Rachel Wilson | University of Technology Sydney (original) (raw)
Papers by Rachel Wilson
International Students at University
KEYWORDS: transfer of learning, mathematics, science, higher education Background University acad... more KEYWORDS: transfer of learning, mathematics, science, higher education Background University academics in STEM disciplines are concerned about their first year students’ poor mathematical skills and knowledge applied in their disciplines. Mathematics is of critical importance for their success in subsequent learning and transfer of mathematics learning is seen as important. However, little research has investigated this issue in a naturalistic way, beyond experimental assessments. Aims We quantitatively measure the transfer of mathematical learning in the natural context of first year mathematics service courses in university, using a Transfer Index (Roberts, Sharma, Britton & New, 2007) and an ATAR Adjusted Transfer Index. In addition, we explain how transferability of mathematics, mathematics attainment and ATAR can predict attainments in science/engineering. Research strategy An important feature of our study is a naturalistic inquiry into transfer of mathematical learning. In ot...
International Journal of Leadership in Education, 2019
Although an emerging field in the leadership literature, destructive leadership is an under-resea... more Although an emerging field in the leadership literature, destructive leadership is an under-researched area in the context of education. Destructive leadership in schools is the focus of the article. To understand the phenomenon we first undertake a transdisciplinary review of the literature from across philosophy, psychology and sociology. We then apply the novel lens of autopoietic theory to identify the morphology of the phenomenon, that is, its underlying structure and the process that gives rise to destructive leadership. Through a synthesis of these discourses we propose an emergent theory antithetical to synergy, which we call 'dysergy'. We offer this theoretical frame to help understand destructive leadership and to guide future research and action.
The Educator , 2022
Teacher shortage is undoubtedly a global issue today. In Australia, it has been deemed as the "un... more Teacher shortage is undoubtedly a global issue today. In Australia, it has been deemed as the "unprecedented" and the "single biggest issue" across the school sectors. The shortage is being faced across the board, with a projection of a shortfall of "approximately 4,100 teachers" by 2025. Draft National Teacher Workforce Action Plan, released on 3 November, embodies our first coordinated national teacher workforce strategy, that many have been calling for prior to the shortage reaching crisis point. It is a strong first attempt, with 28 stipulated actions of five themes, but it doesn't cover all angles. In a television interview on 4 November, Education minister, Jason Claire said the purpose of the draft plan is to get feedback from the teachers and the wider community: "What did we get right? What did we get wrong? What should be in the plan that's not in the draft plan? And what do you think that we should take out?" We respond to that invitation and draw on research to consider one aspect of the "improving teacher supply" that focuses on: "9 prioritise visa processing for qualified teachers and prioritise teachers from State and Territory nominated visa allocations" Jurisdictions will also work with relevant regulators to streamline overseas skills recognition and consider how to expedite permanent visas for teachers already in Australia. The Australian Government will work with State and Territory governments to make sure this information points to opportunities in their jurisdictions.
The International Education Journal: Comparative Perspectives, 2015
Universities are increasingly catering to this wider market, which is especially enticing to inst... more Universities are increasingly catering to this wider market, which is especially enticing to institutions given that working, sometime mature-aged students may have deeper pockets and so often prefer to enrol into graduate and/or full-fee paying programs. International students are an important part of this more complete image of the university sector globally today. This paper will explore perceptions of Vietnamese international students studying with regard to their experience on teaching and learning in Australia through series of qualitative interviews. The findings indicate that Vietnamese students struggled with language, assessment, Western teaching and learning style. Many interviewees felt that local students often lumped them together with other international students, who sometimes had no desire to befriend or even work with them. The paper will provide recommendations on how to improve students’ experience perceived as customers in the higher education context and adds ...
Social science & medicine (1982), Jun 1, 2018
Sport and physical activity (PA) hold particular significance in Australian Indigenous communitie... more Sport and physical activity (PA) hold particular significance in Australian Indigenous communities, and have the potential to address many of the health and education challenges faced by Indigenous communities. Optimal levels of PA are an important foundation in efforts to build healthy communities and reduce social disadvantage experienced to date. Yet little evidence relating to the current levels of PA within these communities, or the relationship between PA and outcomes, has been available. Drawing on national survey data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, we examine levels of PA in the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey 2012-13. These data describe PA levels among Indigenous Australians, aged 5-17 years, in remote and non-remote communities. We also examine the relationship between PA and participation in education and self-reported health among 15-17 year olds. Overall, participation rates appear to be high, with 64-84% of youth reporting at ...
