Teacher identity and the challenge of the socially critical curriculum: The case of Health & Physical Education. The focus of this research project is upon how the teacher identity might influence the possibilities for curriculum reform in Health and Physical Education. In particular we are interested in the interplay between the embodied identity of HPE teachers and the socially critical agenda of the new HPE curriculum. The project aims to gain an understanding of how prospective and practisin ....Teacher identity and the challenge of the socially critical curriculum: The case of Health & Physical Education. The focus of this research project is upon how the teacher identity might influence the possibilities for curriculum reform in Health and Physical Education. In particular we are interested in the interplay between the embodied identity of HPE teachers and the socially critical agenda of the new HPE curriculum. The project aims to gain an understanding of how prospective and practising HPE teachers construct their teacher identities, and of the extent of their commitment to the emancipatory and life politics (Giddens, 1991) discourses that underpin the new HPE curriculum. Findings will be of direct significance for policy-makers and curriculum reformers in the field of Health and Physical Education.Read moreRead less
Elite independent schools in globalising circumstances: a multi-sited global ethnography. This is a study of elite independent schools in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, India, Barbados, South Africa, the USA and England. Because such schools are often seen as the gold standard for school education, and because their alumni are often highly influential in economic, political and professional circles, understanding what they do and the ideals they stand for is important na ....Elite independent schools in globalising circumstances: a multi-sited global ethnography. This is a study of elite independent schools in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, India, Barbados, South Africa, the USA and England. Because such schools are often seen as the gold standard for school education, and because their alumni are often highly influential in economic, political and professional circles, understanding what they do and the ideals they stand for is important nationally and globally. This study will identify the impact of increased global connections on such schools and will enhance understanding of how many national and international leaders are formed through their education and with what possible implications. Read moreRead less
Understanding and managing 'risk' for 15-19 year olds in a learning network: a case study of the Geelong LLEN. Learning networks are new strategies of educational reform and community capacity building addressing risk and interdependence arising from globalisation. This Deakin/Smart Geelong Region Local Learning and Employment Network partnership investigates the effectiveness of learning networks dealing with 15-19 year olds at risk. It explores stakeholders' understandings of learning networks ....Understanding and managing 'risk' for 15-19 year olds in a learning network: a case study of the Geelong LLEN. Learning networks are new strategies of educational reform and community capacity building addressing risk and interdependence arising from globalisation. This Deakin/Smart Geelong Region Local Learning and Employment Network partnership investigates the effectiveness of learning networks dealing with 15-19 year olds at risk. It explores stakeholders' understandings of learning networks and risk, undertakes a case study of the SGRLLEN, and considers the responses of schools and young people to the SGRLLEN using innovative youth researcher methodologies. It will inform policies, practices and evaluation of Victorian LLENs, provide professional development within SGRLLEN, and theoretically and empirically advance an emerging under researched field.Read moreRead less
Re-engaging disadvantaged young people with learning. Having significant numbers of young people, especially those from contexts of socio-economic disadvantage, not experiencing a satisfying and worthwhile education, is a personal, social and economic loss the nation can ill-afford. This research will provide insights into the impediments confronting these young people, the circumstances in which they re-engage with formal learning, and the benefits of having done so. This will enable new policy ....Re-engaging disadvantaged young people with learning. Having significant numbers of young people, especially those from contexts of socio-economic disadvantage, not experiencing a satisfying and worthwhile education, is a personal, social and economic loss the nation can ill-afford. This research will provide insights into the impediments confronting these young people, the circumstances in which they re-engage with formal learning, and the benefits of having done so. This will enable new policy and practice responses in the direction of reducing economic costs while seeking to ameliorate personal, health and social consequences. Reducing educational inequalities is one of the most salient ways of strengthening Australia's social and economic fabric.Read moreRead less
Social Futures and Life Pathways of Young People in Queensland: Waves 2 and 3 of Longitudinal Study. Much has been written about the unprecedented change in society and how it impacts on the identities of young people. It has been argued that young people's life trajectories are much more diverse, flexible and unpredictable than they were in the past. In 2006 the investigators surveyed over 6000 young Queenslanders aged 13 about what they think of their future and how they cope with change. This ....Social Futures and Life Pathways of Young People in Queensland: Waves 2 and 3 of Longitudinal Study. Much has been written about the unprecedented change in society and how it impacts on the identities of young people. It has been argued that young people's life trajectories are much more diverse, flexible and unpredictable than they were in the past. In 2006 the investigators surveyed over 6000 young Queenslanders aged 13 about what they think of their future and how they cope with change. This project follows-up participants when they are 15 and 17 to provide important information for researchers, policymakers and others about how young people think about their futures, engage with society, and move through school, work and family in a world of rapid change and uncertainty.Read moreRead less
