Einsteinian Physics: A new paradigm for school science. This project aims to determine whether the early teaching of the modern Einsteinian paradigm of physics improves students' understanding of physics and attitudes to science. The project aims to investigate whether it is feasible to teach all students the physics that underpins modern technology. It is expected that by introducing students to the paradigm of Einsteinian physics before they learn the useful Newtonian approximations, their eng ....Einsteinian Physics: A new paradigm for school science. This project aims to determine whether the early teaching of the modern Einsteinian paradigm of physics improves students' understanding of physics and attitudes to science. The project aims to investigate whether it is feasible to teach all students the physics that underpins modern technology. It is expected that by introducing students to the paradigm of Einsteinian physics before they learn the useful Newtonian approximations, their engagement and understanding of physics is intended to improve. This is critical to Australia as enrolments in the hard sciences plummet.Read moreRead less
Developing a language and literacy Needs Analysis model for Indigenous vocational education students who speak English as a second language/dialect. This project aims to develop a Literacy Needs Analysis Model for use by educators targeting rural and remote Indigenous vocational education students who speak Standard Australian English as a second language/dialect. Addressing their significant learning needs will enhance their transition into further education/training and/or the workforce.
Engaging Students during the Early Years of Secondary School. This project aims to design, test and share sustainable strategies to support teachers and enable students from low socioeconomic communities to achieve success. The greatest decreases in students’ interest and effort occur when they transition into secondary school, with students from low socioeconomic communities at greatest risk of disengagement. What can teachers do to engage their students during this key life transition? This pr ....Engaging Students during the Early Years of Secondary School. This project aims to design, test and share sustainable strategies to support teachers and enable students from low socioeconomic communities to achieve success. The greatest decreases in students’ interest and effort occur when they transition into secondary school, with students from low socioeconomic communities at greatest risk of disengagement. What can teachers do to engage their students during this key life transition? This project plans to identify teacher behaviours that motivate students in their first year at secondary school. Using an experimental design with a representative sample of 150 teachers and 1500 students in low socioeconomic areas across three states, the project plans to test whether an online professional learning program for teachers can improve student engagement and achievement. This cost-effective and scalable intervention is designed for widespread dissemination to Australian teachers.Read moreRead less
Promoting scientific literacy of secondary science students through studying socioscientific issues and argumentation. This project will develop a model of professional development and effective classroom strategies to improve 12-16 year old school students' decision-making about socioscientific issues. Key outcomes will be improved scientific literacy and willingness by young people to use scientific evidence when making personal and community decisions.
Sustainable' sustainability: Preparing Australia's future citizens for informed decision-making through socially responsible science education. This educational study addresses sustainability as a national priority. It focuses on secondary students as future decision makers through developing their ability to respond effectively to national sustainability issues by engaging in dilemma-based science and values learning. Socially responsible science education promotes knowledge and scientific lite ....Sustainable' sustainability: Preparing Australia's future citizens for informed decision-making through socially responsible science education. This educational study addresses sustainability as a national priority. It focuses on secondary students as future decision makers through developing their ability to respond effectively to national sustainability issues by engaging in dilemma-based science and values learning. Socially responsible science education promotes knowledge and scientific literacy skills. Benefits to the community include application of research results to schools, education systems, and universities whose long-term ability to conduct world-class scientific research will partly be dependent on improvements in school science. Since priority research funding promotes science and sustainability research, science education in schools should progress commensurately.Read moreRead less
Eventful learning in quality pre-service science teacher education. The study aims to build a theory that explains quality in science teacher education by identifying successful learning-teaching events across programs of university science teacher education. This theory will guide wider application of eventful learning practices at university to enhance the successful entry of new teachers to the profession.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE180100682
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$384,996.00
Summary
Do teacher research experiences affect student outcomes in science? This project aims to determine whether authentic scientific research projects undertaken by teachers translate into improved science-related outcomes for students. Measures to redress declining levels of understanding and interest in science among Australian secondary students over more than two decades have had little effect. Using a cross-national multiple case study design, the project plans to generate new knowledge about im ....Do teacher research experiences affect student outcomes in science? This project aims to determine whether authentic scientific research projects undertaken by teachers translate into improved science-related outcomes for students. Measures to redress declining levels of understanding and interest in science among Australian secondary students over more than two decades have had little effect. Using a cross-national multiple case study design, the project plans to generate new knowledge about improving teachers’ scientific literacy and classroom practice that translates to improved student understanding of, and engagement with, science. This will afford significant social and economic benefits through targeted research-informed education strategies that meet the needs of Australia’s future STEM workforce.Read moreRead less
Advancing future primary teachers' engagement in science inquiry learning. Australia's challenges in regard to scientific literacy and growth of student enrolments in science need to be addressed at multiple levels, starting with the preparation of future primary teachers. Promoting children's early interest in inquiry-based science is essential, yet a challenge for many teachers. This project examines the complex and dynamic interplay of cognitive, metacognitive and emotional processes in futur ....Advancing future primary teachers' engagement in science inquiry learning. Australia's challenges in regard to scientific literacy and growth of student enrolments in science need to be addressed at multiple levels, starting with the preparation of future primary teachers. Promoting children's early interest in inquiry-based science is essential, yet a challenge for many teachers. This project examines the complex and dynamic interplay of cognitive, metacognitive and emotional processes in future primary teachers' engagement in collaborative inquiry-based science activities. A comprehensive intervention based on these insights aims to determine how scaffolding productive engagement can improve the quality of primary teachers' preparation for inquiry-based science.Read moreRead less
The roles of scientific diagrams in contributing to science achievement and conceptual change. The project is designed to develop a body of research that facilitates excellence in teaching and in learning scientific diagrams in secondary school science. Benefits will include the dissemination of effective pedagogical strategies and improved science achievement measured by conceptual change from both cognitive and affective perspectives.
Teaching and Learning Science, Mathematics and Technology in Integrated Middle School Contexts. Integration is proposed as a significant curriculum reform strategy for Australian schools at the beginning of the century, particularly for early adolescents. Despite the claimed advantages for integrating school subjects, there is an absence of substantive empirical research to show if and/or how students learn in integrated settings. The proposed study addresses this research gap directly, by exami ....Teaching and Learning Science, Mathematics and Technology in Integrated Middle School Contexts. Integration is proposed as a significant curriculum reform strategy for Australian schools at the beginning of the century, particularly for early adolescents. Despite the claimed advantages for integrating school subjects, there is an absence of substantive empirical research to show if and/or how students learn in integrated settings. The proposed study addresses this research gap directly, by examining the teaching context and the characteristics of student learning in integrated science, mathematics and technology classrooms. This project employs detailed and elaborated case studies of six middle school classrooms to develop sophisticated understandings about the connection between integrated pedagogy and student learning and motivation.Read moreRead less