Associate Professor Susan McGrath-Champ, University of Sydney Business School, susan.mcgrathchamp... more Associate Professor Susan McGrath-Champ, University of Sydney Business School, susan.mcgrathchamp@sydney.edu.au Associate Professor Rachel Wilson, Sydney School of Education & Social Work, University of Sydney, rachel.wilson@sydney.edu.au Dr Meghan Stacey, School of Education, UNSW Sydney, m.stacey@unsw.edu.au Dr Scott Fitzgerald, School of Management, Curtin University, s.fitzgerald@curtin.edu.au Dr Mihajla Gavin, Business School, University of Technology Sydney, mihajla.gavin@uts.edu.au
Proceedings of the Australian Conference on Science and Mathematics Education, Sep 4, 2014
Education Sciences, 2018
Transfer of mathematical learning to science is seen as critical to the development of education ... more Transfer of mathematical learning to science is seen as critical to the development of education and industrial societies, yet it is rarely interrogated in applied research. We present here research looking for evidence of transfer from university mathematics learning in semester one to second semester sciences/engineering courses (n = 1125). A transfer index measure was derived from extant university assessments, calculated on content-matched questions requiring mathematical concepts and skills in students' completed mathematics and science/engineering exams. We found that transfer could be measured in this way, and present path models of how transfer is associated with educational attainment and other factors. However, transfer was observed only in physics (n = 258) and engineering (n = 426); biology and molecular bioscience assessments did not provide opportunities for students to demonstrate their mathematical learning. In physics and engineering courses, mathematical attainment had a strong, direct, positive effect, with transfer of learning providing an additional direct and mediating effect upon students' performance in these subjects. In physics and engineering, transfer was also associated with higher levels of educational attainment in general. This new, applied approach to examining transfer trialed here may provide opportunities for analysing, evaluating, and improving cross-disciplinary transfer of learning within universities.
International Journal of Innovation in Science and Mathematics Education, Dec 18, 2014
Recent national analyses have shown declines in the number of high school students studying maths... more Recent national analyses have shown declines in the number of high school students studying maths and science and there is concern over participation in STEM education. We report on mathematics and science subject combination choices made by students in the New South Wales (NSW) Higher School Certificate (HSC) between 2001 and 2013 and show a substantial decline in the proportion of students undertaking at least one maths and one science subject. We identify a decline in intermediate (2 unit) mathematics as central to the decline in maths and science combinations and explore this in two further analyses: examining HSC maths participation in general; and among students receiving offers for university Initial Teacher Education (ITE). Between 2001 and 2013 the proportion of students going on to study HSC without any maths tripled (from 3.2 to 9.7%), a small increase is seen in elementary level General maths (from 28.9 to 31.9), while intermediate, 2 unit maths, declined (16.8 to 11.4) and advanced, extension courses, remained stable. For students receiving ITE university offers between 2001 and 2013 there was: a tripling in the proportion with no mathematics at HSC (4.8 to 15.6%); with a large and growing majority in General maths (55.1 to 64.5%); and halving of 2 Unit (30.6 to 14.2%) and extension courses (9.5 to 5.46%). Together these analyses raise serious concerns for maths and numeracy standards and for STEM education and industry. In particular, the declining participation rates among prospective teachers are deeply concerning, with the potential to create a vicious cycle of declining engagement with maths in New South Wales schools.
International Journal of Innovation in Science and Mathematics Education, Feb 6, 2015
Secondary school mathematics has always been considered central to preparation for university sci... more Secondary school mathematics has always been considered central to preparation for university science degrees. Within the context of low levels of participation and attainment in both secondary school and tertiary mathematics and science, we examine the relationship between these two. Using university databases, we examine secondary school mathematics preparation in relation to university entry, pathways and performance for science students at a single, research-intensive university in Australia. We analyse the relationship between senior secondary school mathematics choice and attainment and overall attainment in Science degrees and performance in large cohort units in university mathematics, physics and chemistry. We also examine the impact of mathematics bridging courses for mathematically under-prepared students on attainment in the university mathematics unit. Our findings indicate that the higher levels of mathematics taken in senior secondary school are strong predictors of success in first year science and mathematics, but that our students who achieve in the top bands of each level of mathematics taken in senior secondary school can and often do outperform their peers who study a higher level of mathematics at school but achieve a lower band result. The impact of mathematics bridging courses on attainment in university mathematics is also discussed.
