As the ‘new-look’ set: Research Information for Teachers enters its second year, NZCER would like to thank all subscribers for their loyalty and positive feedback. We would also like to thank the Specialist Education Service, and in particular Lewis Rivers, for their support, help, and advice during 2000. Although this partnership will not continue in 2001 we still hope to bring you articles on special education.
It is exciting to be looking ahead to another stimulating year in the life of set: Research Information for Teachers. This year brings two new features, as well as an improved pricing structure.
This year marks the centenary of the birth of Dr C.E. Beeby, NZCER’s first Director and later Director of Education. In paying a tribute to him on the occasion of the celebration of the first Beeby Fellowship award William Renwick, former Director General of Education said “His appointment as its first director was, for him, a leap into the unknown. The initial funding for NZCER was for five years, and the thrill of setting up a new research organisation was thus tempered by the possibility that before long he might himself an unemployed talent in the job market.
The first issue of set: Research Information for Teachers heralds another year of stimulating professional reading. In this issue we examine some of the emerging developments in New Zealand education and discuss some of the key issues – the “breaking news” of education.
This issue of set contains a major feature section – seven articles in all – on assessment. The amount of research being carried out in this area indicates that assessment is still one of the key issues for educators and policy makers.
This year we celebrate thirty years of set. First published in 1974, it is one of New Zealand’s longest-standing professional development journals for teachers and unique in its accessible presentation of research. set has always been alert to the key educational issues of the day, and with the interests of its subscribers at heart, has often taken the lead in publishing evidence-based articles on these topics.
In this issue we continue to celebrate thirty years of set. While set has always been a refereed journal it is now officially recognised as such by the Commonwealth Department of Education Science and Training (DEST). This is a fitting milestone for a year of celebration.
This issue marks the end of our celebration of thirty years of set: Research Information for Teachers. We finish the year with a bumper issue: two bonus articles and a competition with NZCER published tests and books as prizes (see pps. 6 and 34).
There are two feature sections this time. We continue the theme of inclusive education from the last issue and there are also three articles on leadership.
We start another year of set: Research Information for Teachers with a group of articles which highlight some of the newer angles of educational research, particularly the parent and student voice.
This issue of set puts the spotlight on self-regulated learning (SRL) which has been highlighted as one of the characteristics of effective teaching. Charles Darr gives an overview of the principles of SRL and looks at the challenges to teachers and students that this concept implies “… the challenge for education is to engender in people the strategies and attitudes necessary for what is called lifelong or continuous learning.
