Professional Educator Volume 9 Number 4 November 2010
In this edition read about:
Overcoming the democratic deficit in VET: Why VET needs its own Bradley Review
Vocational education and training prepares people for work, develops the individual and provides second-chance education for many Australians - so it's about time Australians had a say in the policy regulating the sector, writes Leesa Wheelahan.
More than a quick fix: Systemic reform of VET
The vocational education and training sector needs to undergo significant systemic reform if it is to meet the demands of the Commonwealth government's social inclusion agenda. Sue North, Fran Ferrier and Mike Long of the Centre for the Economics of Education and Training examine some of the key issues..
Blown the PD budget? Finding alternative ways to invest in your staff
Good professional development is accessible to any organisation with a computer and a passion to support its staff - and it doesn't have to cost big bucks, writes Velg Training's Michelle Weaver.
Working-class heroes
Interviews with 'working-class' university students suggest new ways to think about social class, identity and university aspirations. Murdoch University's Jane Pearce, Barry Down and Elizabeth Moore explain their research..
High expectations
With government targets set to increase the proportion of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds in higher education, the pressure is on schools in disadvantaged areas to improve student retention, achievement and transitions. Dorothy Hoddinott, principal of Holroyd High School in Sydney's western suburbs, explains how the school supported half of its Year 12 students to receive university offers.
Better by design
Can the design of schools and classrooms help kids learn better? Seamus O'Grady looks at new developments in building and furniture design.
Engaging data-literate beginning teachers
Gen Y beginning teachers have an edge: they've grown up in an era of educational accountability, so when their students have to sit a high-stakes test, they can relate. Judy Smeed explains.
Teach for Australia
An effective way to attract the best and brightest to teaching, or the end of the profession as we known it? Rebecca Leech summarises the situation, then hears two sides of the debate.
Learning while teaching The Teach for Australia program provides an alternative pathway to encourage the best and brightest into teaching for the benefit of students in disadvantaged areas, writes Rhonda Di Biase.
Pretend for Australia Providing quality teaching is the most important thing education systems can do to improve student achievement - so why, asks Chris Curtis, are we giving some students under-trained stand-ins instead of real teachers?
The Schools Commission and school funding
With the Commonwealth government's review of school funding underway, it is timely to revisit the history of funding arrangements. The University of Melbourne's Jack Keating and Kira Clarke explain.
REFERENCES:
Dowling, A. (2008). Unhelpfully complex and exceedingly opaque: Australia's school funding system, Australian Journal of Education, 52(2).
Lamb, S. (2007). School reform and inequality in urban Australia. A case of residualising the poor. In R. Teese & S. Lamb (Eds.), Education and Equity. International Perspectives on Theory and Policy, Vol 3. Amsterdam: Springer.
Karmel, P. (Chair) (1973). Schools in Australia: Report of the Interim Committee for the Australian Schools Commission. Canberra: Interim Committee for the Australian Schools Commission.
O'Brien, A. (1999). Blazing a trail: Catholic Education in Victoria 1963-1980. Melbourne: David Lovell Publishing.
Praetz, H. (1982). Public policy and Catholic schools. Hawthorn, Vic: Australian Council for Educational Research.
Watson, L., and Ryan, C. (2009). Choice, vouchers and the consequences for public high schools: lessons from Australia. Canberra: Australian National University.
Whitlam, G. (1985). The Whitlam Government 1972-1975, Ringwood, Vic: Viking.
Wilkinson, I.R., Caldwell, B.J., Selleck, R.J.W., Harris, J., & Dettman, P. (2006). A History of State Aid to Non-Government Schools in Australia. Canberra: Department of Education, Training and Science.
Harvesting and hunting: Recruiting the next generation of teachers
Gone are the days when locally grown teachers would automatically take jobs in local schools. Catherine Doherty and Pernilla Widegren explain why education authorities need to think about headhunting teachers with international experience.
Diary
National news
Review
Doing Early Childhood Research: International perspectives on theory and practice
ACE Events Spotlight
As I see it...Waiting for gado gado
A dramatic monologue in one scene. By Danny Katz.