Australian primary private schools should be fully funded by governments Australian primary priva... more Australian primary private schools should be fully funded by governments Australian primary private schools should be fully funded by governments-but banned from charging fees-but banned from charging fees
The International Journal of Learning: Annual Review, 2011
International Journal of Innovation in Science and Mathematics Education, 2017
This paper is the final in a multi-phase study exploring the impact of 1:1 laptops in Australian ... more This paper is the final in a multi-phase study exploring the impact of 1:1 laptops in Australian high schools since the Digital Education Revolution of 2008. The overall study tracked the deployment and use of the laptops in the sciences in 16 high schools, collecting various data over five years. The research data is drawn together to report on additional in-depth qualitative follow-up interviews with four teachers, specialising in chemistry, physics, biology and senior school science, who participated in every element of the overall study. Thus, a rich description is provided in the form of longitudinal case studies for these four teachers. Transformational shifts in teachers’ confidence are evident; and there are substantial differences and changes over time in the ways laptops are used (e.g. spreadsheets, word processing, internet research and simulations). Many of the reported activities involve lower-order skills and thinking and thus present as lost opportunities for higher-o...
Contents: International Students in Australia - The Historical Context - International Students i... more Contents: International Students in Australia - The Historical Context - International Students in Australia - The Student Experience - Theoretical Perspectives - Postcolonial Strategies of Intervention - The Enigma of Arrival - Situating the Postcolonial Identity in the Metropolitan Center - Colonial Knowledge - Post-colonial Identities.
Educational Management Administration & Leadership, 2017
Shifts in schooling policy have had substantial impact upon the role of principals as well as the... more Shifts in schooling policy have had substantial impact upon the role of principals as well as the relationship that principals have with their teaching staff. In this paper we report on the initiatives 30 principals in a diverse range of devolved Australian government schools adopt to shape and support the local, school-level working conditions of teachers. Surprisingly, principals were commonly unable to articulate-or even respond to-this matter. More commonly principals reported being oriented to lifting capability through a focus on student outcomes, a focus that is consistent with much of the devolution and autonomy rhetoric. Of those who could respond regarding working conditions, dispositions of paternalistic 'care', basic distributive actions or even a lack of influence or control were reported, and clear spatial and social dimensions accompanied these patterns. Given that devolution has recently created new responsibilities for principals in Australian government schools, including in relation to staff, this finding is understandable but none the less holds substantial implications and raises questions about the managerial capacity needed for schools to be sustainable, positive workplaces.
JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports, 2019
Objectives: To identify and describe existing evidence of the impact of sport and physical activi... more Objectives: To identify and describe existing evidence of the impact of sport and physical activity programs on social outcomes among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Design: Systematic scoping review. Methods: Nine scientific databases (MEDLINE, Scopus, SPORTSDiscus, PsycINFO, Informit, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE), The Cochrane Library, The Campbell Library, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses) and grey literature were systematically searched for programs or activities that target Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and use physical activity and sport participation to improve one or more of six social and community outcomes of: (i) education; (ii) employment; (iii) culture; (iv) social and emotional wellbeing; (v) life skills; (vi) crime reduction. Results: Of the 1160 studies identified, 20 met the inclusion criteria and were published between 2003 and 2018. Most studies reported positive findings across multiple, broad outcomes of education (N = 11), employment (N = 1), culture (N = 9), social and emotional wellbeing (N = 12), life skills (N = 5) and crime reduction (N = 5). Some evidence was found for increased school attendance and improved self-esteem resulting from physical activity and sport participation as well as enhanced aspects of culture, such as cultural connections, connectedness, values and identity. Conclusions: There is some evidence of benefit across the six social outcomes from physical activity and sport programs. This promotes their continuation and development, although critical appraisal of their methods is needed to better quantify benefits, as well as the generation of new evidence across indicators where gaps currently exist, particularly for employment and crime reduction outcomes.
