Developing a Conceptual Understanding of the Measurement of Length, Area and Volume: Studies of Learning and Teaching. Early numeracy is a priority for the New South Wales Department of Education, which has recently developed a very successful, research-based program for teaching number concepts. The production of a similar program for teaching measurement has been assisted by the recent development of a Framework for Learning Measurement but held back by a lack of research on the validity of t ....Developing a Conceptual Understanding of the Measurement of Length, Area and Volume: Studies of Learning and Teaching. Early numeracy is a priority for the New South Wales Department of Education, which has recently developed a very successful, research-based program for teaching number concepts. The production of a similar program for teaching measurement has been assisted by the recent development of a Framework for Learning Measurement but held back by a lack of research on the validity of that framework. This project will provide the needed research base by studying how students' understanding of measurement concepts develops between Years 1 and 4 and by investigating the effectiveness of teaching based on the Framework. Read moreRead less
Intervention in the Number Learning of Low-Attaining 3rd- and 4th-Graders. In recent years, school systems both in Australia and elsewhere in the world have placed increased emphasis on numeracy. Nevertheless, significant numbers of students finish primary school without successfully learning basic arithmetic. These students have little chance of catching up this learning during the secondary school years and of becoming numerate adults. Australia has pioneered the development of intervention pr ....Intervention in the Number Learning of Low-Attaining 3rd- and 4th-Graders. In recent years, school systems both in Australia and elsewhere in the world have placed increased emphasis on numeracy. Nevertheless, significant numbers of students finish primary school without successfully learning basic arithmetic. These students have little chance of catching up this learning during the secondary school years and of becoming numerate adults. Australia has pioneered the development of intervention programs in the early years of school but there are virtually no established intervention programs in the Years 3-6 range. The project involves the use of innovative methodologies and collaboration with teachers to research and develop successful intervention programs.Read moreRead less
Global Lithospheric Architecture Mapping II. The continents have been rifted, or broken up, and collided, or re-assembled, along major zones of weakness many times throughout Earth's history. Boundaries between such continental domains focus large-scale movements of fluids that can produce giant ore deposits. This study will provide new perspectives on the localisation of world-class economic deposits, the Earth resources on which society depends. Innovations in imaging the deep Earth beneath co ....Global Lithospheric Architecture Mapping II. The continents have been rifted, or broken up, and collided, or re-assembled, along major zones of weakness many times throughout Earth's history. Boundaries between such continental domains focus large-scale movements of fluids that can produce giant ore deposits. This study will provide new perspectives on the localisation of world-class economic deposits, the Earth resources on which society depends. Innovations in imaging the deep Earth beneath continents, and in numerical modelling, will maintain our high international profile in research relevant to National Priority 1.6 (Developing Deep Earth Resources). Unique 3D geological maps of regions down to 250km will make the composition of deep Earth regions newly accessible to geoscientists and all potential endusers.Read moreRead less
Beyond Bullying in Primary Schools: Explicating Psychosocial Antecedents and Implementing an Effective Intervention to Enhance Pro-Social Behaviour, Well-Being and Academic Engagement. Early intervention to combat bullying in primary schools is vital given the pervasiveness and long-term consequences of bullying for academic failure, mental health costs, and anti-social behaviour. Consistent with National Research Priorities (promoting/maintaining good health & well-being), our research offers i ....Beyond Bullying in Primary Schools: Explicating Psychosocial Antecedents and Implementing an Effective Intervention to Enhance Pro-Social Behaviour, Well-Being and Academic Engagement. Early intervention to combat bullying in primary schools is vital given the pervasiveness and long-term consequences of bullying for academic failure, mental health costs, and anti-social behaviour. Consistent with National Research Priorities (promoting/maintaining good health & well-being), our research offers important educational and socio-economic benefits by enriching the psychosocial adjustment and life potential of young Australians. Effective intervention and explicating the determinants/consequences of primary school bullying enhances pro-social behaviours, self-concept, mental health, and school engagement of bullies and victims. This fosters safer schools that contribute to individual, local community, and national well-being.Read moreRead less
Challenging Pedagogies: Engaging ESL students in intellectual quality. This project will investigate the potential and meaning of intellectual challenge in the enacted curriculum of middle year classes with signficant numbers of English as a second language (ESL) students. It will build on outcomes of our previous research on scaffolding and on productive pedagogies to articulate the nature of linguistic and conceptual support necessary for ESL students to engage successfully with high challeng ....Challenging Pedagogies: Engaging ESL students in intellectual quality. This project will investigate the potential and meaning of intellectual challenge in the enacted curriculum of middle year classes with signficant numbers of English as a second language (ESL) students. It will build on outcomes of our previous research on scaffolding and on productive pedagogies to articulate the nature of linguistic and conceptual support necessary for ESL students to engage successfully with high challenge tasks. In doing so, it will address the priority area of quality teaching in public schools from a classroom prespective and from the perspective of ESL students. The project has implications for teacher education and professional development.Read moreRead less
