Improving zoo/aquarium conservation learning outcomes: a values approach. This project aims to improve the educational value of zoos and aquariums in teaching and engaging the public about conservation issues. Although zoos and aquariums claim their current education programs are effective in reaching and educating the public on conservation issues, research shows their influence on visitors’ environmental behaviour is limited. The project intends to investigate the influence of zoo and aquarium ....Improving zoo/aquarium conservation learning outcomes: a values approach. This project aims to improve the educational value of zoos and aquariums in teaching and engaging the public about conservation issues. Although zoos and aquariums claim their current education programs are effective in reaching and educating the public on conservation issues, research shows their influence on visitors’ environmental behaviour is limited. The project intends to investigate the influence of zoo and aquarium visitors’ values or broad life goals on their environmental learning outcomes; develop values-based conservation education strategies; and measure the impact of these on visitors’ adoption of conservation actions. The intended outcomes are guidelines that will replace the current ‘one size fits all’ conservation messages with tailored experiences that attract, engage and influence those for whom environmental care and protection are not necessarily of central concern.Read moreRead less
School Exclusionary Policies and Practices and their Impact. This project aims to investigate how and why Australian schools use exclusionary practices to manage disorderly students. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of school discipline about the extent and impact of these practices. It will provide a detailed analysis of the political, legislative and policy frameworks that impact on exclusion rates. Expected outcomes of this project include alternative policy and prac ....School Exclusionary Policies and Practices and their Impact. This project aims to investigate how and why Australian schools use exclusionary practices to manage disorderly students. This project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of school discipline about the extent and impact of these practices. It will provide a detailed analysis of the political, legislative and policy frameworks that impact on exclusion rates. Expected outcomes of this project include alternative policy and practice recommendations for legislatures and education systems. This should provide significant benefits, such as reducing youth alienation from schooling; creating inclusive schools; reducing the financial burden of exclusion on individuals and governments; and improving the health and wellbeing of young people.Read moreRead less
Digital Divas: Designing approaches to enthuse girls' interest in ICT studies and ICT careers. A strong information and communications technology (ICT) industry, a skilled ICT workforce and excellence in ICT research is vital to Australia's future. However, girls' interest in ICT, and the numbers of women entering the ICT workforce, are at record lows, while Industry skills are critically short. Digital Divas will pioneer a program to build girls' ICT skills and confidence, increasing their mot ....Digital Divas: Designing approaches to enthuse girls' interest in ICT studies and ICT careers. A strong information and communications technology (ICT) industry, a skilled ICT workforce and excellence in ICT research is vital to Australia's future. However, girls' interest in ICT, and the numbers of women entering the ICT workforce, are at record lows, while Industry skills are critically short. Digital Divas will pioneer a program to build girls' ICT skills and confidence, increasing their motivation to study ICT and enter the ICT workforce. The benefits of education will be maximised by addressing the gender digital divide evident in classrooms, universities and professions.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160100197
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$395,000.00
Summary
National schooling reform and the reshaping of Australian federalism. The aim of this project is to examine how national schooling reforms in curriculum, pedagogy and assessment are reshaping the role of Australian state governments in education policy. It will focus on the impact of reforms on state education departments, and through policy analysis, interviews and case studies in three Australian states, the project intends to generate theoretical insights about the changing nature of Australi ....National schooling reform and the reshaping of Australian federalism. The aim of this project is to examine how national schooling reforms in curriculum, pedagogy and assessment are reshaping the role of Australian state governments in education policy. It will focus on the impact of reforms on state education departments, and through policy analysis, interviews and case studies in three Australian states, the project intends to generate theoretical insights about the changing nature of Australian schooling and federalism.Read moreRead less
Addressing the teacher exodus: Enhancing early career teacher resilience and retention in changing times. This research will produce new knowledge, strategies, models and recommendations that will help to keep early career teachers in the profession in regional, rural and remote areas. In doing so it will address the problem of teacher shortage that is currently threatening the nation's educational, economic and social outcomes. The research outcomes will have particular credibility at the natio ....Addressing the teacher exodus: Enhancing early career teacher resilience and retention in changing times. This research will produce new knowledge, strategies, models and recommendations that will help to keep early career teachers in the profession in regional, rural and remote areas. In doing so it will address the problem of teacher shortage that is currently threatening the nation's educational, economic and social outcomes. The research outcomes will have particular credibility at the national level because they will be the result of dialogue and collaboration across three universities and six industry partners who are the key stakeholders in teacher employment in two states. In addition, the collaborative approach will facilitate implementation of recommendations at the local, state and national levels.Read moreRead less
