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
What are the determinants and effects of school choice? An international comparison between Australia and the UK. The project will provide a clearer picture of the determinants of school choice, most notably the impact of economic phenomena on that choice. For Australia, this will mean we have a better understanding of the competing explanations of the growth of students at private schools over the past three decades: the role of government subsidies; the role of demographic changes; the effec ....What are the determinants and effects of school choice? An international comparison between Australia and the UK. The project will provide a clearer picture of the determinants of school choice, most notably the impact of economic phenomena on that choice. For Australia, this will mean we have a better understanding of the competing explanations of the growth of students at private schools over the past three decades: the role of government subsidies; the role of demographic changes; the effects of increased income inequality; and the role of changes in preferences towards private schools. This information will provide a better evidence base for future policy development in this area.Read moreRead less
Promoting Mathematical Development through Model-Eliciting Case Studies. Rapid changes in the way mathematics is being used in the workplace means that workers now require diverse profiles of mathematical and scientific abililites, the development of which has to begin in the school years. Building on our existing democratic access to powerful mathematics that will enable all students to develop the conceptual tools needed for success beyond school. Working with teachers and graduate students, ....Promoting Mathematical Development through Model-Eliciting Case Studies. Rapid changes in the way mathematics is being used in the workplace means that workers now require diverse profiles of mathematical and scientific abililites, the development of which has to begin in the school years. Building on our existing democratic access to powerful mathematics that will enable all students to develop the conceptual tools needed for success beyond school. Working with teachers and graduate students, we will implement semester-long sequences of model-eliciting activities (authentic case studies) that will develop students' higher-order mathematical understandings and abilities, especially those whose outstanding abilities in complex real-world situations often go undetected in the classroom.Read moreRead less
Design experiments in ICT in education research. How to use information and communication technologies (ICT) to improve teaching and learning outcomes has become a critical question for educators world-wide. Governments are investing hugely in hardware, software and infrastructure to support the use of technologies but the research conducted into their effective use in inadequate. This proposal will investigate a relatively new methodology, design experiments, that has potential to provide the b ....Design experiments in ICT in education research. How to use information and communication technologies (ICT) to improve teaching and learning outcomes has become a critical question for educators world-wide. Governments are investing hugely in hardware, software and infrastructure to support the use of technologies but the research conducted into their effective use in inadequate. This proposal will investigate a relatively new methodology, design experiments, that has potential to provide the basis for enhancing both pedagogy and outcomes through technology integration. The research will determine the major principles, methods and critical characteristics of design experiments, and develop guidelines for their use in ICT research.Read moreRead less
Cost effective smart identification of early attentional problems associated with literacy and numeracy indicators in preschool children. The benefits of this project are improved early identification of children at-risk of failure, and initiation of a significant longitudinal Australian educational database. Identifying children with emergent learning problems will promote interventions to improve achievement leading to a more productive adult life. The development and administration of screeni ....Cost effective smart identification of early attentional problems associated with literacy and numeracy indicators in preschool children. The benefits of this project are improved early identification of children at-risk of failure, and initiation of a significant longitudinal Australian educational database. Identifying children with emergent learning problems will promote interventions to improve achievement leading to a more productive adult life. The development and administration of screening procedures with software distributed to schools and analysed with increasing power as the database expands, will enable the predictive validity of the process to be examined re-iteratively. The generated longitudinal student databases will have the potential to track both detection and intervention effectiveness, and become a national research asset.Read moreRead less
