Environmental Education and Marine Ecosystem Degradation: The Role of Site-specific Art as Communicative Strategy within Community Awareness-raising Programs. This project investigates a potential application of art as a medium of environmental education. In the context of a World Fish Center sustainable community fisheries project in Vietnam's Mekong Delta, we will deploy works of fine art specifically to communicate ideas and values concerning marine ecosystem degradation. An experienced ecolo ....Environmental Education and Marine Ecosystem Degradation: The Role of Site-specific Art as Communicative Strategy within Community Awareness-raising Programs. This project investigates a potential application of art as a medium of environmental education. In the context of a World Fish Center sustainable community fisheries project in Vietnam's Mekong Delta, we will deploy works of fine art specifically to communicate ideas and values concerning marine ecosystem degradation. An experienced ecological artist will project the issue into the public domain via large-scale video and trans-media installations. Visitor interviews will assess the impact of various modes of visual communication. We believe that visual communication can assist the development of environmental responsibility by shifting perceptions and is, then, of considerable policy value.Read moreRead less
'Always on' Learning Communities: M-Learning landscapes transforming school cultures. Australia is going online: Internet access in Australian business is close to 100 percent and is almost 60 percent in households (ABS 2005). Ownership of mobile devices is growing at 10 percent each year and by the end of 2007 it is predicted by Telstra that close to 90 percent of the Australian population will own a mobile device. There has been a government commitment of $73 million for the development of onl ....'Always on' Learning Communities: M-Learning landscapes transforming school cultures. Australia is going online: Internet access in Australian business is close to 100 percent and is almost 60 percent in households (ABS 2005). Ownership of mobile devices is growing at 10 percent each year and by the end of 2007 it is predicted by Telstra that close to 90 percent of the Australian population will own a mobile device. There has been a government commitment of $73 million for the development of online curriculum content in Australia and New Zealand. However, there has been limited research to inform the use of such content in classrooms and no reference to the possibilities of using mobile devices. Sustainable futures rely on the relevant preparation of our young people to succeed in the knowledge society. 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
Australian Children and the Arts: Meaning, value and participation. This project employs innovative research techniques in the fields of social research and educational inquiry to explore a research problem of major economic and cultural significance to Australia, that of the meaning and value of the arts in the lives of Australian children.
Outcomes of the research include new knowledge concerning: the meaning and value of the arts for Australian children; and the ways in which Australian chil ....Australian Children and the Arts: Meaning, value and participation. This project employs innovative research techniques in the fields of social research and educational inquiry to explore a research problem of major economic and cultural significance to Australia, that of the meaning and value of the arts in the lives of Australian children.
Outcomes of the research include new knowledge concerning: the meaning and value of the arts for Australian children; and the ways in which Australian children engage with the arts. This new knowledge shall inform the development of future arts policy and practice and advance knowledge in the discipline of arts education.Read moreRead less
The World Arm-to-Arm: The Spread of Smallpox Vaccination and Global Networks of Knowledge and Power, 1799-1805. This project will document the rapid spread of Jenner's vaccine around the world between 1799 and 1805. It will address matters neglected in the existing literature, including the logistics of the global transmission of the vaccine, often literally arm-to-arm; the promotion and reception of vaccination in different social and cultural contexts; and the networks of power and knowledge ....The World Arm-to-Arm: The Spread of Smallpox Vaccination and Global Networks of Knowledge and Power, 1799-1805. This project will document the rapid spread of Jenner's vaccine around the world between 1799 and 1805. It will address matters neglected in the existing literature, including the logistics of the global transmission of the vaccine, often literally arm-to-arm; the promotion and reception of vaccination in different social and cultural contexts; and the networks of power and knowledge that made the Jennerian revolution possible. The project will result in a book and articles, interventions in the literature on globalisation and the adoption of innovation, and a deeper and broader perspective on issues of burning relevance to the world today.Read moreRead less
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
Empowering Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Girls, Changing Communities. This project applies Indigenous knowledges to develop new understandings and insights in the area of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls’ education. Expected outcomes of the project include: the development of a national framework that supports the education of girls and acknowledges the importance of self-determination, culture, gender and place in creating life changing educational opportunities; addressing Clo ....Empowering Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Girls, Changing Communities. This project applies Indigenous knowledges to develop new understandings and insights in the area of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girls’ education. Expected outcomes of the project include: the development of a national framework that supports the education of girls and acknowledges the importance of self-determination, culture, gender and place in creating life changing educational opportunities; addressing Close the Gap targets; and creating broader long lasting positive changes regarding access, participation and success for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. The outcomes of this project can provide significant benefits to the broad Australian schooling system.Read moreRead less
Providing the Mathematical Foundation for an Innovative Australia within Reform Based Learning Environments. The focus of this project is the pedagogical change that The Review of Teaching and Teacher Education indicates must take place in order to lay the quantitative foundations for advancing innovation, science, technology, and mathematics, while satisfying the requirements of a reform-based learning environment. Professional learning directed at teachers' pedagogical content knowledge and be ....Providing the Mathematical Foundation for an Innovative Australia within Reform Based Learning Environments. The focus of this project is the pedagogical change that The Review of Teaching and Teacher Education indicates must take place in order to lay the quantitative foundations for advancing innovation, science, technology, and mathematics, while satisfying the requirements of a reform-based learning environment. Professional learning directed at teachers' pedagogical content knowledge and belief structures with respect to mathematics within an environment of curricular change, will be evaluated in evidence-based terms related to teacher change and student outcomes. Significance includes the context, the middle school years in rural district schools, and the influence of technology on pedagogy.Read moreRead less
Longitudinal change for teachers and students in relation to professional learning in statistics education. There is a growing need in Australia's information society for statistically literate citizens, and for more young people to choose to continue their study of statistics past school. The evidence-based research outcomes for both teachers and students in this study, based on an innovative professional learning program catering for individual requirements of teachers, will provide a model fo ....Longitudinal change for teachers and students in relation to professional learning in statistics education. There is a growing need in Australia's information society for statistically literate citizens, and for more young people to choose to continue their study of statistics past school. The evidence-based research outcomes for both teachers and students in this study, based on an innovative professional learning program catering for individual requirements of teachers, will provide a model for industries and education systems to follow in reaching these goals. Further, each of the three collaborating industries will participate in research-based investigations into the benefits of its contributions to enhancing teacher and student outcomes in relation to statistics at the school level.Read moreRead less