objective that all students attain essential numeracy skills. In reality, 30% of 15 year olds do not attain these skills. Alongside this are declining enrolments in mathematics, a trend away from advanced mathematics courses, and an emerging 'skills shortage' in mathematics-related pathways. The MYTEAM project provides new solutions to national problems associated with disengagement, under-participation and underperformance in mathematics and empowers more individuals to aspire to and realise mathematics-related employment opportunities. Addressing such a shortfall in the labour market will have a positive impact on the future economy, the nation's social well-being, and individuals' pathways beyond school.Read moreRead less
The role of representation in learning science. School science is a core area for the future prosperity and health of Australia. Poor student attitudes to science and low involvement in post compulsory science are of national concern. This project, by taking a fresh perspective on key learning issues in middle years science, when student attitudes and future plans are being forged, has the potential to lay the groundwork for more successful learning, increased retention into post compulsory scie ....The role of representation in learning science. School science is a core area for the future prosperity and health of Australia. Poor student attitudes to science and low involvement in post compulsory science are of national concern. This project, by taking a fresh perspective on key learning issues in middle years science, when student attitudes and future plans are being forged, has the potential to lay the groundwork for more successful learning, increased retention into post compulsory science, and enhanced public science literacy. By focusing on effective and innovative pedagogies and assessment strategies the project has the capacity to enhance science students' capacity for innovation, potentially laying the groundwork for increased productivity in the longer term. Read moreRead less
Maximising Real Educational ACHievement - The REACH Project: Integrating Motivation and Self-concept to Optimise Students Academic Outcomes at School. The OECD reports that academic motivation and self-concept underlie young people's educational success, affect their long-term health and wellbeing, and also impact on economic outcomes at a national level. Through enhancing students' academic motivation and self-concept, the Real Educational ACHievement (REACH) Project will develop and sustain ac ....Maximising Real Educational ACHievement - The REACH Project: Integrating Motivation and Self-concept to Optimise Students Academic Outcomes at School. The OECD reports that academic motivation and self-concept underlie young people's educational success, affect their long-term health and wellbeing, and also impact on economic outcomes at a national level. Through enhancing students' academic motivation and self-concept, the Real Educational ACHievement (REACH) Project will develop and sustain achievement that encompasses not only academic grades but also enhanced engagement, satisfaction in learning, attendance, participation, and aspirations. REACH will guide and support young Australians to achieve to their potential and through this Australian society as a whole will gain substantial educational, economic, labour market, health, and social benefits.Read moreRead less
Early career teachers' personal wellbeing and professional commitment. Australia is facing retention difficulties in the teaching profession which will increase staffing and financial burdens on the educational and wider community. This project will document the experiences of early career teachers with a view to establishing levels of personal wellbeing and professional engagement and commitment. It is expected that the study will show that low levels of wellbeing and school climate factors are ....Early career teachers' personal wellbeing and professional commitment. Australia is facing retention difficulties in the teaching profession which will increase staffing and financial burdens on the educational and wider community. This project will document the experiences of early career teachers with a view to establishing levels of personal wellbeing and professional engagement and commitment. It is expected that the study will show that low levels of wellbeing and school climate factors are major contributors to the loss of early career teachers. This evidence will be invaluable to government and educational policymakers keen to sustain early career teachers' wellbeing and best support them to reduce attrition from the profession.Read moreRead less
The Role of Arts Education in Academic Motivation, Engagement, and Achievement. Research is needed to examine the impact of arts education on students' motivation, engagement, and achievement. Findings will help better direct funding and policy to arts education that makes a real difference in the academic and non-academic lives of children and young people. In the school context, findings will link directly to aspects of arts education and achievement motivation that enhance educational attainm ....The Role of Arts Education in Academic Motivation, Engagement, and Achievement. Research is needed to examine the impact of arts education on students' motivation, engagement, and achievement. Findings will help better direct funding and policy to arts education that makes a real difference in the academic and non-academic lives of children and young people. In the school context, findings will link directly to aspects of arts education and achievement motivation that enhance educational attainment, reduce disengagement, and instil greater satisfaction with school life. At a national level, findings will provide an evidence base for the integrated development of cultural, educational and social capital that better enable Australia to contribute to leadership and advocacy in the arts internationally.Read moreRead less