An Intelligent Automated Essay Marking Tool-MarkIT for Education Sector. Making and grading essays is estimated to cost around AUD$2 Billion in Australia each year. It takes up approximately a third of the teachers' time. An Automated Essay Grading System would mean significant financial savings in the education sector both public and private. It would also free up teachers to concentrate on higher level pedagogical tasks resulting in a better quality of education. The potential for sales overse ....An Intelligent Automated Essay Marking Tool-MarkIT for Education Sector. Making and grading essays is estimated to cost around AUD$2 Billion in Australia each year. It takes up approximately a third of the teachers' time. An Automated Essay Grading System would mean significant financial savings in the education sector both public and private. It would also free up teachers to concentrate on higher level pedagogical tasks resulting in a better quality of education. The potential for sales overseas for such a system are also great.Read moreRead less
Developing Early Literacy in Informal Settings: Engaging Disadvantaged Aboriginal and CALD Families Outside Formal Settings. The development of literacy in pre-school age children is a national priority. This research will address a major gap in the provision of support for literacy development in children and families who do not access formal pre-school programs. It will directly address the disadvantage experienced by children and families in informal settings. The outcomes of this research wi ....Developing Early Literacy in Informal Settings: Engaging Disadvantaged Aboriginal and CALD Families Outside Formal Settings. The development of literacy in pre-school age children is a national priority. This research will address a major gap in the provision of support for literacy development in children and families who do not access formal pre-school programs. It will directly address the disadvantage experienced by children and families in informal settings. The outcomes of this research will benefit work in this area at both a theoretical and a practical level. It will provide a strengthened research base around reaching and involving children and families and will inform those literacy methodologies that seek to address linguistic and cultural difference.Read moreRead less
Using co-teaching and co-generative dialogue to improve teacher-student interactions and students' awareness of their place in the environment. The study addresses the political, social agenda of Australia. The findings of the co-teaching/co-generative dialogue research in science environmental education will encourage teachers to implement desirable changes in their teaching, benefiting community through application of research results to education systems, and increasing understanding of effec ....Using co-teaching and co-generative dialogue to improve teacher-student interactions and students' awareness of their place in the environment. The study addresses the political, social agenda of Australia. The findings of the co-teaching/co-generative dialogue research in science environmental education will encourage teachers to implement desirable changes in their teaching, benefiting community through application of research results to education systems, and increasing understanding of effective teaching. Priority research funding is being afforded to several areas of natural science research; there is an imperative that environmental science education in schools progresses commensurately. The long-term ability of universities to conduct their natural science research will be dependent on foundational improvements in environmental science education in schools.Read moreRead less
Rethinking collaborative federalism in Australian schooling policy. The governance of schooling in the Australian federation is in flux and undergoing significant contestation, with serious questions being asked about whether national policy arrangements are fit for purpose and decision-making processes are achieving the policy aspirations of collaborative federalism. This project aims to examine how Australian governments engage in collaborative schooling reform by focussing on processes associ ....Rethinking collaborative federalism in Australian schooling policy. The governance of schooling in the Australian federation is in flux and undergoing significant contestation, with serious questions being asked about whether national policy arrangements are fit for purpose and decision-making processes are achieving the policy aspirations of collaborative federalism. This project aims to examine how Australian governments engage in collaborative schooling reform by focussing on processes associated with the formulation of the new post-2023 National School Reform Agreement. The research will engage in ‘real time’ policy analysis, engaging with policy stakeholders to examine collaborative processes centred on the new agreement, and to consider how to improve future national decision-making processes.Read moreRead less
From periphery to centre: an historical analysis of lay teachers' experiences in Australian Catholic schools, from 1940 to 1980. Following the Second Vatican Council (1962-65) lay teachers came to dominate Australian Catholic education. This oral history project, responding to a call for scholarly interest in faith-based schooling, as a result of recent developments motivated by religious ideology, will contribute to understanding their experiences for the period from 1940 to 80.