Improving wellbeing through student participation at school. Current evidence suggests child and youth participation in matters affecting their lives has many benefits, but little is known about how this is perceived and practiced in education. This research aims to improve knowledge about processes and outcomes of student participation at school, particularly in relation to improving wellbeing. The project is timely and significant because recent reforms in education now require a greater empha ....Improving wellbeing through student participation at school. Current evidence suggests child and youth participation in matters affecting their lives has many benefits, but little is known about how this is perceived and practiced in education. This research aims to improve knowledge about processes and outcomes of student participation at school, particularly in relation to improving wellbeing. The project is timely and significant because recent reforms in education now require a greater emphasis on engaging students more directly in decisions about their education, including those with special needs. Schools urgently require knowledge about the key elements of participation that impact on wellbeing and a tool for measuring and monitoring their performance in facilitating these elements.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170100460
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$368,000.00
Summary
Accountability and global education policy networks in the Indo-Pacific. This project aims to investigate how contemporary education reforms unfold in low-income contexts through contrasting assessment approaches in Bangladesh and Cambodia, Australia’s Indo-Pacific aid partner nations. Globally, 250 million children cannot read or count, and inequities are increasing. In response, global policy networks are investing in assessment and accountability measures to improve outcomes. This study aims ....Accountability and global education policy networks in the Indo-Pacific. This project aims to investigate how contemporary education reforms unfold in low-income contexts through contrasting assessment approaches in Bangladesh and Cambodia, Australia’s Indo-Pacific aid partner nations. Globally, 250 million children cannot read or count, and inequities are increasing. In response, global policy networks are investing in assessment and accountability measures to improve outcomes. This study aims to understand policy relevant to these reform efforts, contributing to Australia’s strategic goal of improving education in the Indo-Pacific. The expected outcome is the development of principles for sustainable, participatory accountability practices with wide relevance in social policy.Read moreRead less
Improving approaches to wellbeing in schools: what role does recognition play? Schools play a critical role in supporting children’s social and emotional wellbeing, although the concept is not well understood. This project will explore teacher, student and policy views on wellbeing and identify new approaches that will improve outcomes for children and young people.
How do teachers learn to enact the Australian Curriculum? A question of policy in practice. This project aims to show how teachers learn to engage with the new curriculum in the context of increasingly standardised national and international educational reforms. This is significant for determining whether the 'Australian Curriculum' will result in its projected benefits. This project aims to reveal how policy support for the new curriculum influences teacher learning in diverse schooling setting ....How do teachers learn to enact the Australian Curriculum? A question of policy in practice. This project aims to show how teachers learn to engage with the new curriculum in the context of increasingly standardised national and international educational reforms. This is significant for determining whether the 'Australian Curriculum' will result in its projected benefits. This project aims to reveal how policy support for the new curriculum influences teacher learning in diverse schooling settings in a broadly neoliberal, global context.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE140100421
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$378,442.00
Summary
The Creative Turn: An Australia wide Study of Creativity and
Innovation in Secondary Schools. The Melbourne Declaration's Educational Goals for Young Australians advocate that all young Australians should become 'confident and creative individuals' for whom 'critical and creative thinking are fundamental to becoming successful'. This project addresses how creativity and innovative thinking can be nurtured in Australian secondary schools, to help learners better meet the needs of emerging twent ....The Creative Turn: An Australia wide Study of Creativity and
Innovation in Secondary Schools. The Melbourne Declaration's Educational Goals for Young Australians advocate that all young Australians should become 'confident and creative individuals' for whom 'critical and creative thinking are fundamental to becoming successful'. This project addresses how creativity and innovative thinking can be nurtured in Australian secondary schools, to help learners better meet the needs of emerging twenty-first century creative economies, particularly as they are developing in the Asia-Pacific region. This project addresses this imperative by seeking to define, measure and cultivate creativity in Australian schools and, ultimately, to develop a new theoretical framework with which to compare these findings internationally. Read moreRead less
Educating for healthy citizens: the health work of teachers in Australian schools. Teachers promote students health every day in many ways, such as performing periodic health checks, teaching health education lessons, or leading pastoral care. This project looks at what, and how much, health work teachers undertake and how prepared they are to do this work.
External provision of the school curriculum: Local needs to global networks in Health and Physical Education. This project will examine the factors that influence the appeal of and opportunities for external providers of health work (including HPE curricula) in schools at a local, national and international level. It will generate original, global data regarding: the influence of system networks on the creation of health issues; international trends for the external provision of health work prod ....External provision of the school curriculum: Local needs to global networks in Health and Physical Education. This project will examine the factors that influence the appeal of and opportunities for external providers of health work (including HPE curricula) in schools at a local, national and international level. It will generate original, global data regarding: the influence of system networks on the creation of health issues; international trends for the external provision of health work products and services to schools; and, the impact of networked health issues and providers on schooling. The findings will inform: policies related to outsourcing practices across the curriculum; expectations for teachers’ work; and, more broadly, control of young people’s health and the future of schooling. Read moreRead less
Assessing the development, well-being, and community connectedness of children in the middle years: The Middle Development Instrument for Australia. This project develops the Middle Development Instrument (MDI) which gives children a voice, an opportunity to communicate to adults about what their experiences are inside and outside of school. The MDI has great potential to provide educators, parents, researchers, and policy makers with much needed information about the psychological and social wo ....Assessing the development, well-being, and community connectedness of children in the middle years: The Middle Development Instrument for Australia. This project develops the Middle Development Instrument (MDI) which gives children a voice, an opportunity to communicate to adults about what their experiences are inside and outside of school. The MDI has great potential to provide educators, parents, researchers, and policy makers with much needed information about the psychological and social worlds of children.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120100086
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Teachers' learning in complex times: theorising teacher professional development practices under globalised policy conditions. This project investigates the effects of national standardised testing on the professional development practices of teachers in rural and urban schools in varied Socio-Economic Status communities in Australia. The project will indicate whether and how such testing influences teachers' learning, and subsequent student learning, in these different types of settings.
Career mobility in educational markets: a sociological study of how families reconcile priorities. Family units have to reconcile career opportunities with educational opportunities, which can make decisions about moving complex. This project will survey police, health and education professionals with family responsibilities about how their families balance career opportunities in rural and remote areas, with education strategies.