Social Futures, Orientations and Identities of Young People in Queensland. Much has been written about the unprecedented change in society and how it impacts on the identities of young people. It has been argued that life pathways of young people are much more diverse, flexible and unpredictable than they were in the past and that they are developing new strategies of coping with these new conditions. This research will follow a large cohort of young Australians through adolescence to empiricall ....Social Futures, Orientations and Identities of Young People in Queensland. Much has been written about the unprecedented change in society and how it impacts on the identities of young people. It has been argued that life pathways of young people are much more diverse, flexible and unpredictable than they were in the past and that they are developing new strategies of coping with these new conditions. This research will follow a large cohort of young Australians through adolescence to empirically investigate how young people think of their future and how they master their life trajectories in a world of rapid change and uncertainty. Read moreRead less
Developing Effective School-Community Learning Partnerships for Sustainability. The research contributes to 2 areas of national concern:achieving environmental sustainability and strengthening social cohesion, especially in the expanding urban growth corridors of Australian cities. It will develop guidelines for facilitating models of community learning partnerships that build social capital as a vehicle for protecting natural capital. Knowledge generated will advance conservation practices for ....Developing Effective School-Community Learning Partnerships for Sustainability. The research contributes to 2 areas of national concern:achieving environmental sustainability and strengthening social cohesion, especially in the expanding urban growth corridors of Australian cities. It will develop guidelines for facilitating models of community learning partnerships that build social capital as a vehicle for protecting natural capital. Knowledge generated will advance conservation practices for natural capital:water, energy, biodiversity and waste, and strengthen the school-community partnership elements of programs such as ResourceSmart and the Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative (AuSSI), supported extensively by networks of local, State and Commonwealth governments, schools and community groups.Read moreRead less
Globalisation: New Media, New Literacies and Identities. This APF proposes three related projects that investigate (i) the social effects of new information technologies on literacy and identity, (ii) the impact of globalisation on education, and (iii) new forms of social identity among multiracial families and children. Each project will produce a book and refereed journal articles. This work is significant because it will generate new knowledge about the effects of globalization on: (i) shifts ....Globalisation: New Media, New Literacies and Identities. This APF proposes three related projects that investigate (i) the social effects of new information technologies on literacy and identity, (ii) the impact of globalisation on education, and (iii) new forms of social identity among multiracial families and children. Each project will produce a book and refereed journal articles. This work is significant because it will generate new knowledge about the effects of globalization on: (i) shifts from print to digital literacies and identities among Australian youth, (ii) the role, responsibility, and futures orientation of education systems, and (iii) changing family structures and identities in new socio-demographic contexts.Read moreRead less
Knowledge/economy/society: a sociological study of an education policy discourse in Australia in globalising circumstances. Education policies that fuse knowledge, economy and society are globally influential. Such policies seek to promote economic and social enhancement. Yet critics claim that these policies have a narrow view of knowledge, society and the economy, and of current trends. This study adopts inventive methodologies to assess such critics' claims in the light of research by leading ....Knowledge/economy/society: a sociological study of an education policy discourse in Australia in globalising circumstances. Education policies that fuse knowledge, economy and society are globally influential. Such policies seek to promote economic and social enhancement. Yet critics claim that these policies have a narrow view of knowledge, society and the economy, and of current trends. This study adopts inventive methodologies to assess such critics' claims in the light of research by leading sociologists. It explores the ways that the knowledge/economy/society discourse is interpreted in national and supranational policy texts, by senior policy agents and in innovative educational programs in different educational settings. The research findings will enrich education policy research and benefit national education policy.Read moreRead less
Engaging students: Issues of difference, distribution and recognition in schools. The project will help to improve the quality of schooling provided to students currently marginalised within the education sector. It focuses on the achievement of diverse groups of students and on how schools and classrooms value and educationally 'work with' their differences. The engagement of marginalised students in the schooling process has been identified as a national priority by Federal and State Ministers ....Engaging students: Issues of difference, distribution and recognition in schools. The project will help to improve the quality of schooling provided to students currently marginalised within the education sector. It focuses on the achievement of diverse groups of students and on how schools and classrooms value and educationally 'work with' their differences. The engagement of marginalised students in the schooling process has been identified as a national priority by Federal and State Ministers of Education in the 2008 Melbourne Declaration on Educational Goals for Young Australians. By addressing the engagement of students marginalised from mainstream schooling, the project will also address the promoting and maintaining good health.Read moreRead less