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News bulletins from the Australian Council for Educational Research published August 2006 3134 subscribers Subscribe Now In this issue: Introduction Science curriculum must focus on ideas, evidence and argument Boosting science learning through curriculum materials Science curriculum requires greater focus on community Highly accomplished science teachers deserve higher pay Crisis of interest in science needs humanistic approach ACER UPDATE Introduction Research Conference 2006 special edition The following articles are based on papers presented at the ACER Research Conference 2006, held in Canberra, 14-15 August 2006 entitled Boosting science learning - what will it take?. Science curriculum must focus on ideas, evidence and argument Current practices in science education may be leaving many students poorly educated about science and with an ambivalent or negative attitude towards science according to a visiting expert. Professor Jonathan Osborne of King’s College London argues that science education requires a shift in focus towards ideas, evidence and argument that is more appropriate to the needs of the future citizen and the values of contemporary youth. Continue reading » Boosting science learning through curriculum materials Effective curriculum materials are central to enhancing science teaching and learning, according to visiting expert Dr Rodger Bybee of the US Biological Sciences Curriculum Study. In his conference keynote address, Dr Bybee argued that information conveyed to students must be made explicit and students must also be taught how to retrieve information. Continue reading » Science curriculum requires greater focus on community If science education is to remain useful to students outside of school the curriculum must move beyond the textbook, using community resources to explore science-related community issues according to a leading expert in science education, Professor Léonie Rennie of Curtin University of Technology. Continue reading » Highly accomplished science teachers deserve higher pay The quality of science teaching and learning in our schools would be improved if science teachers were assessed and highly accomplished teachers rewarded with a higher salary, according to a paper by Dr Lawrence Ingvarson and Ms Anne Semple. They said improving the quality of science learning in our schools will require more effective policies and career pathways for attracting, developing and retaining effective science teachers. Continue reading » Crisis of interest in science needs humanistic approach A humanistic approach to curriculum is urgently required in order to address the current crisis of interest in science. Despite an apparently rich set of positive options for increasing student interest in science a number of constraints imposed by science teachers, academic science and competing systemic demands stand in the way of implementing them. Professor Peter Fensham of Queensland University of Technology told delegates at ACER Research Conference 2006 that students are not enjoying studying science. Most have concluded that post-compulsory science studies should be avoided unless needed for some career purpose. Continue reading » ACER UPDATE Research Conference 2007 ACER's Research Conference 2007 will take place in Melbourne from 12-14 August. The theme is The Leadership Challenge - Improving learning in schools. The conference will address key issues related to building leadership in schools that make a difference to student learning outcomes. It will: * Provide news about the latest research on leadership practices that enable conditions for quality teaching and student learning. * Examine the implications of this research for the recruitment and preparation of a new generation of effective school leaders and the ongoing professional learning of established school leaders. * Simulate discussion about the resources and conditions that need to be in place if effective forms of leadership are to flower and be sustained in our schools. Conference speakers will include: * Professor Philip Hallinger, Mahidol University, Bangkok * Dr Chris Sarra, Indigenous Education Leadership Institute, Queensland Professor Viviane Robinson, University of Auckland * Dr Lawrence Ingvarson and Michelle Anderson, ACER * Professor Bill Mulford, University of Tasmania * Professor Sheryl Boris-Schacter, Lesley University, Massachusetts * Professor Steve Dinham, University of Wollongong * Professor Brian Caldwell, Educational Transformations, Victoria Further information on Research Conference 2007 will be posted on the conference website as it becomes available. Conference proceedings available online The full conference proceedings and individual papers from Research Conference 2006 - Boosting science learning: what will it take? are now available online. The papers and some PowerPoint presentations from conference sessions can be downloaded from the conference website. Conference opens to beat of African buckets The beat of African “drums” sounded through Canberra's Hyatt Hotel on 14 August as delegates arrived for Research Conference 2006. Grade five students from Forrest School’s Bucket Band welcomed delegates with their unique version of African percussion. The Forrest School Bucket Band was founded in 2005 by teacher Michael Rosenberg as an alternative activity for students who had not been selected for the school band program. The children make their instruments from recycled 25 litre plaster, chlorine and nappy buckets, which have been picked up on the side of the road or donated, and sticks made from lengths of dowel with the ends rounded. Fry pans, plastic bottles and lids are also used.
Copyright © Australian Council for Educational Research 2013 All rights reserved. Except under the conditions described in the Copyright Act 1968 of Australia and subsequent amendments, no part of this electronic publication may be reproduced, stored in retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without written permission. Please address any requests to reproduce information to communications@acer.edu.au Subscribe Unsubscribe Australian Council for Educational Research Private Bag 55, Camberwell, Victoria Australia 3124 Tel: + 61 3 9277 5555 Fax: + 61 3 9277 5500 Web: www.acer.edu.au

News bulletins from the Australian Council for Educational Research published August 2006
3134 subscribers
Subscribe Now

In this issue:

Introduction

Research Conference 2006 special edition

The following articles are based on papers presented at the ACER Research Conference 2006, held in Canberra, 14-15 August 2006 entitled Boosting science learning - what will it take?.

