ACER eNews


News bulletins from the Australian Council for Educational Research published July 2010 3134 subscribers Subscribe Now In this issue: Initial findings from International Civics and Citizenship Education Study released ACER submission to NAPLAN inquiry Engaging individual students key to tertiary quality Schools First awards closing soon The enduring appeal of learning styles ACER UPDATE Initial findings from International Civics and Citizenship Education Study released Initial findings from the largest international study on civic and citizenship education ever conducted were released in Gothenburg, Sweden on 29 June. The International Civic and Citizenship Education Study (ICCS) involved more than 140,000 Grade 8 students in more than 5,000 schools from 38 countries. The main survey was conducted in 2008 in southern hemisphere countries and 2009 in the northern hemisphere. Continue reading » ACER submission to NAPLAN inquiry In its submission to the Senate Inquiry into the Administration and Reporting of NAPLAN Testing, ACER says planned developments of this testing program will almost certainly enhance its value. ACER also argues that steps should be taken to minimise the misuse of NAPLAN results and to protect and promote the test’s diagnostic benefits and potential. The submission also makes suggestions regarding the My School website. The introduction of the NAPLAN tests in 2008 followed considerable work over a number of years to replace the various State and Territory literacy and numeracy testing programs with a single, national assessment providing comparable national results. According to the ACER submission, NAPLAN testing now plays an important role in efforts to ensure that all Australian students master essential literacy and numeracy skills. Continue reading » Engaging individual students key to tertiary quality Differences between students are as important as average levels of student engagement, according to an international expert on student engagement. When assessing the quality of education at their institution, Australian universities must not look solely at average results from student engagement surveys but also focus on the different experiences among students, Professor Alexander McCormick told the National Student Engagement Forum on July 7. Continue reading » Schools First awards closing soon Schools have just one more week to submit their applications for a Schools First Award with applications closing at 5.00pm (AEST) on Friday, 30 July 2010. ACER is a partner in Schools First, a national initiative that aims to build stronger partnerships between schools and their local communities. This awards program rewards excellence in existing school-community partnerships and encourages excellence in new partnerships. Continue reading » The enduring appeal of learning styles In an Australian Journal of Education article, ACER Senior Research Fellow Dr Catherine Scott examines the continued popularity of ‘learning styles’ as an explanation for differences in student achievement and argues that there is a lack of evidence to support the well-entrenched use of learning styles to guide effective teaching practice. Continue reading » ACER UPDATE Staff in Australia's Schools - survey starts in August Samples of schools will soon be invited to take part in the Staff in Australia’s Schools (SiAS) survey. Principals and teachers are encouraged to take part. It is critical that high quality, representative data are collected. The survey, which is being conducted by ACER on behalf of DEEWR, will collect information that is vital for teacher workforce planning. It involves random samples of Primary and Secondary schools: in the Government, Catholic and Independent sectors in all States and Territories Teachers and school leaders will complete a short on-line survey. The data are confidential and no school or teacher will be identified. The survey is widely supported. The Advisory Committee includes government and non-government school employers, principals’ associations, teacher unions, teacher education institutions, and the ABS. For further information see: www.acer.edu.au/sias Deputy CEO retires ACER staff will come together on Friday 23 July to farewell Deputy CEO (Research) Dr John Ainley who officially retires after 35 years of service to ACER. John first joined ACER as a Senior Research Officer in 1975 on secondment from Melbourne State College where he was a lecturer in Chemistry. In February 1978 John was appointed permanently to ACER as a Chief Research Officer. He held a number of senior research positions being appointed as Associate Director (Policy Research) in 1994 and becoming Deputy Director and head of research in 2000. During his years at ACER John has overseen some of our largest and best-known international and national survey projects including the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) the Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) and the IEA Civics and Citizenship Education Study. He has made an immense contribution to the advancement of education in Australia through advice to a range of government committees and worked closely with organisations including the Catholic Education Office and Graduate Careers Australia. He is one of the longest serving members of ACER’s current staff. Although John has now officially retired, he will return to ACER in a part-time capacity following a well-earned holiday. Principal for a Day celebrates 10th anniversary The Principal for a Day collaboration between Victorian government schools and their communities celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2010. Victoria’s Principal for a Day event takes place this year on Tuesday 24 August. The program is a joint partnership between the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) and the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD) and has been running in Victoria since 2001. It is a unique opportunity for business and community leaders to shadow a school principal to gain a first hand behind-the-scenes experience of the strengths and challenges facing our schools every day. Schools and community and business leaders interested in participating in the 2010 event can obtain more information from www.acer.edu.au/pfad or by contacting Ms Viv Acker on 9277 5617 or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) ACER Principal Research fellow joins Queensland expert panel Dr Gabrielle Matters, Principal Research Fellow and head of ACER’s Brisbane office, has been appointed to an expert panel to help guide the future directions for state education in Queensland over the next decade. Queensland’s Minister for Education and Training Geoff Wilson said in a media statement that the academic experts have been selected for their diverse areas of expertise. Mr Wilson said the panel would provide independent advice on how state education could build on current reforms and address the challenges of the future. The nine member panel held its first meeting on 15 July. Survey to quiz 300, 000 on engagement with learning In August around 300,000 students and over 10,000 teaching staff will be invited to report on their engagement with learning and many of the broader, more enriching aspects of higher education by taking part in the 2010 Australasian Survey of Student Engagement (AUSSE). The survey will involve students and staff from 54 higher education institutions – 32 Australian universities, seven New Zealand universities, and 15 other higher education providers. The 2010 administration of AUSSE is the largest, most comprehensive and well validated survey yet conducted of whether students and institutions are engaging in effective educational practices. This is the fourth annual administration of the AUSSE, a study funded by participating institutions, which began in 2007. Further information about AUSSE is available from http://ausse.acer.edu.au
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 July 2010
3134 subscribers
Subscribe Now

In this issue:

Initial findings from International Civics and Citizenship Education Study released

Initial findings from the largest international study on civic and citizenship education ever conducted were released in Gothenburg, Sweden on 29 June.

