A RCT of an education reengagement program for at-risk youth. A RCT of an education reengagement program for at-risk youth. This project aims to determine the best and most cost-effective way to help 12–15 year olds re-engage with school when they become at-risk for dropping out, by conducting a gold-standard randomized-control trial. 20% of Australians fail to attain a Year 12 or equivalent certificate, often for preventable reasons. Dropouts are more likely to be unemployed, have psychological ....A RCT of an education reengagement program for at-risk youth. A RCT of an education reengagement program for at-risk youth. This project aims to determine the best and most cost-effective way to help 12–15 year olds re-engage with school when they become at-risk for dropping out, by conducting a gold-standard randomized-control trial. 20% of Australians fail to attain a Year 12 or equivalent certificate, often for preventable reasons. Dropouts are more likely to be unemployed, have psychological, social, and health problems, and end up in prison. This project could influence implementation of programmes and policy related to youth dropout, promote youth economic, social and physical wellbeing, and decrease their chance of committing crimes and becoming a social burden.Read moreRead less
Realising the Potential of Australia’s High Capacity Students. This project aims to investigate factors that contribute to high capacity students failing to improve in literacy, numeracy and problem solving compared with their lower capacity peers. The project aims to focus on protective factors that might mitigate against this negative association between capacity and achievement. The study and method extends previous research the influence of evidence-based decisions by collaborative teacher t ....Realising the Potential of Australia’s High Capacity Students. This project aims to investigate factors that contribute to high capacity students failing to improve in literacy, numeracy and problem solving compared with their lower capacity peers. The project aims to focus on protective factors that might mitigate against this negative association between capacity and achievement. The study and method extends previous research the influence of evidence-based decisions by collaborative teacher teams on student achievement. In partnership with the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, this project seeks to identify ways that will enable systems of education to realise the learning potential of all students.Read moreRead less
Building executive function in imaginary play. This project aims to develop a sustainable, play-based program to increase the executive functions of children in the year prior to school. Executive functions (EF) are cognitive processes that control an individual’s behaviour and cognition and include processes such as working memory, inhibitory control and attention. There is evidence that EF skills are critical to a successful transition to formal learning environments and future academic achiev ....Building executive function in imaginary play. This project aims to develop a sustainable, play-based program to increase the executive functions of children in the year prior to school. Executive functions (EF) are cognitive processes that control an individual’s behaviour and cognition and include processes such as working memory, inhibitory control and attention. There is evidence that EF skills are critical to a successful transition to formal learning environments and future academic achievement, and that they are amenable to early intervention. Improving children’s EF skills in the year prior to school could produce lasting benefits across the school years, particularly for more vulnerable children. This project intends to inform professional development programs in early childhood education.Read moreRead less
Multiliteracy testing: a criterion-referenced tool to assess secondary students’ multiliteracy learning within a technology-rich, multimodal domain. Evidence shows that while multimodal learning in schools is occurring, a valid measurement and diagnostic tool to provide reliable scores and accurate diagnostic information does not exist. This project aims to develop a criterion-referenced tool to measure students' multiliteracy learning within technology-rich, multimodal domains.
Emotional learning in socioscientific issues for enhancement of scientific literacy. This project will aim to address international concerns about waning student interest and participation in science by engaging middle school students imaginatively in socioscientific issues. Expected outcomes will enhance students' scientific literacy, and the production of positive emotional energy and the classroom emotional climate.
Community-based STEM professional learning for teachers of middle years. This project aims to develop a novel community-based program that focuses on a museum-based, teacher professional development program which is based awareness and performance of middle year students in School Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education. Improving STEM workforce readiness is critical to producing a more creative society and a leading, dynamic economy. Building STEM education capacity th ....Community-based STEM professional learning for teachers of middle years. This project aims to develop a novel community-based program that focuses on a museum-based, teacher professional development program which is based awareness and performance of middle year students in School Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education. Improving STEM workforce readiness is critical to producing a more creative society and a leading, dynamic economy. Building STEM education capacity through access to professional learning and museum and STEM professional community resources is critically important for improving students’ proficiencies, attitudes, and interest in STEM. The project outcome will be to develop a STEM professional learning model that can be used to create a more skilled and educated STEM workforce. Read moreRead less
Faster, cheaper, safer: how to accelerate rail driver training and avert the looming skills shortage. The Australian rail industry is growing rapidly and needs to double the number of drivers trained in order to meet demand. This project will bring together Australia's leading hi-tech simulator company and Australia's leading rail human factors research team to 'reinvent' driver training technologies and techniques for the 21st century.
Accelerating the mathematics learning of low socio-economic status junior secondary students. This project aims to develop theory that will enable mathematics programs to be constructed to accelerate Years 8-9 students’ learning to the point that Years 10-12 mathematics can be accessed and employment and life chances increased.
Empowering teachers of middle-years mathematics: becoming self-directed learners. This project will provide innovative strategies to enhance mathematics teaching and learning of middle-years students. It will develop a robust teacher learning development model that can be used by our industry partner and practitioners in the wider educational community to contribute to the development of teachers becoming self-directed learners.
Numeracy@Home: Enhancing the capacity of parents to support the learning of their children. Numeracy@Home aims to enhance the actions that families can implement at home, in collaboration with educators, in order to enhance children’s learning in and positive dispositions toward the development of numeracy. The project: articulates the key numeracy learning goals for families; identifies the actions of families that successfully support the development of numeracy at home; identifies the charact ....Numeracy@Home: Enhancing the capacity of parents to support the learning of their children. Numeracy@Home aims to enhance the actions that families can implement at home, in collaboration with educators, in order to enhance children’s learning in and positive dispositions toward the development of numeracy. The project: articulates the key numeracy learning goals for families; identifies the actions of families that successfully support the development of numeracy at home; identifies the characteristics of successful numeracy programs for families; and designs, implements and evaluates a program based on the findings of Phases 1 to 3. Together with industry partners, Numeracy@Home aims to lead to better outcomes for families and their children, particularly those who are marginalised and experience disadvantage.Read moreRead less