International Journal of Science Education, 2014
Billions of dollars are being spent across the world on providing schools and students with vario... more Billions of dollars are being spent across the world on providing schools and students with various technologies, such as 1:1 laptops. However, there is very little research of the impact of such implementations on student attainment, using in-depth, quantitative analyses of large sample sizes and standardized high-stakes examination scores, particularly in the sciences. Our study capitalized on a unique natural experiment rather than a researcher-designed, randomized experiment whereby, thanks to the Australian Government's Digital Education Revolution, half of grade 9 students in 2008 received laptops and half did not. Consequently in late 2011, when these students sat for their grade 12 external examinations based on the same curriculum implemented across the state of New South Wales, half of them had been schooled with 1:1 laptops for over three years, and half without. With school principals and district administrators asking the question "what will these laptops do to our examination results?" this dichotomous scenario presented us with a unique opportunity to find out. The aim of this study was to evaluate if having 1:1 laptops was a predictor of success in the sciences in the external examinations. The science students (N=967) from 12 high schools in Sydney, Australia were studied. Using socio-demographic, school and examination data, multiple regression analyses were performed to measure the impact of the 1:1 laptop provision and other variables on student attainment in biology, chemistry and physics. We found that being schooled with 1:1 laptops had statistically significant, positive correlation coefficients with student attainment, with a medium effect size in physics (0.38), and small effect sizes in biology (0.26) and chemistry (0.23). Upon further investigation, exploring data provided by student and teacher questionnaires, we found that the greater effect size in physics corresponded with greater use of simulations and spreadsheets by students and teachers.
perceptions of laptop use across 14 Australian schools
Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 2013
International Students at University
KEYWORDS: transfer of learning, mathematics, science, higher education Background University acad... more KEYWORDS: transfer of learning, mathematics, science, higher education Background University academics in STEM disciplines are concerned about their first year students’ poor mathematical skills and knowledge applied in their disciplines. Mathematics is of critical importance for their success in subsequent learning and transfer of mathematics learning is seen as important. However, little research has investigated this issue in a naturalistic way, beyond experimental assessments. Aims We quantitatively measure the transfer of mathematical learning in the natural context of first year mathematics service courses in university, using a Transfer Index (Roberts, Sharma, Britton & New, 2007) and an ATAR Adjusted Transfer Index. In addition, we explain how transferability of mathematics, mathematics attainment and ATAR can predict attainments in science/engineering. Research strategy An important feature of our study is a naturalistic inquiry into transfer of mathematical learning. In ot...
International Journal of Leadership in Education, 2019
Although an emerging field in the leadership literature, destructive leadership is an under-resea... more Although an emerging field in the leadership literature, destructive leadership is an under-researched area in the context of education. Destructive leadership in schools is the focus of the article. To understand the phenomenon we first undertake a transdisciplinary review of the literature from across philosophy, psychology and sociology. We then apply the novel lens of autopoietic theory to identify the morphology of the phenomenon, that is, its underlying structure and the process that gives rise to destructive leadership. Through a synthesis of these discourses we propose an emergent theory antithetical to synergy, which we call 'dysergy'. We offer this theoretical frame to help understand destructive leadership and to guide future research and action.
The Educator , 2022
Teacher shortage is undoubtedly a global issue today. In Australia, it has been deemed as the "un... more Teacher shortage is undoubtedly a global issue today. In Australia, it has been deemed as the "unprecedented" and the "single biggest issue" across the school sectors. The shortage is being faced across the board, with a projection of a shortfall of "approximately 4,100 teachers" by 2025. Draft National Teacher Workforce Action Plan, released on 3 November, embodies our first coordinated national teacher workforce strategy, that many have been calling for prior to the shortage reaching crisis point. It is a strong first attempt, with 28 stipulated actions of five themes, but it doesn't cover all angles. In a television interview on 4 November, Education minister, Jason Claire said the purpose of the draft plan is to get feedback from the teachers and the wider community: "What did we get right? What did we get wrong? What should be in the plan that's not in the draft plan? And what do you think that we should take out?" We respond to that invitation and draw on research to consider one aspect of the "improving teacher supply" that focuses on: "9 prioritise visa processing for qualified teachers and prioritise teachers from State and Territory nominated visa allocations" Jurisdictions will also work with relevant regulators to streamline overseas skills recognition and consider how to expedite permanent visas for teachers already in Australia. The Australian Government will work with State and Territory governments to make sure this information points to opportunities in their jurisdictions.