The International Civic and Citizenship Education Study (ICCS) involved more than 140,000 Grade 8 students in more than 5,000 schools from 38 countries. The main survey was conducted in 2008 in southern hemisphere countries and 2009 in the northern hemisphere.

ACER submission to NAPLAN inquiry

In its submission to the Senate Inquiry into the Administration and Reporting of NAPLAN Testing, ACER says planned developments of this testing program will almost certainly enhance its value. ACER also argues that steps should be taken to minimise the misuse of NAPLAN results and to protect and promote the test’s diagnostic benefits and potential. The submission also makes suggestions regarding the My School website.

The introduction of the NAPLAN tests in 2008 followed considerable work over a number of years to replace the various State and Territory literacy and numeracy testing programs with a single, national assessment providing comparable national results. According to the ACER submission, NAPLAN testing now plays an important role in efforts to ensure that all Australian students master essential literacy and numeracy skills.

Engaging individual students key to tertiary quality

Differences between students are as important as average levels of student engagement, according to an international expert on student engagement.

When assessing the quality of education at their institution, Australian universities must not look solely at average results from student engagement surveys but also focus on the different experiences among students, Professor Alexander McCormick told the National Student Engagement Forum on July 7.

Schools First awards closing soon

Schools have just one more week to submit their applications for a Schools First Award with applications closing at 5.00pm (AEST) on Friday, 30 July 2010.

ACER is a partner in Schools First, a national initiative that aims to build stronger partnerships between schools and their local communities. This awards program rewards excellence in existing school-community partnerships and encourages excellence in new partnerships.

The enduring appeal of learning styles

In an Australian Journal of Education article, ACER Senior Research Fellow Dr Catherine Scott examines the continued popularity of ‘learning styles’ as an explanation for differences in student achievement and argues that there is a lack of evidence to support the well-entrenched use of learning styles to guide effective teaching practice.

ACER UPDATE

Staff in Australia's Schools - survey starts in August

Samples of schools will soon be invited to take part in the Staff in Australia’s Schools (SiAS) survey.

Principals and teachers are encouraged to take part. It is critical that high quality, representative data are collected.

The survey, which is being conducted by ACER on behalf of DEEWR, will collect information that is vital for teacher workforce planning. It involves random samples of

Primary and Secondary schools:

in the Government, Catholic and Independent sectors
in all States and Territories

Teachers and school leaders will complete a short on-line survey. The data are confidential and no school or teacher will be identified.

The survey is widely supported. The Advisory Committee includes government and non-government school employers, principals’ associations, teacher unions, teacher education institutions, and the ABS. For further information see: www.acer.edu.au/sias

Deputy CEO retires

ACER staff will come together on Friday 23 July to farewell Deputy CEO (Research) Dr John Ainley who officially retires after 35 years of service to ACER.

John first joined ACER as a Senior Research Officer in 1975 on secondment from Melbourne State College where he was a lecturer in Chemistry. In February 1978 John was appointed permanently to ACER as a Chief Research Officer. He held a number of senior research positions being appointed as Associate Director (Policy Research) in 1994 and becoming Deputy Director and head of research in 2000.

During his years at ACER John has overseen some of our largest and best-known international and national survey projects including the OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) the Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) and the IEA Civics and Citizenship Education Study.

He has made an immense contribution to the advancement of education in Australia through advice to a range of government committees and worked closely with organisations including the Catholic Education Office and Graduate Careers Australia.

He is one of the longest serving members of ACER’s current staff. Although John has now officially retired, he will return to ACER in a part-time capacity following a well-earned holiday.

Principal for a Day celebrates 10th anniversary

The Principal for a Day collaboration between Victorian government schools and their communities celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2010. Victoria’s Principal for a Day event takes place this year on Tuesday 24 August.

The program is a joint partnership between the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) and the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD) and has been running in Victoria since 2001. It is a unique opportunity for business and community leaders to shadow a school principal to gain a first hand behind-the-scenes experience of the strengths and challenges facing our schools every day.

Schools and community and business leaders interested in participating in the 2010 event can obtain more information from www.acer.edu.au/pfad or by contacting Ms Viv Acker on 9277 5617 or email .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

ACER Principal Research fellow joins Queensland expert panel

Dr Gabrielle Matters, Principal Research Fellow and head of ACER’s Brisbane office, has been appointed to an expert panel to help guide the future directions for state education in Queensland over the next decade. Queensland’s Minister for Education and Training Geoff Wilson said in a media statement that the academic experts have been selected for their diverse areas of expertise. Mr Wilson said the panel would provide independent advice on how state education could build on current reforms and address the challenges of the future. The nine member panel held its first meeting on 15 July.

Survey to quiz 300, 000 on engagement with learning

In August around 300,000 students and over 10,000 teaching staff will be invited to report on their engagement with learning and many of the broader, more enriching aspects of higher education by taking part in the 2010 Australasian Survey of Student Engagement (AUSSE).

The survey will involve students and staff from 54 higher education institutions – 32 Australian universities, seven New Zealand universities, and 15 other higher education providers.

The 2010 administration of AUSSE is the largest, most comprehensive and well validated survey yet conducted of whether students and institutions are engaging in effective educational practices. This is the fourth annual administration of the AUSSE, a study funded by participating institutions, which began in 2007.

Further information about AUSSE is available from http://ausse.acer.edu.au

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