Science curriculum must focus on ideas, evidence and argument

Current practices in science education may be leaving many students poorly educated about science and with an ambivalent or negative attitude towards science according to a visiting expert. Professor Jonathan Osborne of King’s College London argues that science education requires a shift in focus towards ideas, evidence and argument that is more appropriate to the needs of the future citizen and the values of contemporary youth.

Boosting science learning through curriculum materials

Effective curriculum materials are central to enhancing science teaching and learning, according to visiting expert Dr Rodger Bybee of the US Biological Sciences Curriculum Study. In his conference keynote address, Dr Bybee argued that information conveyed to students must be made explicit and students must also be taught how to retrieve information.

Science curriculum requires greater focus on community

If science education is to remain useful to students outside of school the curriculum must move beyond the textbook, using community resources to explore science-related community issues according to a leading expert in science education, Professor Léonie Rennie of Curtin University of Technology.

Highly accomplished science teachers deserve higher pay

The quality of science teaching and learning in our schools would be improved if science teachers were assessed and highly accomplished teachers rewarded with a higher salary, according to a paper by Dr Lawrence Ingvarson and Ms Anne Semple. They said improving the quality of science learning in our schools will require more effective policies and career pathways for attracting, developing and retaining effective science teachers.

Crisis of interest in science needs humanistic approach

A humanistic approach to curriculum is urgently required in order to address the current crisis of interest in science. Despite an apparently rich set of positive options for increasing student interest in science a number of constraints imposed by science teachers, academic science and competing systemic demands stand in the way of implementing them. Professor Peter Fensham of Queensland University of Technology told delegates at ACER Research Conference 2006 that students are not enjoying studying science. Most have concluded that post-compulsory science studies should be avoided unless needed for some career purpose.

ACER UPDATE

Research Conference 2007

ACER's Research Conference 2007 will take place in Melbourne from 12-14 August. The theme is The Leadership Challenge - Improving learning in schools. The conference will address key issues related to building leadership in schools that make a difference to student learning outcomes. It will:

* Provide news about the latest research on leadership practices that enable conditions for quality teaching and student learning.
* Examine the implications of this research for the recruitment and preparation of a new generation of effective school leaders and the ongoing professional learning of established school leaders.
* Simulate discussion about the resources and conditions that need to be in place if effective forms of leadership are to flower and be sustained in our schools.

Conference speakers will include:

* Professor Philip Hallinger, Mahidol University, Bangkok
* Dr Chris Sarra, Indigenous Education Leadership Institute, Queensland Professor Viviane Robinson, University of Auckland
* Dr Lawrence Ingvarson and Michelle Anderson, ACER
* Professor Bill Mulford, University of Tasmania
* Professor Sheryl Boris-Schacter, Lesley University, Massachusetts
* Professor Steve Dinham, University of Wollongong
* Professor Brian Caldwell, Educational Transformations, Victoria

Further information on Research Conference 2007 will be posted on the conference website as it becomes available.

Conference proceedings available online

The full conference proceedings and individual papers from Research Conference 2006 - Boosting science learning: what will it take? are now available online. The papers and some PowerPoint presentations from conference sessions can be downloaded from the conference website.

Conference opens to beat of African buckets

The beat of African “drums” sounded through Canberra's Hyatt Hotel on 14 August as delegates arrived for Research Conference 2006. Grade five students from Forrest School’s Bucket Band welcomed delegates with their unique version of African percussion.

The Forrest School Bucket Band was founded in 2005 by teacher Michael Rosenberg as an alternative activity for students who had not been selected for the school band program. The children make their instruments from recycled 25 litre plaster, chlorine and nappy buckets, which have been picked up on the side of the road or donated, and sticks made from lengths of dowel with the ends rounded. Fry pans, plastic bottles and lids are also used.

All rights reserved. Except under the conditions described in the Copyright Act 1968 of Australia and subsequent amendments, no part of this electronic publication may be reproduced, stored in retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without written permission. Please address any requests to reproduce information to communications@acer.edu.au

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Australian Council for Educational Research
Private Bag 55, Camberwell, Victoria Australia 3124
Tel: + 61 3 9277 5555
Fax: + 61 3 9277 5500
Web: www.acer.edu.au