The International Education Journal: Comparative Perspectives, 2015
Universities are increasingly catering to this wider market, which is especially enticing to inst... more Universities are increasingly catering to this wider market, which is especially enticing to institutions given that working, sometime mature-aged students may have deeper pockets and so often prefer to enrol into graduate and/or full-fee paying programs. International students are an important part of this more complete image of the university sector globally today. This paper will explore perceptions of Vietnamese international students studying with regard to their experience on teaching and learning in Australia through series of qualitative interviews. The findings indicate that Vietnamese students struggled with language, assessment, Western teaching and learning style. Many interviewees felt that local students often lumped them together with other international students, who sometimes had no desire to befriend or even work with them. The paper will provide recommendations on how to improve students’ experience perceived as customers in the higher education context and adds ...
Social science & medicine (1982), Jun 1, 2018
Sport and physical activity (PA) hold particular significance in Australian Indigenous communitie... more Sport and physical activity (PA) hold particular significance in Australian Indigenous communities, and have the potential to address many of the health and education challenges faced by Indigenous communities. Optimal levels of PA are an important foundation in efforts to build healthy communities and reduce social disadvantage experienced to date. Yet little evidence relating to the current levels of PA within these communities, or the relationship between PA and outcomes, has been available. Drawing on national survey data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, we examine levels of PA in the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey 2012-13. These data describe PA levels among Indigenous Australians, aged 5-17 years, in remote and non-remote communities. We also examine the relationship between PA and participation in education and self-reported health among 15-17 year olds. Overall, participation rates appear to be high, with 64-84% of youth reporting at ...
Associate Professor Susan McGrath-Champ, University of Sydney Business School, susan.mcgrathchamp... more Associate Professor Susan McGrath-Champ, University of Sydney Business School, susan.mcgrathchamp@sydney.edu.au Associate Professor Rachel Wilson, Sydney School of Education & Social Work, University of Sydney, rachel.wilson@sydney.edu.au Dr Meghan Stacey, School of Education, UNSW Sydney, m.stacey@unsw.edu.au Dr Scott Fitzgerald, School of Management, Curtin University, s.fitzgerald@curtin.edu.au Dr Mihajla Gavin, Business School, University of Technology Sydney, mihajla.gavin@uts.edu.au
Proceedings of the Australian Conference on Science and Mathematics Education, Sep 4, 2014
Education Sciences, 2018
Transfer of mathematical learning to science is seen as critical to the development of education ... more Transfer of mathematical learning to science is seen as critical to the development of education and industrial societies, yet it is rarely interrogated in applied research. We present here research looking for evidence of transfer from university mathematics learning in semester one to second semester sciences/engineering courses (n = 1125). A transfer index measure was derived from extant university assessments, calculated on content-matched questions requiring mathematical concepts and skills in students' completed mathematics and science/engineering exams. We found that transfer could be measured in this way, and present path models of how transfer is associated with educational attainment and other factors. However, transfer was observed only in physics (n = 258) and engineering (n = 426); biology and molecular bioscience assessments did not provide opportunities for students to demonstrate their mathematical learning. In physics and engineering courses, mathematical attainment had a strong, direct, positive effect, with transfer of learning providing an additional direct and mediating effect upon students' performance in these subjects. In physics and engineering, transfer was also associated with higher levels of educational attainment in general. This new, applied approach to examining transfer trialed here may provide opportunities for analysing, evaluating, and improving cross-disciplinary transfer of learning within universities.
