http://www.nzcer.org.nz/ The New Zealand Council for Educational Research is an independent, educational research organisation that provides educators, students, parents, policy makers and the public with innovative research, analysis and advice. en Wed, 01 Sep 2010 21:39:01 GMT http://www.nzcer.org.nz/includes/images/logo.gif 84 57 http://www.nzcer.org.nz/ Wed, 01 Sep 2010 21:39:01 GMT http://www.nzcer.org.nz/rss Coder hugh.mccracken@nzcer.org.nz (Hugh McCracken) http://www.nzcer.org.nz/default.php?products_id=2631 This issue of set: Research Information for Teachers focuses on the senior secondary school, especially the challenges and complexities-for both parents and students-of successfully negotiating the NCEA system. Plus there's a thought-provoking article on using a variety of subject areas to assess students against National Standards, and much more. Wed, 01 Sep 2010 21:39:01 GMT http://www.nzcer.org.nz/default.php?products_id=2631 http://www.nzcer.org.nz/default.php?products_id=2623 A new webpage has been written by our Key Competencies team, providing information for educators to support the use of the NZCER teacher and student surveys: Key competencies in the classroom. The page provides links to information about the development of the surveys, and ideas about how data from these surveys might be collected, analysed, and used in schools. Tue, 31 Aug 2010 02:01:30 GMT http://www.nzcer.org.nz/default.php?products_id=2623 http://www.nzcer.org.nz/default.php?products_id=2628 This, the second issue of Assessment Matters, addresses a number of topics, including the importance of developing teachers' and students' assessment capabilities and participation, and assessment of learning as conducted through the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA) and the Premier Scholarship examinations in New Zealand. Fri, 27 Aug 2010 04:18:44 GMT http://www.nzcer.org.nz/default.php?products_id=2628 http://www.nzcer.org.nz/default.php?products_id=2622 A group of NZCER researchers has written a paper looking at why many students who are making normal progress according to their results in NZCER's Progressive Achievement Test (PAT) in mathematics, would fail to meet the new National Standard in mathematics. Mon, 09 Aug 2010 21:43:54 GMT http://www.nzcer.org.nz/default.php?products_id=2622 http://www.nzcer.org.nz/default.php?products_id=2605 Crammed full of classroom practice, investigative learning experiences and key research- and practice-based ideas, we predict it will quickly become a dog-eared resource in every primary school. It's aimed at teacher educators and new graduates as well. Thu, 29 July 2010 03:38:40 GMT http://www.nzcer.org.nz/default.php?products_id=2605 http://www.nzcer.org.nz/default.php?products_id=2604 This is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding how to motivate children in reading, writing and oral language. It includes chapters on phonological awareness, strategies for Maori, Pasifika and Asian students, and support for students with dyslexia. Thu, 29 July 2010 03:38:40 GMT http://www.nzcer.org.nz/default.php?products_id=2604 http://www.nzcer.org.nz/default.php?products_id=2606 Tracking debates about educational standards since 1945, the authors present a fresh and fascinating perspective on the contemporary controversy over national standards. Thu, 29 July 2010 03:38:40 GMT http://www.nzcer.org.nz/default.php?products_id=2606 http://www.nzcer.org.nz/default.php?products_id=2607 The authors present five research-based strategies to help students find, understand and use new vocabulary. Aimed at teachers, it links to the Literacy Learning Progressions and will be useful for meeting the National Reading and Writing Standards. Thu, 29 July 2010 03:38:40 GMT http://www.nzcer.org.nz/default.php?products_id=2607 http://www.nzcer.org.nz/default.php?products_id=2587 The latest issue of set is full of good news. There’s encouraging research that shows that the benefits of an intervention can continue even after it ends. In the feature section on junior primary, an oral language development programme based on one-on-one conversations about books is showing promising results, interactive whiteboards are enhancing science learning and teachers are improving students’ enjoyment and achievement by directly teaching social skills. Thu, 24 Jun 2010 23:02:47 GMT http://www.nzcer.org.nz/default.php?products_id=2587 http://www.nzcer.org.nz/default.php?products_id=2577 This book presents sets of principles and practical suggestions to guide school improvement efforts. It will provoke thinking, talking and action by all those engaged in building better schools. Wed, 23 Jun 2010 22:59:16 GMT http://www.nzcer.org.nz/default.php?products_id=2577 http://www.nzcer.org.nz/conference We are running a one-day conference in Wellington on 16 August aimed at practitioners, researchers and policy makers interested in the assessment of adult learning. Registrations are open until 6 August. Wed, 16 Jun 2010 03:26:45 GMT http://www.nzcer.org.nz/conference http://www.nzcer.org.nz/default.php?cPath=122#uni-bound This collection of stories from young people starting out at university gives a glimpse of the realities and challenges of leaving familiar surroundings of school, family and community and settling