ARC Funded Research
ARC Discovery and Linkage Grants within the School of Education
Contents
- 1. Grammar and Praxis: investigating a grammatics for twenty-first century school English (2011-2013)
- 2. An investigation into the contribution of the national adult education system to the post-conflict reconstruction and development of East Timor
- 3. New Dimensions of Group Literacy Tests for Schools: Multimodal reading comprehension in conventional and computer-based formats
- 4. Teaching effective 3D authoring in the middle school years: Multimedia grammatical design and multimedia authoring pedagogy
- 5. Implementing and evaluating the Life Needs Model for young people with cerebral palsy
- 6. Impact of Developmentally-based Qualitative Assessment Practices in English, Mathematics, and Science on School Policies, Classroom Instruction, and Teacher Knowledge
- 7. An exploratory cluster trial of a sustainable capacity building intervention to promote positive child mental health in Family Day Care
- 8. Developing culturally-fair assessment practices to achieve greater equity and success for Indigenous students
1. Grammar and Praxis: investigating a grammatics for twenty-first century school English (2011-2013)
Chief Investigators: Mary Macken-Horarik (UNE), Len Unsworth (Griffith) and Kristina Love (ACU)
Administering Organisation: The University of New Engalnd
Project Summary
In a complex communicational environment and at the dawn of an Australian curriculum, English teachers need new kinds of knowledge about language (KAL). Our project is investigating the character of a developing KAL through ‘grammatics’—a way of thinking about language with grammar in mind. In a series of classroom trials in NSW and Victoria, we are examining the effect of an inclusive grammatics on teachers’ and students’ knowledge base. The project also involves a survey of teathers' current knowledge about language.
2. An investigation into the contribution of the national adult education system to the post-conflict reconstruction and development of East Timor
Chief Investigators: Dr BG Boughton; Dr R Spence
Administering Organisation: The University of New England
Collaborating/Partner Organisations: DRTL Ministry of Education & Culture; DRTL Ministry of Labour & Community Reinsertion; Linga Longa Inc.
Project Summary
This project will improve our understanding of the society and culture of our closest neighbour, East Timor, and of the dynamics of aid and development in our region. The Australian adult education community will learn to interact more effectively with the development process in Timor, as we pilot an approach which may be applicable in other communities, particularly ones with histories of conflict and where poverty is a major issue. Funding agencies will benefit from understanding better how to target adult education aid to achieve poverty reduction and democratic development. The project will strengthen the capacity of the government of East Timor to use adult education policy to raise living standards in their country.
3. New Dimensions of Group Literacy Tests for Schools: Multimodal reading comprehension in conventional and computer-based formats
Chief Investigators: Prof L Unsworth; Ms P Hutton; Dr GR Barnes
Administering Institution: The University of New England
Partner Organisation: NSW Dept of Education and Training
Summary
Today's texts require readers to comprehend information from an extensive range of images integrated with print material. No assessment currently exists to test what new reading strategies students require to interpret the meanings made jointly through images and print in contemporary texts. To address this problem, this research will develop a model of image/text relations. Such a model is foundational to the development of effective assessment tools, particularly group tests. For the first time, such tests will incorporate the comprehension strategies that students require to understand conventional and computer-based texts with their increased integration of images and print.
4. Teaching effective 3D authoring in the middle school years: Multimedia grammatical design and multimedia authoring pedagogy
Chief Investigators: Prof L Unsworth; Dr AA Thomas; Mr P Maggs
Administering Organisation: The University of New England
Other Universities: University of Sydney
Collaborating/Partner Organisation: Australian Children's Television Foundation
Project Summary
This project addresses the National Research Priorities goal 'promoting an innovative culture and economy'. It provides radical re thinking of literacy pedagogy essential in globalised knowledge based economies mediated by digital multimedia literacies. 3D multimedia authoring pedagogy, emphasizing playful innovation and explicit knowledge of multimedia design, will increase digital age student engagement in learning. The Australian Children's Television Foundations' Kahootz is uniquely effective, highly motivating authoring software for schools.
