The development of refined and validated Language Australia ESL Bandscales for improved assessment, reporting and outcomes of English-as-a-second-language learners in schools. One in four school students (migrant-background and indigenous) are non-English speaking background, many speaking English-as-a-second-language or dialect (ESL/ESD). Since many are 'at risk' according to Literacy Benchmarks testing, optimal ESL-informed teaching, reporting and assessment is needed. The ESL Bandscales, wid ....The development of refined and validated Language Australia ESL Bandscales for improved assessment, reporting and outcomes of English-as-a-second-language learners in schools. One in four school students (migrant-background and indigenous) are non-English speaking background, many speaking English-as-a-second-language or dialect (ESL/ESD). Since many are 'at risk' according to Literacy Benchmarks testing, optimal ESL-informed teaching, reporting and assessment is needed. The ESL Bandscales, widely used for 8 years, will be empirically validated using quantitative (Rasch modeling) and qualitative techniques to provide a more trustworthy teaching/reporting map. A team of researchers, including 3 APAIs, will draw on and improve understandings and assessment of Industry Partner teachers of migrant-background and indigenous learners, resulting in a new map(s) of ESL/ESD learning, published as ESL Bandscales II.Read moreRead less
Developing the multimodal language of emotions of low SES primary students. This project plans to broaden the range of resources for students to communicate emotions through speech, writing and images. Such communication is important for social and economic success, particularly for disadvantaged students, and it is now part of the Australian curriculum. However, research shows that teachers are not equipped to teach these new curriculum requirements. The project unites a consortium of schools, ....Developing the multimodal language of emotions of low SES primary students. This project plans to broaden the range of resources for students to communicate emotions through speech, writing and images. Such communication is important for social and economic success, particularly for disadvantaged students, and it is now part of the Australian curriculum. However, research shows that teachers are not equipped to teach these new curriculum requirements. The project unites a consortium of schools, visual media experts and policy makers to address this problem. The outcomes are expected to include innovative approaches to strengthen students' language skills for emotional expression and wellbeing, and e-learning resources for both teachers and students.Read moreRead less
An investigation of meaning negotiation in electronic discourse. This project investigates the use of collaborative electronic exchanges between language students in Indonesian and Queensland schools to enhance language and inter-cultural development. The chief investigators will develop a new model of discourse appropriate to such asynchronous communication (e-mail and forums), as well as investigate developments in technological literacy. Other outcomes will include guidelines for creating pra ....An investigation of meaning negotiation in electronic discourse. This project investigates the use of collaborative electronic exchanges between language students in Indonesian and Queensland schools to enhance language and inter-cultural development. The chief investigators will develop a new model of discourse appropriate to such asynchronous communication (e-mail and forums), as well as investigate developments in technological literacy. Other outcomes will include guidelines for creating practical technology-mediated tasks, and protocols for establishing and maintaining electronic tandem exchanges with a developing country. Results will be reported to the Industry Partner and relevant educational authorities and published in national and international journals such as ARAL, Babel and CALL Journal.Read moreRead less
Cluster randomised control trial of an early childhood literacy intervention to improve literacy and language outcomes in preschool aged children. Reading failure disproportionately affects disadvantaged communities in Australia, with nearly 40% of poor children failing to read at the minimum reading benchmark in Grade three. Of more concern is the disturbing trend indicating that prior to first grade, socioeconomic status (SES) differences also exist in important antecedents of reading such as ....Cluster randomised control trial of an early childhood literacy intervention to improve literacy and language outcomes in preschool aged children. Reading failure disproportionately affects disadvantaged communities in Australia, with nearly 40% of poor children failing to read at the minimum reading benchmark in Grade three. Of more concern is the disturbing trend indicating that prior to first grade, socioeconomic status (SES) differences also exist in important antecedents of reading such as letter knowledge and phonological processing skills, yet there remains no universal program to promote early language and literacy practices in the primary care setting. We propose a cluster randomised controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of a multi injection intervention to improve literacy outcomes of children in disadvantaged communities.Read moreRead less
New literacy demands in the middle years: learning from design experiments. National benefit and impact accrues most particularly in terms of (i) capacity building across the teaching profession, including increased preparedness of teachers to effectively teach curriculum literacies and adopt pedagogically sound practices with digital technologies; and (ii) the sound use of evidence to inform decision-making and curriculum design in Australian schools, including to inform professional developmen ....New literacy demands in the middle years: learning from design experiments. National benefit and impact accrues most particularly in terms of (i) capacity building across the teaching profession, including increased preparedness of teachers to effectively teach curriculum literacies and adopt pedagogically sound practices with digital technologies; and (ii) the sound use of evidence to inform decision-making and curriculum design in Australian schools, including to inform professional development programs for classroom teachers, drive understanding of the complex nature of contemporary teachers' work; to sustain and retain innovative, change-ready teachers; and engage directly with the key predictions of the OECD's Futures of School scenarios in local, national and international arenas.Read moreRead less
