A New Approach to the Collection of a Large Suite of Dinasour Specimens. Monash University and the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, propose to cut of a tunnel in permafrost on the North Slope of Alaska during the early Spring. This is expected to lead to the acquisition of a new assembly of dinasour fossils. An important aspect of the project is its sponsorship by Big Island Pictures, Brisbane, who will produce a documentary about this unique experiment in palaeontological engineering. This no ....A New Approach to the Collection of a Large Suite of Dinasour Specimens. Monash University and the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, propose to cut of a tunnel in permafrost on the North Slope of Alaska during the early Spring. This is expected to lead to the acquisition of a new assembly of dinasour fossils. An important aspect of the project is its sponsorship by Big Island Pictures, Brisbane, who will produce a documentary about this unique experiment in palaeontological engineering. This novel approach to recovering dinosaurs will lead to a new and perhaps more complete assemblage of specimens, whilst attracting a vast audience and conveying to the public how innovative science is done. The public interest is attested to by the consortium of sponsors that has been assembled by Big Island Pictures including major television stations in Australia, USA, England, France, and Germany and the Film Finance Corporation of Australia.Read moreRead less
Practical Application of Filtration Theory to the Minerals Industry. The project aims to provide a quantitative basis for the selection, design, operation and maintenance of filter devices in the minerals industry. This will be achieved through characterisation of materials to be filtered by developing a model of the true role of the membrane in filtration. Experimental parameters will be input to first principles filtration models. This will reduce the incidence of poor operational outcomes ....Practical Application of Filtration Theory to the Minerals Industry. The project aims to provide a quantitative basis for the selection, design, operation and maintenance of filter devices in the minerals industry. This will be achieved through characterisation of materials to be filtered by developing a model of the true role of the membrane in filtration. Experimental parameters will be input to first principles filtration models. This will reduce the incidence of poor operational outcomes for filter presses and provide a sound basis for the maintenance of filter cloths and membranes.Read moreRead less
Connecting and generalising arithmetic into powerful abstract systems: Year 2 to 5 children's cognitive development with respect to algebraic reasoning. Algebra is a fundamental area of mathematical thinking. In spite of the wealth of research at both the national and international level, algebraic thinking still persists as a barrier to secondary and tertiary mathematics. This project will develop new research integrating alegbra and arithmetic at the primary level as a key for access to higher ....Connecting and generalising arithmetic into powerful abstract systems: Year 2 to 5 children's cognitive development with respect to algebraic reasoning. Algebra is a fundamental area of mathematical thinking. In spite of the wealth of research at both the national and international level, algebraic thinking still persists as a barrier to secondary and tertiary mathematics. This project will develop new research integrating alegbra and arithmetic at the primary level as a key for access to higher levels of algebra. The investigators will engage teachers and students from 5 primary schools to construct a model of Year 2 to 5 children's cognitive development with regard to algebraic reasoning and develop instructional strategies and teaching episodes to facilitate this.Read moreRead less
Inquiry Teaching in Mathematics: Accelerating the process of change. Inquiry-based learning in mathematics immerses students in solving authentic, complex problems. As a nation, Australia spends too much time on repetitive, isolated procedural problems which inhibit creativity and higher-order thinking and contribute to the sharp decline in student interest in studying mathematics. Research has shown that teachers require support over time to become proficient in engaging students in inquiry of ....Inquiry Teaching in Mathematics: Accelerating the process of change. Inquiry-based learning in mathematics immerses students in solving authentic, complex problems. As a nation, Australia spends too much time on repetitive, isolated procedural problems which inhibit creativity and higher-order thinking and contribute to the sharp decline in student interest in studying mathematics. Research has shown that teachers require support over time to become proficient in engaging students in inquiry of real-life problems. This study expands successful longitudinal research on teachers' adoption of inquiry methods in mathematics and works to study ways to accelerate the process of developing teachers' confidence and expertise in teaching mathematics with inquiry. Read moreRead less
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
Engaging science students' hearts and minds: Researching science teachers' professional learning in the development of contemporary understandings of scientific literacy. This project will develop, support and value the work of science teachers in developing students' scientific literacy and share the subsequent knowledge gains in the educational community to positively advance quality teaching and learning in school science. Improving science teaching and learning hinges on offering new ways of ....Engaging science students' hearts and minds: Researching science teachers' professional learning in the development of contemporary understandings of scientific literacy. This project will develop, support and value the work of science teachers in developing students' scientific literacy and share the subsequent knowledge gains in the educational community to positively advance quality teaching and learning in school science. Improving science teaching and learning hinges on offering new ways of responding to the problems inherent in teaching science in the 21st century. By supporting and encouraging the creative and innovative ideas, concepts and approaches to quality science teaching and learning embedded in teachers' professional learning the development of the critical knowledge for challenging the status-quo will be advanced.Read moreRead less
