PISA 2009 testing underway

Testing for the 2009 cycle of the OCED Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) began in Australia on 23 July. Testing will continue until 2 September. Approximately 18,500 students from 356 schools across Australia are taking part in PISA 2009. PISA assesses how far students near the end of compulsory education (students are aged 15 years when they participate in the assessments) have acquired some of the knowledge and skills that are essential for full participation in society. In all cycles, the domains of reading, mathematical and scientific literacy are covered not merely in terms of mastery of the school curriculum, but in terms of important knowledge and skills needed in adult life. In 2009 Reading Literacy is the major domain being assessed.

ACER is again conducting the Australian national component of PISA on behalf of the Commonwealth and State and Territory Governments. ACER also ACER leads a consortium of research and educational institutions and eminent individuals and holds the major contract to deliver the International PISA project on behalf of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The results of PISA 2009 are due to be released in December 2010.
Further information on the Australian national component of PISA
Further information on ACER’s role in conducting the international PISA study

ACER Research Conference 2009

Research Conference 2009, Assessment and Student Learning; collecting, interpreting and using data to inform teaching, will be held in Perth from August 16-18.  Keynote addresses will be delivered by Geoff Masters, Margaret Forster, Helen Wildy (UWA) and Patrik Scheinin (University of Helsinki). The conference will be attended by more than 650 delegates from across Australia with international representation from New Zealand, India, Indonesia and Chile. For further information on the conference program please visit the conference web page.

Schools First award applications closing soon

Schools throughout Australia are invited to apply for a Schools First award and be in the running to share in the $5 million pool of award money. Award applications are now open and close on 14 August.

Schools First, developed by NAB, ACER and the Foundation for Young Australians, is designed to recognise excellence in school-community partnerships. It is Australia’s largest ever corporate-backed education initiative and is open to all schools around the country. To find out more about Schools First and to download application forms, awards criteria, guidelines and Terms and Conditions visit  www.schoolsfirst.edu.au or call 1800 649 141.

ARACY Conference 2009

The Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY) will hold its 2009 National Conference in Melbourne from 2-4 September. ACER is an institutional member of ARACY. Dr John Ainley, ACER Deputy CEO (Research) is a founder of ARACY and current member of the scientific committee.

ARACY Conference 2009will focus on how we can best learn from one another and work together to innovate and take action to improve outcomes for young Australians. The Conference aims to build links between international and national experts, researchers, policy makers, practitioners, social entrepreneurs, marketers, business and financiers. It will explore pathways to success, and showcase preventive innovations that are improving the lives of children and young people. For further information please visit the ARACY conference website.

Master class in assessment

ACER will be hosting a Master Class in Assessment in Brisbane on Saturday 19 September.  The Master Class will be delivered by Dr. Randy Bennett from Educational Testing Service in the US and Dr Yoav Cohen and Dr Anat Ben-Simon both from the National Institute for Testing and Evaluation in Israel. The 3 key focus areas of the Master Class will be “Marking practices with particular reference to multiple marking”, “Assessment of Learning Difficulties: diagnostic issues, provision of test accommodations and regulatory procedures” and “Moving existing assessments to computer and using the computer to measure new things”.  The Master Class is designed for those with deep involvement in assessment. For further information contact Margaret Taylor at the ACER Centre for Professional Learning on by phone on (03) 9277 5544 or by email to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Research Developments issue 21 now available

Issue 21 of Research Developments, ACER’s news magazine, is now available both online and in print. The cover story for this edition features a case by ACER against the use of simple league tables to compare schools. Other articles include our recent research into the use of Indigenous languages in Australia, the recommendations of the review of primary school education in Queensland by Geoff Masters and a review of evidence into the effectiveness of middle schools. Research Developments issue 21 can be read online . If you would like to join the mailing list to receive print copies, please email your contact details to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

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