Outcomes-focused Learning Environments, Affective Outcomes and Achievement Standards in Senior School Classes in Western Australia. Given the controversy in the media about outcomes-focused education and the acute lack of research into its implementation and effectiveness, this research is timely and useful. It could have far-reaching implications for educational systems about how to effectively create outcomes-focused learning environments and whether educational standards are being maintained. ....Outcomes-focused Learning Environments, Affective Outcomes and Achievement Standards in Senior School Classes in Western Australia. Given the controversy in the media about outcomes-focused education and the acute lack of research into its implementation and effectiveness, this research is timely and useful. It could have far-reaching implications for educational systems about how to effectively create outcomes-focused learning environments and whether educational standards are being maintained. It will provide information about how teachers can use action research, involving feedback from students, to guide the improvement of learning environments. Training opportunities will be provided for one Master's and two doctoral students.Read moreRead less
Building professional learning communities in a large Australian school district: School leadership within an information and communications technology (ICT) environment. Recent school restructuring in Australia has centred on devolution and the development of self-managing schools. In another layer of workplace complexity for school leaders, the past decade of educational restructuring has also been characterised by increased implementation and reliance upon ICT within the educational system, s ....Building professional learning communities in a large Australian school district: School leadership within an information and communications technology (ICT) environment. Recent school restructuring in Australia has centred on devolution and the development of self-managing schools. In another layer of workplace complexity for school leaders, the past decade of educational restructuring has also been characterised by increased implementation and reliance upon ICT within the educational system, schools and classrooms. Through a unique collaboration between a University and an entire School District as an industry partner, this study examines leadership attributes in an ICT rich environment. The study will provide information about how to maximize leadership skills in ICT-rich environments by developing an empirically-based innovative professional development model for Australian schools.Read moreRead less
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
Measuring the effectiveness of specialist science enrichment programs. Australia faces critical problems in science education with student attitudes to science in decline and a shortage of science teachers. We also face significant problems in indigenous education. This project will determine the ability of science enrichment centres to change student attitudes and to motivate them towards science using exciting and innovative new education facilities. Results will provide valuable data to allo ....Measuring the effectiveness of specialist science enrichment programs. Australia faces critical problems in science education with student attitudes to science in decline and a shortage of science teachers. We also face significant problems in indigenous education. This project will determine the ability of science enrichment centres to change student attitudes and to motivate them towards science using exciting and innovative new education facilities. Results will provide valuable data to allow future funding priorities to be optimised.Read moreRead less
Smart Communities - Applied research into integrated government services and regional networked neighbourhoods to support children and young people at risk. This applied research project investigates and provides directions for improvement in the life choices available to children and young people at risk in remote, rural and urban areas of Western Australia. It does this by (i) conducting a detailed study of children and young people at risk, as identified by government and non-government agen ....Smart Communities - Applied research into integrated government services and regional networked neighbourhoods to support children and young people at risk. This applied research project investigates and provides directions for improvement in the life choices available to children and young people at risk in remote, rural and urban areas of Western Australia. It does this by (i) conducting a detailed study of children and young people at risk, as identified by government and non-government agencies (ii) conducting quantitative and qualitative fieldwork into the communication patterns and information-seeking behaviour of children and young people at risk; (iii) exploring strategies and interventions through inter-agency co-operation in the provision of content and technology (as geographical or virtual communities).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