Improving student outcomes: coaching teachers in the power of feedback. This project aims to investigate how student outcomes can be augmented through coaching teachers in effective feedback practice. The project addresses a critical problem of stagnating levels of student achievement in Australian schools with the innovative research design combining evidence-based, pedagogies of feedback, formative assessment and instructional coaching to improve teacher practice and ultimately raise student a ....Improving student outcomes: coaching teachers in the power of feedback. This project aims to investigate how student outcomes can be augmented through coaching teachers in effective feedback practice. The project addresses a critical problem of stagnating levels of student achievement in Australian schools with the innovative research design combining evidence-based, pedagogies of feedback, formative assessment and instructional coaching to improve teacher practice and ultimately raise student achievement levels. The project aims to guide policy implementation in pedagogy to raise the quality of teaching standards and to improve learning outcomes for Australian students. Ultimately, outcomes from the research will help close the gap for low achieving students, and challenge and extend those who may already be meeting required benchmarks. Read moreRead less
Clearing the path towards literacy and numeracy: language for learning in Indigenous schooling. The Australian and State Governments are committed to halving the gap between Indigenous and other Australians, notably in education outcomes. This project will provide a platform for a better understanding of how language is used in Indigenous classrooms, and set foundations for improving practices for teaching these students, in particular for literacy and numeracy. The project will investigate how ....Clearing the path towards literacy and numeracy: language for learning in Indigenous schooling. The Australian and State Governments are committed to halving the gap between Indigenous and other Australians, notably in education outcomes. This project will provide a platform for a better understanding of how language is used in Indigenous classrooms, and set foundations for improving practices for teaching these students, in particular for literacy and numeracy. The project will investigate how children's language use differs from Standard Australian English. Where teachers are aware of such differences, and adapt their classroom communication styles, greater engagement from children can be expected. This will ultimately lead to improved retention rates and learning outcomes, giving Indigenous students a better start to life.Read moreRead less
Speaking Hmong in diaspora: language contact, resilience, and change. The project aims to investigate the how the Hmong language survives in the diaspora, with special focus on how the language transforms itself depending on the environment it finds itself in. We focus on the structure and maintenance of Hmong within the immigrant community in North Queensland across several generations of speakers, within the context of multilingual repertoires involving Australian English and Lao. The outcomes ....Speaking Hmong in diaspora: language contact, resilience, and change. The project aims to investigate the how the Hmong language survives in the diaspora, with special focus on how the language transforms itself depending on the environment it finds itself in. We focus on the structure and maintenance of Hmong within the immigrant community in North Queensland across several generations of speakers, within the context of multilingual repertoires involving Australian English and Lao. The outcomes will reveal the processes and results of language change such as the emergence of a new blend of Green and White Hmong. The project will provide significant benefits for the maintenance of diasporic Hmong within a larger context of multilingual immigrant communities.Read moreRead less
Sustainable models of teacher information and communication technology (ICT) professional development that empower multiliterate classroom practices. New concepts like 'multiliteracy', 'rich tasks' and 'repertoires of practice' as identified by recent education documents such as "The New Basics" and "Literate Futures" (Education Queensland 2000a & 2000b) require new teaching practices that demand advanced levels of information and communication technology (ICT) interaction. Such involvement wi ....Sustainable models of teacher information and communication technology (ICT) professional development that empower multiliterate classroom practices. New concepts like 'multiliteracy', 'rich tasks' and 'repertoires of practice' as identified by recent education documents such as "The New Basics" and "Literate Futures" (Education Queensland 2000a & 2000b) require new teaching practices that demand advanced levels of information and communication technology (ICT) interaction. Such involvement with ICT requires new models of teacher ICT professional development that have a well researched foundation based on their transformative realities and long term sustainability. This project will establish a conceptual understanding of what is required of teachers for 'multiliterate' learning and develop a professional development model that has as its goal 'multiliterate' student outcomes.Read moreRead less
Supporting schools and teachers to improve students' reading achievement in rural communities. This project focuses on improving student reading achievement in rural and mining communities and developing school-community links around reading. The project will deliver lasting benefits that include: raising the literacy standards of Australia's students and its future citizens and employees; maintaining a knowledgeable and effective teaching workforce in rural and mining communities; developing a ....Supporting schools and teachers to improve students' reading achievement in rural communities. This project focuses on improving student reading achievement in rural and mining communities and developing school-community links around reading. The project will deliver lasting benefits that include: raising the literacy standards of Australia's students and its future citizens and employees; maintaining a knowledgeable and effective teaching workforce in rural and mining communities; developing a sustainable professional learning program that can be used in education systems nationally and internationally; providing empirical data on the efficacy of strategies for reading instruction and intervention; and creating reading-related connections among schools, communities and mining companies that are positive and empowering.Read moreRead less