What is needed is a thoroughly researched multimedia authoring pedagogy to fully realise Australian leadership potential in renovating literacy pedagogy for the digital multimedia age.
5. Implementing and evaluating the Life Needs Model for young people with cerebral palsy
Chief Investigators: Dr SG Winn; Prof I Hay; Ms L Foy; Mr C Campbell
Administering Organisation: The University of New England
Other Universities: University of Tasmania
Collaborating/Partner Organisation: The Spastic Centre New South Wales
Project Summary
This study will provide evidence of a quantitative and qualitative nature about the access and engagement of people with cerebral palsy utilising a life needs model approach. The benefits are expected to be a decrease in dependency and a move towards greater interdependency, social inclusion, productivity and sustainability for people with cerebral palsy.
6. Impact of Developmentally-based Qualitative Assessment Practices in English, Mathematics, and Science on School Policies, Classroom Instruction, and Teacher Knowledge
Chief Investigators: Prof JE Pegg; Dr DJ Baxter; Ms RA Callingham; Dr DL Panizzon; Dr MD Bruniges; Dr PK Brock
Administering Institution: The University of New England
Other Universities: Flinders University, University of Tasmania
Partner Organisation: NSW Department of Education and Training
Summary
This project aims to investigate and analyse issues concerning qualitative assessment techniques that measure students' understandings in English, Mathematics and Science, Years 7 to 10, in Government Schools in NSW. The significance lies in the advice that will be provided to school systems, subject departments and teachers on how assessment information can improve the learning environment for students. Expected outcomes include details on how to utilise qualitative and quantitative assessment practices; detailed longitudinal analyses of teacher growth and perceptions as a result of using theoretically-based assessment practices within the social context of NSW classrooms.
7. An exploratory cluster trial of a sustainable capacity building intervention to promote positive child mental health in Family Day Care
Chief Investigators: Dr Elise C Davis, Prof Elizabeth B Waters, Prof Helen E Herrman, A/Prof Linda J Harrison, Prof Margaret Sims, Dr Kay E Cook, Prof Andrew J Mackinnon, A/Prof Bernard J Marshall, Ms Cathrine Mihalopoulos
Administering Organisation: The University of Melbourne
Other Universities: The University of New England, Deakin University, Charles Sturt
Partner Organisations: Family Day Care Australia, Victorian Health Promotion Foundation, Windermere Child and Family Services Inc
Project Summary
Rarely is solution oriented intervention research built and conducted with rigorous research designs in communities of extreme disadvantage. This study builds on the enthusiasm of a leading child welfare organisation in its commitment to contribute to evidence for practice oriented solutions. The research will serve as a model for the Family Day Care and childcare sectors. The study is an essential step in the development of an intervention prior to a large scale evaluation. With a strong evidence base, this program may be implemented widely within the sector nationally, thus addressing a key area of children's health inequalities mental health.
8. Developing culturally-fair assessment practices to achieve greater equity and success for Indigenous students
Chief Investigators: Prof V Klenowski; Dr Stephen Tobias; Dr K Martin; Ms TG Gertz; Ms EB de Vries
Administering Organization: Queensland University of Technology
Other Universities: The University of New England
Collaborating/Partner Organisations: Catholic Education Diocese of Townsville; Independent Schools Queensland
Project Summary
This study will provide a model to build teachers' assessment capacity to address the major problem of underperformance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in regional Australia. In comparison with other developed countries, Australia is underperforming in relation to engaging students from disadvantaged groups.
This research will advance knowledge about how to develop more culturally-fair assessment tasks using curriculum that embeds Indigenous perspectives and culturally-sensitive pedagogy. Assessment to improve young Indigenous Australian's educational performance will help them succeed in schooling to acquire skills for a more secure, economic, social and cultural future.