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News bulletins from the Australian Council for Educational Research published January 2012 3134 subscribers Subscribe Now In this issue: Teachers report increased job satisfaction Report on civics and citizenship learning outcomes in Australian schools Future academics need encouragement to stay in Australia Mobile phones may help get kids active ACER Update Teachers report increased job satisfaction The job satisfaction of Australia’s school teachers has increased over the past three years, and almost nine out of every ten teachers is either satisfied or very satisfied with their job, new research suggests. Between August and December 2010, 15475 school teachers and 1579 school leaders completed the Staff in Australia’s Schools (SiAS) survey about their background and qualifications, their work, their career intentions, and school staffing issues. The findings of the survey, conducted by ACER on behalf of the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR), were released on 15 January 2012. Continue reading » Report on civics and citizenship learning outcomes in Australian schools A recently released report, produced for the Australian government by ACER, provides interesting insights into young people’s understanding and perceptions of civics and citizenship. The report presents the findings of the National Assessment Program – Civics and Citizenship (NAP-CC), conducted by ACER on behalf of the Ministerial Council for Education, Early Childhood Development and Youth Affairs (MCEECDYA) in October 2010. This was the third administration of the national assessment, following the 2004 and 2007 assessment cycles. Continue reading » Future academics need encouragement to stay in Australia The higher education sector must focus on creating roles for early career academics and retaining research graduates or it risks impeding Australia’s ability to meet its university attainment targets, according to an ACER research review paper. In the seventh research briefing for the Joining the Dots series, ‘Where are the academics of tomorrow? Supply and demand issues for Australian universities’, ACER Senior Research Fellow Dr Daniel Edwards explored how the academic workforce is placed to cope with the forecast rise in student numbers that will result if university attainment targets are to be met. Continue reading » Mobile phones may help get kids active Children who know how to use a mobile phone, as opposed to those who don’t, are more likely to move about their neighbourhood without adult supervision, ACER research released in December 2011 suggests. The study, by ACER Research Fellow Ms Catherine Underwood, examined the extent to which knowing how to use a mobile phone is correlated with children’s physical activity and ability to move through their neighbourhood without adult supervision, also known as independent mobility. Continue reading » ACER Update Scholarship test registrations close soon In 2012, ACER’s Cooperative Scholarship Testing Program (CSTP) test date has been brought forward and will now occur in February, instead of May as was the case in previous years. In response to requests from schools, the 2012 test will take place on Saturday 25 February. The closing date for student registrations is at 11.59pm (AEDST) on Monday 6 February 2012. Further information including a list of participating schools is available from www.acer.edu.au/tests/cstp Explicit school improvement seminar On Wednesday 25 January 2012, ACER Chief Executive Professor Geoff Masters will present a one-day seminar in Sydney on Explicit School Improvement: An evidence-based framework for action. The seminar will focus on the Teaching and Learning School Improvement Framework (TaLSIF), an evidence-based tool developed by ACER with Education Queensland to address the need for detailed, objective measurement of school practices in areas shown by international research to have a direct impact on teaching and learning outcomes. Professor Masters will be joined by co-presenters Mr Tony McGruther (Manager of Leadership Programs, ACER) and Mr Mark Campling (Assistant Director-General, School Performance, Education Queensland). Further information First national conference on Adult Language, Literacy and Numeracy Assessment In response to increasing national and state interest in addressing and improving the Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) skills of Australian workers and vocational education and training (VET) participants, ACER will present the inaugural National Adult English Language, Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Conference in Melbourne on 4 May 2012. Presentations will cover the main topics and research regarding the LLN skills of the Australian adult population from an industry and training perspective as well as practical issues such as identifying and assessing LLN skills and supporting learners and trainees in improving their LLN skills. Two half-day pre-conference workshops will address the 2011 Australian Core Skills Framework and item writing for adult literacy and numeracy assessments. For further information including a list of speakers please visit www.acer.edu.au/nallnac/
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 January 2012
3134 subscribers
Subscribe Now

In this issue:

Teachers report increased job satisfaction

The job satisfaction of Australia’s school teachers has increased over the past three years, and almost nine out of every ten teachers is either satisfied or very satisfied with their job, new research suggests.

Between August and December 2010, 15475 school teachers and 1579 school leaders completed the Staff in Australia’s Schools (SiAS) survey about their background and qualifications, their work, their career intentions, and school staffing issues. The findings of the survey, conducted by ACER on behalf of the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR), were released on 15 January 2012.

Report on civics and citizenship learning outcomes in Australian schools

A recently released report, produced for the Australian government by ACER, provides interesting insights into young people’s understanding and perceptions of civics and citizenship.

The report presents the findings of the National Assessment Program – Civics and Citizenship (NAP-CC), conducted by ACER on behalf of the Ministerial Council for Education, Early Childhood Development and Youth Affairs (MCEECDYA) in October 2010. This was the third administration of the national assessment, following the 2004 and 2007 assessment cycles.

Future academics need encouragement to stay in Australia

The higher education sector must focus on creating roles for early career academics and retaining research graduates or it risks impeding Australia’s ability to meet its university attainment targets, according to an ACER research review paper.

In the seventh research briefing for the Joining the Dots series, ‘Where are the academics of tomorrow? Supply and demand issues for Australian universities’, ACER Senior Research Fellow Dr Daniel Edwards explored how the academic workforce is placed to cope with the forecast rise in student numbers that will result if university attainment targets are to be met.

Mobile phones may help get kids active

Children who know how to use a mobile phone, as opposed to those who don’t, are more likely to move about their neighbourhood without adult supervision, ACER research released in December 2011 suggests.

The study, by ACER Research Fellow Ms Catherine Underwood, examined the extent to which knowing how to use a mobile phone is correlated with children’s physical activity and ability to move through their neighbourhood without adult supervision, also known as independent mobility.

ACER Update

Scholarship test registrations close soon

In 2012, ACER’s Cooperative Scholarship Testing Program (CSTP) test date has been brought forward and will now occur in February, instead of May as was the case in previous years. In response to requests from schools, the 2012 test will take place on Saturday 25 February. The closing date for student registrations is at 11.59pm (AEDST) on Monday 6 February 2012. Further information including a list of participating schools is available from www.acer.edu.au/tests/cstp

Explicit school improvement seminar

On Wednesday 25 January 2012, ACER Chief Executive Professor Geoff Masters will present a one-day seminar in Sydney on Explicit School Improvement: An evidence-based framework for action. The seminar will focus on the Teaching and Learning School Improvement Framework (TaLSIF), an evidence-based tool developed by ACER with Education Queensland to address the need for detailed, objective measurement of school practices in areas shown by international research to have a direct impact on teaching and learning outcomes. Professor Masters will be joined by co-presenters Mr Tony McGruther (Manager of Leadership Programs, ACER) and Mr Mark Campling (Assistant Director-General, School Performance, Education Queensland). Further information

First national conference on Adult Language, Literacy and Numeracy Assessment

In response to increasing national and state interest in addressing and improving the Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) skills of Australian workers and vocational education and training (VET) participants, ACER will present the inaugural National Adult English Language, Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Conference in Melbourne on 4 May 2012.

Presentations will cover the main topics and research regarding the LLN skills of the Australian adult population from an industry and training perspective as well as practical issues such as identifying and assessing LLN skills and supporting learners and trainees in improving their LLN skills. Two half-day pre-conference workshops will address the 2011 Australian Core Skills Framework and item writing for adult literacy and numeracy assessments. For further information including a list of speakers please visit www.acer.edu.au/nallnac/

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