International Journal of Innovation in Science and Mathematics Education, Dec 18, 2014
Recent national analyses have shown declines in the number of high school students studying maths... more Recent national analyses have shown declines in the number of high school students studying maths and science and there is concern over participation in STEM education. We report on mathematics and science subject combination choices made by students in the New South Wales (NSW) Higher School Certificate (HSC) between 2001 and 2013 and show a substantial decline in the proportion of students undertaking at least one maths and one science subject. We identify a decline in intermediate (2 unit) mathematics as central to the decline in maths and science combinations and explore this in two further analyses: examining HSC maths participation in general; and among students receiving offers for university Initial Teacher Education (ITE). Between 2001 and 2013 the proportion of students going on to study HSC without any maths tripled (from 3.2 to 9.7%), a small increase is seen in elementary level General maths (from 28.9 to 31.9), while intermediate, 2 unit maths, declined (16.8 to 11.4) and advanced, extension courses, remained stable. For students receiving ITE university offers between 2001 and 2013 there was: a tripling in the proportion with no mathematics at HSC (4.8 to 15.6%); with a large and growing majority in General maths (55.1 to 64.5%); and halving of 2 Unit (30.6 to 14.2%) and extension courses (9.5 to 5.46%). Together these analyses raise serious concerns for maths and numeracy standards and for STEM education and industry. In particular, the declining participation rates among prospective teachers are deeply concerning, with the potential to create a vicious cycle of declining engagement with maths in New South Wales schools.
International Journal of Innovation in Science and Mathematics Education, Feb 6, 2015
Secondary school mathematics has always been considered central to preparation for university sci... more Secondary school mathematics has always been considered central to preparation for university science degrees. Within the context of low levels of participation and attainment in both secondary school and tertiary mathematics and science, we examine the relationship between these two. Using university databases, we examine secondary school mathematics preparation in relation to university entry, pathways and performance for science students at a single, research-intensive university in Australia. We analyse the relationship between senior secondary school mathematics choice and attainment and overall attainment in Science degrees and performance in large cohort units in university mathematics, physics and chemistry. We also examine the impact of mathematics bridging courses for mathematically under-prepared students on attainment in the university mathematics unit. Our findings indicate that the higher levels of mathematics taken in senior secondary school are strong predictors of success in first year science and mathematics, but that our students who achieve in the top bands of each level of mathematics taken in senior secondary school can and often do outperform their peers who study a higher level of mathematics at school but achieve a lower band result. The impact of mathematics bridging courses on attainment in university mathematics is also discussed.
Australian primary private schools should be fully funded by governments Australian primary priva... more Australian primary private schools should be fully funded by governments Australian primary private schools should be fully funded by governments-but banned from charging fees-but banned from charging fees
The International Journal of Learning: Annual Review, 2011
International Journal of Innovation in Science and Mathematics Education, 2017
This paper is the final in a multi-phase study exploring the impact of 1:1 laptops in Australian ... more This paper is the final in a multi-phase study exploring the impact of 1:1 laptops in Australian high schools since the Digital Education Revolution of 2008. The overall study tracked the deployment and use of the laptops in the sciences in 16 high schools, collecting various data over five years. The research data is drawn together to report on additional in-depth qualitative follow-up interviews with four teachers, specialising in chemistry, physics, biology and senior school science, who participated in every element of the overall study. Thus, a rich description is provided in the form of longitudinal case studies for these four teachers. Transformational shifts in teachers’ confidence are evident; and there are substantial differences and changes over time in the ways laptops are used (e.g. spreadsheets, word processing, internet research and simulations). Many of the reported activities involve lower-order skills and thinking and thus present as lost opportunities for higher-o...
Contents: International Students in Australia - The Historical Context - International Students i... more Contents: International Students in Australia - The Historical Context - International Students in Australia - The Student Experience - Theoretical Perspectives - Postcolonial Strategies of Intervention - The Enigma of Arrival - Situating the Postcolonial Identity in the Metropolitan Center - Colonial Knowledge - Post-colonial Identities.
Educational Management Administration & Leadership, 2017
Shifts in schooling policy have had substantial impact upon the role of principals as well as the... more Shifts in schooling policy have had substantial impact upon the role of principals as well as the relationship that principals have with their teaching staff. In this paper we report on the initiatives 30 principals in a diverse range of devolved Australian government schools adopt to shape and support the local, school-level working conditions of teachers. Surprisingly, principals were commonly unable to articulate-or even respond to-this matter. More commonly principals reported being oriented to lifting capability through a focus on student outcomes, a focus that is consistent with much of the devolution and autonomy rhetoric. Of those who could respond regarding working conditions, dispositions of paternalistic 'care', basic distributive actions or even a lack of influence or control were reported, and clear spatial and social dimensions accompanied these patterns. Given that devolution has recently created new responsibilities for principals in Australian government schools, including in relation to staff, this finding is understandable but none the less holds substantial implications and raises questions about the managerial capacity needed for schools to be sustainable, positive workplaces.
