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Good data, bad news and good policy making The New Basics Trial held in Queensland from 2000 to 2004 aimed to improve educational outcomes through practical changes to curriculum, teaching and assessment. Gabrielle Matters, who became a Principal Research Fellow and began setting up ACER’s presence in Queensland in October, presented a paper about the trial at ACER’s Research Conference, Using Data to Support Learning held in Melbourne in August. As a part of the New Basics Trial, the curriculum was changed by introducing Rich Tasks covering three 3-year spans from Year 1 to Year 9. The Rich Tasks were rich in the sense of having variety, scope and depth; in requiring academic rigour; and in being multidisciplinary. Assessment was changed by introducing a system of social moderation aimed at achieving state-wide comparability. This required teachers to talk among themselves and compare their opinions about student work, not just within their school but also across schools. Teaching was changed by ‘upping the ante’ intellectually, challenging teachers professionally, and connecting what was done in the classroom to the real world. A research program to assess the viability of the New Basics program covered three key areas: Is the New Basics likely to lead to the changes that are wanted? Is the New Basics likely to be accepted? Is the New Basics feasible on an extended basis? An external evaluation identified three strengths and three weaknesses in the New Basics in action: Quality of student work, development of an assessment system, and changes in approaches to teaching were the strengths. The weaknesses were performance on standardised tests, lack of congruence with other aspects of the system, and differential impact on year levels. Following the research, it was decided the learnings from the New Basics should be transferred to all schools, simply using what is useful. A Queensland Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting (QCAR) Framework of materials and tools will be created by the Queensland Studies Authority in consultation with key stakeholders and implemented across Queensland in 2008. Download the conference paper Good data, bad news, and good policy making... by Dr Gabrielle Matters « Back to eNews
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The New Basics Trial held in Queensland from 2000 to 2004 aimed to improve educational outcomes through practical changes to curriculum, teaching and assessment.

Gabrielle Matters, who became a Principal Research Fellow and began setting up ACER’s presence in Queensland in October, presented a paper about the trial at ACER’s Research Conference, Using Data to Support Learning held in Melbourne in August.

As a part of the New Basics Trial, the curriculum was changed by introducing Rich Tasks covering three 3-year spans from Year 1 to Year 9. The Rich Tasks were rich in the sense of having variety, scope and depth; in requiring academic rigour; and in being multidisciplinary.

Assessment was changed by introducing a system of social moderation aimed at achieving state-wide comparability. This required teachers to talk among themselves and compare their opinions about student work, not just within their school but also across schools.

Teaching was changed by ‘upping the ante’ intellectually, challenging teachers professionally, and connecting what was done in the classroom to the real world.

A research program to assess the viability of the New Basics program covered three key areas:

Is the New Basics likely to lead to the changes that are wanted?
Is the New Basics likely to be accepted?
Is the New Basics feasible on an extended basis?

An external evaluation identified three strengths and three weaknesses in the New Basics in action: Quality of student work, development of an assessment system, and changes in approaches to teaching were the strengths. The weaknesses were performance on standardised tests, lack of congruence with other aspects of the system, and differential impact on year levels.

Following the research, it was decided the learnings from the New Basics should be transferred to all schools, simply using what is useful. A Queensland Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting (QCAR) Framework of materials and tools will be created by the Queensland Studies Authority in consultation with key stakeholders and implemented across Queensland in 2008.

Download the conference paper Good data, bad news, and good policy making... by Dr Gabrielle Matters

Good data, bad news and good policy making