A Mathematical Approach to Flexible Management of Open Pit Mines with Uncertain Geology and Unpredictable Demand. This project will create new mathematical algorithms to flexibly manage open pit mining projects. The development of strategic plans for mining operations is a highly complex task, based on incomplete geological information and uncertain future commodity demand. The smart mathematics we create will allow Australia to capitalise on upturns in international demand, while limiting unavo ....A Mathematical Approach to Flexible Management of Open Pit Mines with Uncertain Geology and Unpredictable Demand. This project will create new mathematical algorithms to flexibly manage open pit mining projects. The development of strategic plans for mining operations is a highly complex task, based on incomplete geological information and uncertain future commodity demand. The smart mathematics we create will allow Australia to capitalise on upturns in international demand, while limiting unavoidable negative outcomes, by flexibly adjusting the mining operation to prevailing geological and economic conditions. Australia's mineral exports are worth over $50b annually to the Australian economy. Our techniques will better manage Australia's mining projects and capture new, emerging markets, significantly impacting on Australia's balance of trade.Read moreRead less
Researching the design and implementation of systemic, sustainable, school-based teacher professional development in K-6 Science and Technology using e-learning approaches. Effective, sustainable teacher professional development is a critical issue for large operationally diverse, geographically dispersed education systems. Yet, research into designing professional development, particularly ICT-mediated (e-learning) approaches, is sparse. This project uses an innovative e-learning environment ( ....Researching the design and implementation of systemic, sustainable, school-based teacher professional development in K-6 Science and Technology using e-learning approaches. Effective, sustainable teacher professional development is a critical issue for large operationally diverse, geographically dispersed education systems. Yet, research into designing professional development, particularly ICT-mediated (e-learning) approaches, is sparse. This project uses an innovative e-learning environment (developed by the CI and previously used for initial teacher education and developing school student learning), as a research tool for eliciting and operationalising teachers' e-learning-based professional development designs, in K-6 Science and Technology. It will deliver a model of teacher self-renewal, of wide theoretical and practical value, developing new understandings and strategies of professional development, and insights into the potential of new technologies.Read moreRead less
Evaluating professional experience and mentoring in the preparation and induction of teachers for the teaching profession. ? Quality teachers make a difference? (DEST Report, 2003, p1). Possible strategies for the recruitment and retention of high quality teachers to the profession include providing a high quality professional experience component together with effective mentoring for beginning teachers in induction programs. The outcomes of this project will include the articulation of ?high qu ....Evaluating professional experience and mentoring in the preparation and induction of teachers for the teaching profession. ? Quality teachers make a difference? (DEST Report, 2003, p1). Possible strategies for the recruitment and retention of high quality teachers to the profession include providing a high quality professional experience component together with effective mentoring for beginning teachers in induction programs. The outcomes of this project will include the articulation of ?high quality? professional experiences, the development of an instrument for evaluating the effectiveness of mentoring in programs such as induction programs and provide evidence on the effectiveness of such programs.Read moreRead less
Trace element analysis of diamond: new applications to diamond fingerprinting and genesis. The project will provide new insights into the processes by which diamond crystallises in the Earth's mantle. A better understanding of these processes can lead to improved models and techniques for diamond exploration, enhancing the prospect of finding new deposits in Australia and abroad. The project will test the potential of trace-element microanalysis to fingerprint diamonds by source. If successful ....Trace element analysis of diamond: new applications to diamond fingerprinting and genesis. The project will provide new insights into the processes by which diamond crystallises in the Earth's mantle. A better understanding of these processes can lead to improved models and techniques for diamond exploration, enhancing the prospect of finding new deposits in Australia and abroad. The project will test the potential of trace-element microanalysis to fingerprint diamonds by source. If successful, this technology will provide economic benefits by reducing theft and illegal mining, which represent significant losses to legitimate companies. Application of this Australian development could reduce the circulation of "conflict diamonds", which would have real social benefits worldwide, especially in some developing countries.Read moreRead less
Providing the Mathematical Foundation for an Innovative Australia within Reform Based Learning Environments. The focus of this project is the pedagogical change that The Review of Teaching and Teacher Education indicates must take place in order to lay the quantitative foundations for advancing innovation, science, technology, and mathematics, while satisfying the requirements of a reform-based learning environment. Professional learning directed at teachers' pedagogical content knowledge and be ....Providing the Mathematical Foundation for an Innovative Australia within Reform Based Learning Environments. The focus of this project is the pedagogical change that The Review of Teaching and Teacher Education indicates must take place in order to lay the quantitative foundations for advancing innovation, science, technology, and mathematics, while satisfying the requirements of a reform-based learning environment. Professional learning directed at teachers' pedagogical content knowledge and belief structures with respect to mathematics within an environment of curricular change, will be evaluated in evidence-based terms related to teacher change and student outcomes. Significance includes the context, the middle school years in rural district schools, and the influence of technology on pedagogy.Read moreRead less