The impact of attitudes and policies relating to obesity and related health issues on school policy and practices. Governments have made and are continuing to make substantial investments in policies, strategies and research to address the perceived risk of obesity and related health issues. Schools in particular have been targeted to address the issue. This research seeks to inform public policy and school practices by examining how the new health imperatives are being taken up by schools. It w ....The impact of attitudes and policies relating to obesity and related health issues on school policy and practices. Governments have made and are continuing to make substantial investments in policies, strategies and research to address the perceived risk of obesity and related health issues. Schools in particular have been targeted to address the issue. This research seeks to inform public policy and school practices by examining how the new health imperatives are being taken up by schools. It will examine how these imperatives are shaping schools' priorities and teaching about health, and how this, in turn, influences young people's attitudes and understandings of their own and others' health, in particular in relation to physical activity and food.Read moreRead less
School motivation in cultural context. This study examines the importance of personal, social and educational goals to school motivation and achievement of students from diverse cultural groups. It examines the inter-relationships between these goals, and their impact on student motivation, achievement and school retention. The study builds on a currently funded ARC project, which is being extended in United States schools using US generated funds provided by Arizona State University and South W ....School motivation in cultural context. This study examines the importance of personal, social and educational goals to school motivation and achievement of students from diverse cultural groups. It examines the inter-relationships between these goals, and their impact on student motivation, achievement and school retention. The study builds on a currently funded ARC project, which is being extended in United States schools using US generated funds provided by Arizona State University and South Western Oklahoma State University. The study will provide essential information on how schools may be renewed to better suit the needs of diverse students.Read moreRead less
Classroom Learning Project. This collaborative research program involving eleven countries and fourteen research institutions addresses optimal practice in mathematics classrooms internationally. The program centres on the collaborative analysis of videotape, interview, test and questionnaire data related to "well-taught mathematics classes" in participating countries. Building upon the success of the Negotiation of Meaning Project (ARC Large, 1996/7/8) and the Learner's Perspective Study (ARC L ....Classroom Learning Project. This collaborative research program involving eleven countries and fourteen research institutions addresses optimal practice in mathematics classrooms internationally. The program centres on the collaborative analysis of videotape, interview, test and questionnaire data related to "well-taught mathematics classes" in participating countries. Building upon the success of the Negotiation of Meaning Project (ARC Large, 1996/7/8) and the Learner's Perspective Study (ARC Large, 1999/2000/2001), the Classroom Learning Project brings together an expert international team and a data set of unprecedented scope and complexity to advance the theory of learning and teaching in mathematics in a form that supports wide scale international practical implementation.Read moreRead less
Research Training, Scientists, Mobility and Innovation: enhancing comparative methodologies. The collaboration will facilitate transfer of research value mapping (RVM) methods and technologies from a leading US centre into Australia. The RVM program focus on university-business collaboration will orient future collaborative projects and analyses. This will enhance the state-of-the-art of research evaluation in Australia over time. Extension of the CIs unique survey database will incorporate comp ....Research Training, Scientists, Mobility and Innovation: enhancing comparative methodologies. The collaboration will facilitate transfer of research value mapping (RVM) methods and technologies from a leading US centre into Australia. The RVM program focus on university-business collaboration will orient future collaborative projects and analyses. This will enhance the state-of-the-art of research evaluation in Australia over time. Extension of the CIs unique survey database will incorporate comparative dimensions into research value mapping. A focus on Australian respondents in the international database (n=1300) will lead to analyses that inform science policy and scientist human resource development in Australia. This will provide a deeper understanding of Australia’s science role in the Asia Pacific region.Read moreRead less
Sustaining older workers' competence: Informing policy and practice. Maintaining the effective working life of older Australian workers is central for sustaining the economic and social health of the nation and for their workplace efficacy and sense of self as productive members of the community. This project will identify and recommend practices and policies for both Australian workplaces and educational institutions to sustain and develop further the skills of Australia's growing number of ol ....Sustaining older workers' competence: Informing policy and practice. Maintaining the effective working life of older Australian workers is central for sustaining the economic and social health of the nation and for their workplace efficacy and sense of self as productive members of the community. This project will identify and recommend practices and policies for both Australian workplaces and educational institutions to sustain and develop further the skills of Australia's growing number of older workers and effectively manage their work transitions. These outcomes will also be used to inform processes and practices to develop the capacities of older Australians in maintaining personally and economically productive working lives.Read moreRead less