Does binocular vision training enhance literacy among primary school children with poor reading? One in ten Australian children can not read well despite adequate intelligence and opportunity. This project aims to find out the extent that these reading problems reflect poor binocular vision (the eyes not working well together) and evaluate new treatments.
Increasing Behavioural Flexibility in Children with Autism. Autism is a developmental disorder associated with social and language deficits and an abnormal resistance to change. The number of children diagnosed with autism is increasing, as are the social and economic costs to Australia. While programs exist for teaching social and language skills, effective strategies for teaching the child how to cope with change are lacking. This project aims to discover educational procedures for increasing ....Increasing Behavioural Flexibility in Children with Autism. Autism is a developmental disorder associated with social and language deficits and an abnormal resistance to change. The number of children diagnosed with autism is increasing, as are the social and economic costs to Australia. While programs exist for teaching social and language skills, effective strategies for teaching the child how to cope with change are lacking. This project aims to discover educational procedures for increasing the child's tolerance for and ability to cope with change. By doing so, the project will benefit Australian families and teachers who need effective, research-based procedures for managing this core feature of autism. Read moreRead less
Knowledge for teaching primary mathematics: How teachers' pedagogical content knowledge develops and affects classroom practices and students' mathematics achievement. The study will investigate mathematics teaching in upper primary school, to identify the influence of teachers? mathematics-specific pedagogical knowledge, first on teaching practice and subsequently on students? learning outcomes. Case study evidence shows this influence is strong, but statistical evidence shows it is weak. This ....Knowledge for teaching primary mathematics: How teachers' pedagogical content knowledge develops and affects classroom practices and students' mathematics achievement. The study will investigate mathematics teaching in upper primary school, to identify the influence of teachers? mathematics-specific pedagogical knowledge, first on teaching practice and subsequently on students? learning outcomes. Case study evidence shows this influence is strong, but statistical evidence shows it is weak. This study aims to resolve this paradox by employing quality data that probes the heart of teaching and learning mathematics within a statistical study. The growth of knowledge and classroom practices of teachers graduating from two contrasting pre-service programs will also be tracked, to inform recommendations on the nature of discipline-specific pedagogical knowledge in teacher training.Read moreRead less
Program evaluation of the osteoarthritis awareness hub. Persons with osteoarthritis generally have poor knowledge about their disease and its appropriate management. The aim of this project is to evaluate whether improved knowledge, and management decisions of persons with osteoarthritis, can ultimately lead to improved health outcomes.
Statistical Literacy for the Twenty-first Century: A Consolidated Model of Understanding for Application to Learning in Context. The overall aim of this project is to achieve a complete developmental model of school students? understanding of the concepts required to participate as statistically literate members of society. Australia is now an information- and data-driven society and to achieve its goals economically, scientifically, and socially, it requires citizens who can make decisions base ....Statistical Literacy for the Twenty-first Century: A Consolidated Model of Understanding for Application to Learning in Context. The overall aim of this project is to achieve a complete developmental model of school students? understanding of the concepts required to participate as statistically literate members of society. Australia is now an information- and data-driven society and to achieve its goals economically, scientifically, and socially, it requires citizens who can make decisions based on appropriate quantitative understanding. A major component of this is statistical literacy. The outcomes of this project based on the theoretical model will include assessment instruments, recommendations for the school curriculum, and trialed learning materials and technologies shown to contribute to understanding, for classroom use.Read moreRead less
Young children's world-making through music: Young children's identity construction in and through music. The research addresses the National Research Priority Goal of "A Healthy Start to Life" by providing new information on music's role in generating positive mental health and well-being outcomes for young children with a focus on their construction of identity in and through music. This research will impact on early childhood policy and practices in child-care and early learning settings. It ....Young children's world-making through music: Young children's identity construction in and through music. The research addresses the National Research Priority Goal of "A Healthy Start to Life" by providing new information on music's role in generating positive mental health and well-being outcomes for young children with a focus on their construction of identity in and through music. This research will impact on early childhood policy and practices in child-care and early learning settings. It will inform the development of programs that build strong self-identity, contribute to the emotional health of young children, and promote the social engagement of young children, factors that are foundational to subsequent success in formal schooling.Read moreRead less
Youth Gangs: The Australian Experience. Little systematic research has been undertaken in Australia into the nature and activities of youth gangs. The aim of this project is to provide a national study of youth group formations, processes of group transformation (toward or away from gangs), and strategies the might be employed to curtail gang formation and gang-related behaviour. The study will involve interviews with young people in each capital city, and focus group discussions with youth serv ....Youth Gangs: The Australian Experience. Little systematic research has been undertaken in Australia into the nature and activities of youth gangs. The aim of this project is to provide a national study of youth group formations, processes of group transformation (toward or away from gangs), and strategies the might be employed to curtail gang formation and gang-related behaviour. The study will involve interviews with young people in each capital city, and focus group discussions with youth service providers in each city. The research methods draw upon the instruments presently being developed by the Eurogang Research Network in order to facilitate cross-national comparisons. It will be the first national study of its kind, and will provide new conceptual insights into the character of youth group formation in Australia, baseline youth gang data, and analysis of possible intervention strategies.
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School retention through alternative schooling: towards a socially just approach to education. This project is concerned with how mainstream schools may become more socially just and inclusive of all young people through an analysis of alternative schools specifically designed for this purpose. Such a concern is critical for lifting school retention rates of marginalised young people and improving practices in all schools.
Privatising neighbourhoods? Governance and social life in master-planned residential estates. Australian residential neighbourhoods are changing in the face of growing privatisation and privatism, with major implications for the strength of the social and economic fabric of cities. Master planned residential estates are emblematic of this change. This project empirically investigates the extent and nature of privatisation and privatism in these new residential environments. It will provide a rig ....Privatising neighbourhoods? Governance and social life in master-planned residential estates. Australian residential neighbourhoods are changing in the face of growing privatisation and privatism, with major implications for the strength of the social and economic fabric of cities. Master planned residential estates are emblematic of this change. This project empirically investigates the extent and nature of privatisation and privatism in these new residential environments. It will provide a rigorous analysis necessary to growing national debates about creating and sustaining urban social cohesion, and on the importance of social ties between people for producing a more prosperous Australia.Read moreRead less
Rebuilding fiscal federalism in Australia: reforming the financial relationship between the Commonwealth and the States. The finances of the Australian States in the modern day face serious structural challenges. The aim of this project is to analyse and develop appropriate alternatives for reform of fiscal federalism in Australia, which would allow the States to gain access to income tax revenue as a secure source of funding in the future.