The Impact of the Kids' Science State Initiative on Scientific Literacy in the Western Australian Community. This research will investigate how participation in the Kids' Science State initiative in Western Australia (a partnership between Scitech Discovery Centre in Perth and the Rio Tinto WA Future Fund) impacts on children, teachers, parents and other community members in terms of promoting scientific literacy. Working in the Pilbara and Albany regions and the metropolitan area, the research ....The Impact of the Kids' Science State Initiative on Scientific Literacy in the Western Australian Community. This research will investigate how participation in the Kids' Science State initiative in Western Australia (a partnership between Scitech Discovery Centre in Perth and the Rio Tinto WA Future Fund) impacts on children, teachers, parents and other community members in terms of promoting scientific literacy. Working in the Pilbara and Albany regions and the metropolitan area, the research will determine the most effective ways to deliver educational resources that promote primary teachers? confidence and willingness to teach science and engage the community in science-related activities. The outcomes will represent a substantial investment in human capital.Read moreRead less
Elaborating a model of learning to teach mathematical inquiry. Australia's pioneering workforce in scientific and technological innovation requires classrooms which promote creative and flexible thinking, curiosity and persistence, deep disciplinary knowledge, and facility with technology, particularly in mathematics. International comparisons indicate Australia's classrooms teach out-dated procedural knowledge in maths that neglects 21st century needs. Mathematical knowledge developed through i ....Elaborating a model of learning to teach mathematical inquiry. Australia's pioneering workforce in scientific and technological innovation requires classrooms which promote creative and flexible thinking, curiosity and persistence, deep disciplinary knowledge, and facility with technology, particularly in mathematics. International comparisons indicate Australia's classrooms teach out-dated procedural knowledge in maths that neglects 21st century needs. Mathematical knowledge developed through inquiry of authentic problems can provide purpose and deeper understanding as well as to cultivate capacity to grapple with uncertainty and greater complexity. This project is a university-schools partnership committed to the same purpose: promote the teaching of mathematical inquiry.Read moreRead less
Sustainable mathematics education capacity building: Empowering Indigenous teacher aides to enhance rural and remote Indigenous students' numeracy outcomes. Rural/remote Indigenous students perform well below other students in statewide numeracy tests. Because teachers are generally non-Indigenous, inexperienced and stay for less than two years and Indigenous teacher aides have little training in teaching mathematics, schools do not the capacity to affect this outcome. This project will work wit ....Sustainable mathematics education capacity building: Empowering Indigenous teacher aides to enhance rural and remote Indigenous students' numeracy outcomes. Rural/remote Indigenous students perform well below other students in statewide numeracy tests. Because teachers are generally non-Indigenous, inexperienced and stay for less than two years and Indigenous teacher aides have little training in teaching mathematics, schools do not the capacity to affect this outcome. This project will work with eight schools to improve and sustain Years 1-7 mathematics outcomes by enhancing aides' tutoring effectiveness through culturally appropriate mathematics and mathematics pedagogy knowledge. The aim is to develop principles for a professional learning program that can be used with Indigenous aides across Australia to improve Indigenous students' mathematics and therefore employment/life chances.Read moreRead less
Implementation of Future-Oriented Mathematics Experiences in a P-12 College. To increase our international competitiveness in the technological world, we need to enhance the capacity of our schools to provide a challenging 21st century mathematics curriculum. It is imperative that all students have access to the deep ideas and key processes that lead to success beyond school, that is, the types of future-oriented skills and processes that employers are presently calling for but are not finding i ....Implementation of Future-Oriented Mathematics Experiences in a P-12 College. To increase our international competitiveness in the technological world, we need to enhance the capacity of our schools to provide a challenging 21st century mathematics curriculum. It is imperative that all students have access to the deep ideas and key processes that lead to success beyond school, that is, the types of future-oriented skills and processes that employers are presently calling for but are not finding in many of their employees. The investigators will collaborate in developing and implementing such learning experiences across grades 4 to 9. In addition to tracing students' developments, we aim to assist the teachers in developing powerful means of interpreting and supporting their students' ways of thinking mathematically. We also aim to produce a practice-based collaborative professional development model focuses on their designing and implementing complex problem-solving environments for their students.Read moreRead less