Much of what is commonly claimed as ‘effective teaching practice’ and implemented during the early and middle years of schooling in Australian schools, for either mainstream students or for those experiencing learning difficulties, is not grounded in findings from evidence-based research. The prevailing educational philosophy of constructivism (a theory of self-directed learning rather than a...

The provision of early childhood care and education services in this country is insufficient, fragmented, under funded and inconsistent, according to this report. Alison Elliott calls for a coherent, long-term national action plan and timeline to develop and implement an integrated, well-funded, regulated and managed system of early childhood education and care with clear goals...

Australia needs a robust survey instrument for measuring 'student engagement' writes Dr Hamish Coates. As data-driven quality assurance expands in Australian higher education, it becomes ever more important to review the nature of the data on which decisions are made. We need to ensure that the best information possible is used to manage and enhance...

This report outlines the findings from the first three years of the ACER 'Longitudinal literacy and numeracy study', spanning the period in which the students in the study entered school and continued into their second and third years of school.

Current practices in science education may be leaving many students poorly educated about science and with an ambivalent or negative attitude towards science according to Professor Jonathan Osborne of King’s College London, one of the keynote presenters at the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) 11th annual research conference. The full published conference proceedings containing...