JBI Database of Systematic Reviews and Implementation Reports, 2019
Objectives: To identify and describe existing evidence of the impact of sport and physical activi... more Objectives: To identify and describe existing evidence of the impact of sport and physical activity programs on social outcomes among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Design: Systematic scoping review. Methods: Nine scientific databases (MEDLINE, Scopus, SPORTSDiscus, PsycINFO, Informit, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE), The Cochrane Library, The Campbell Library, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses) and grey literature were systematically searched for programs or activities that target Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and use physical activity and sport participation to improve one or more of six social and community outcomes of: (i) education; (ii) employment; (iii) culture; (iv) social and emotional wellbeing; (v) life skills; (vi) crime reduction. Results: Of the 1160 studies identified, 20 met the inclusion criteria and were published between 2003 and 2018. Most studies reported positive findings across multiple, broad outcomes of education (N = 11), employment (N = 1), culture (N = 9), social and emotional wellbeing (N = 12), life skills (N = 5) and crime reduction (N = 5). Some evidence was found for increased school attendance and improved self-esteem resulting from physical activity and sport participation as well as enhanced aspects of culture, such as cultural connections, connectedness, values and identity. Conclusions: There is some evidence of benefit across the six social outcomes from physical activity and sport programs. This promotes their continuation and development, although critical appraisal of their methods is needed to better quantify benefits, as well as the generation of new evidence across indicators where gaps currently exist, particularly for employment and crime reduction outcomes.
International Journal of Science Education, 2014
Billions of dollars are being spent across the world on providing schools and students with vario... more Billions of dollars are being spent across the world on providing schools and students with various technologies, such as 1:1 laptops. However, there is very little research of the impact of such implementations on student attainment, using in-depth, quantitative analyses of large sample sizes and standardized high-stakes examination scores, particularly in the sciences. Our study capitalized on a unique natural experiment rather than a researcher-designed, randomized experiment whereby, thanks to the Australian Government's Digital Education Revolution, half of grade 9 students in 2008 received laptops and half did not. Consequently in late 2011, when these students sat for their grade 12 external examinations based on the same curriculum implemented across the state of New South Wales, half of them had been schooled with 1:1 laptops for over three years, and half without. With school principals and district administrators asking the question "what will these laptops do to our examination results?" this dichotomous scenario presented us with a unique opportunity to find out. The aim of this study was to evaluate if having 1:1 laptops was a predictor of success in the sciences in the external examinations. The science students (N=967) from 12 high schools in Sydney, Australia were studied. Using socio-demographic, school and examination data, multiple regression analyses were performed to measure the impact of the 1:1 laptop provision and other variables on student attainment in biology, chemistry and physics. We found that being schooled with 1:1 laptops had statistically significant, positive correlation coefficients with student attainment, with a medium effect size in physics (0.38), and small effect sizes in biology (0.26) and chemistry (0.23). Upon further investigation, exploring data provided by student and teacher questionnaires, we found that the greater effect size in physics corresponded with greater use of simulations and spreadsheets by students and teachers.
perceptions of laptop use across 14 Australian schools
Australasian Journal of Educational Technology, 2013
The Australian Digital Education Revolution in secondary schools ran from 2008 to 2012. Year 9 st... more The Australian Digital Education Revolution in secondary schools ran from 2008 to 2012. Year 9 students in ‘Round 1’ schools, within the Catholic Education Office Sydney, each received a laptop from 2008. This was repeated for Year 9 students in ‘Round 2’ schools from 2009. Consequently, for the Higher School Certificate (HSC) examinations in 2011, students from Round 1 schools had been schooled for over three years with 1:1 laptops whereas the students from Round 2 schools had received traditional schooling. This unique dichotomous scenario is the context of this study, which builds upon prior research into the impact of 1:1 laptops and the Digital Education Revolution on teaching and learning in science (Crook, Sharma Wilson & Muller 2013; Crook & Sharma in press).
This study reports on the preliminary multiple regression analysis of 521 students within subject using HSC examination result as the dependent variable and School Certificate result, gender, socio-economic status, science subject, teachers variables, student variables and schooling by laptop as independent variables. The early findings are interesting and perhaps controversial.