The International Classroom Research Collaboration. The International Centre for Classroom Research at the University of Melbourne is the hub of an international network of classroom researchers. Australian coordination of this major international research network ensures that the priorities and initiatives, characteristic of contemporary Australian education (eg problem-based learning, authentic assessment, and working mathematically) can be anticipated and accommodated in the research agenda o ....The International Classroom Research Collaboration. The International Centre for Classroom Research at the University of Melbourne is the hub of an international network of classroom researchers. Australian coordination of this major international research network ensures that the priorities and initiatives, characteristic of contemporary Australian education (eg problem-based learning, authentic assessment, and working mathematically) can be anticipated and accommodated in the research agenda of the International Classroom Research Collaboration. Connections with state departments of education, state and national professional associations, and Australian schools and school systems, ensure that the findings of this international collaboration will be communicated efficiently to schools and classroom practitioners in Australia.Read moreRead less
Exploring the Effects of Boarding School on Academic and Non-academic Outcomes: A Longitudinal Study of Boarding and Day Students. There is little large-scale Australian and international research assessing the effects of boarding school on academic and non-academic outcomes. In partnership with the Australian Boarding Schools Association and schools overseas, this Project examines the effects of boarding school over and above other factors that might explain student outcomes. Through concurrent ....Exploring the Effects of Boarding School on Academic and Non-academic Outcomes: A Longitudinal Study of Boarding and Day Students. There is little large-scale Australian and international research assessing the effects of boarding school on academic and non-academic outcomes. In partnership with the Australian Boarding Schools Association and schools overseas, this Project examines the effects of boarding school over and above other factors that might explain student outcomes. Through concurrent assessment of day students in the same schools, the study informs academic and non-academic development for all students. Findings will assist policy, pedagogy, and pastoral care directed at enhancing academic and non-academic pathways and centrally position Australia as a leading nation in boarding school research - and potentially, youth-based residential care more generally.Read moreRead less
Academic Buoyancy and Academic Resilience: New Approaches to Examining and Understanding Adversity and Setback in the Academic Domain. Although Federal & State/Territory governments inject millions of dollars into schools, multitudes of students fall short of their academic potential due to an inability to deal with academic adversity. Essentially, these students are not academically buoyant or resilient. This diminishes their personal capacity through life & ultimately Australia's capacity to c ....Academic Buoyancy and Academic Resilience: New Approaches to Examining and Understanding Adversity and Setback in the Academic Domain. Although Federal & State/Territory governments inject millions of dollars into schools, multitudes of students fall short of their academic potential due to an inability to deal with academic adversity. Essentially, these students are not academically buoyant or resilient. This diminishes their personal capacity through life & ultimately Australia's capacity to compete globally. The proposed Research Program conducts a comprehensive analysis of academic buoyancy & resilience & the attributes pivotal to them. In so doing, it seeks to promote & maintain young people's good academic health. According to Australian authorities (eg. Australian Bureau of Statistics, The Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs), young people's academic health is vital to our nation's economic, cultural, & social success.Read moreRead less
Creating Safer Communities: Addressing Risky Behaviour in Young People Through Self-Regulation. Young people make choices about whether to engage in risky behaviours. If they do engage in risky behaviours, this can result in delinquency, self-harm, or death. This project examines: (i) young people's decision-making and the consequences of risky behaviour, and (ii) the effectiveness of a self-regulatory intervention that promotes positive lifestyle choices. The project provides an integrated and ....Creating Safer Communities: Addressing Risky Behaviour in Young People Through Self-Regulation. Young people make choices about whether to engage in risky behaviours. If they do engage in risky behaviours, this can result in delinquency, self-harm, or death. This project examines: (i) young people's decision-making and the consequences of risky behaviour, and (ii) the effectiveness of a self-regulatory intervention that promotes positive lifestyle choices. The project provides an integrated and co-ordinated approach to crime prevention across government departments by offering long-term preventative solutions for at-risk adolescents and alternative treatments for offenders. The project is consistent with Government commitments to safer, more supportive communities to reduce youth crime.Read moreRead less
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