into, and succeeding in, a new environment. Wed, 26 May 2010 23:10:54 GMT http://www.nzcer.org.nz/default.php?cPath=122#uni-bound http://www.nzcer.org.nz/default.php?cPath=122#kick-starting-science Kick-starting the Nature of Science aims to support teachers to understand the different aspects of the Nature of Science, the core science strand in The New Zealand Curriculum, and what this might mean in practice. All aspects of this strand are covered: Understanding about science; Investigating in science; Communicating in science; and Participating and contributing. The authors ask "what might Understanding about science look like in the classroom?" and suggest many practical answers and how resources that are already in schools might be adapted for use. Fri, 09 Apr 2010 02:42:11 GMT http://www.nzcer.org.nz/default.php?cPath=122#kick-starting-science http://www.nzcer.org.nz/default.php?products_id=2495 Fearlessly exploring science with preschoolers; making a DVD to ease the transition to school; enhancing children’s mana through real work on environmental sustainability—these are some of the innovative approaches to early childhood education described in Dispersing Waves, the final publication in the Centres of Innovation series. Wed, 03 Mar 2010 01:40:25 GMT http://www.nzcer.org.nz/default.php?products_id=2495 http://www.nzcer.org.nz/default.php?cPath=122#tlri-expressions-interest Expressions of interest have opened for the 2010 Teaching and Learning Research Initiative (TLRI) funding round. NZCER administers the $1.75 million fund on behalf of the government. Expressions of interest are open until 12 May, followed by a shortlisting process. Shortlisted projects need to have a full proposal in by 27 August. Mon, 01 Mar 2010 04:51:22 GMT http://www.nzcer.org.nz/default.php?cPath=122#tlri-expressions-interest http://www.nzcer.org.nz/default.php?cPath=21_352 The Margaret M Blackwell travel fellowship for 2009 has gone to Deborah Wansbrough of Wellington. Deborah will use the travel grant to study leadership development programmes for early childhood education teachers overseas. Her plans include a visit the Pen Green Centre in United Kingdom and interviews with those behind a graduate certificate in early childhood leadership in Adelaide. Mon, 01 Mar 2010 01:57:24 GMT http://www.nzcer.org.nz/default.php?cPath=21_352 http://www.nzcer.org.nz/newsletters/e-research-ed-2010-1.html Our latest newsletter is out, featuring news on the forthcoming Marking Service workshops, research outcomes taking Shifting thinking to America, student self-assessment, new appointments to the NZCER Board, key competencies web pages, a further update on the New Zealand Theses Database, three recent publications from NZCER Press, and NZCER's first steps on twitter. Sun, 21 Feb 2010 21:42:21 GMT http://www.nzcer.org.nz/newsletters/e-research-ed-2010-1.html http://www.nzcer.org.nz/default.php?cPath=122#scaling-up-education-reform Russell Bishop, Dominic O’Sullivan and Mere Berryman In the latest book from NZCER Press, Russell Bishop, Dominic O’Sullivan and Mere Berryman tackle the question of educational reform and how it can be sustained and extended. They provide a seven-element model that may help mainstream schools to provide effectively for the learning needs of those students currently not well served by the education system. Sun, 21 Feb 2010 21:42:21 GMT http://www.nzcer.org.nz/default.php?cPath=122#scaling-up-education-reform http://www.nzcer.org.nz/default.php?products_id=2486 In this book United States researchers contribute their insights to New Zealand thinking on the important topic of student engagement. Professor Jeremy Finn describes what drives student disengagement and how to tackle it. Sandra Christenson focuses on Check & Connect, a practical programme targeting at-risk students and aimed at reducing school dropout rates. From New Zealand, Russell Bishop explains the Te Kotahitanga effective teaching profile and its implications for Maori achievement, while Charles Darr has the inside story on NZCER's student engagement survey, Me and My School. If you missed NZCER's 2009 student engagement conference, this is your chance to explore the research. Fri, 29 Jan 2010 01:57:57 GMT http://www.nzcer.org.nz/default.php?products_id=2486 http://www.nzcer.org.nz/default.php?cPath=122#key-competencies To assist website users to easily access NZCER publications that relate to the Key Competencies in the NZ curriculum, we have collected these together on a new webpage. Follow this link to see the full collection of NZCER articles, reports, digital presentations and resources that include commentary about the Key Competencies. Tue, 19 Jan 2010 01:50:56 GMT http://www.nzcer.org.nz/default.php?cPath=122#key-competencies http://www.nzcer.org.nz/default.php?cPath=122#self-assessment Top prize in the New Zealand Council for Educational Research/Dominion Post writing competition has gone to Wellingtonian Donald Long. Tue, 12 Jan 2010 02:42:51 GMT http://www.nzcer.org.nz/default.php?cPath=122#self-assessment http://www.nzcer.org.nz/default.php?cPath=122#my-best-lesson Top prize in the New Zealand Council for Educational Research/Dominion Post writing competition has gone to Wellingtonian Donald Long. Sun, 20 Dec 2009 22:08:46 GMT http://www.nzcer.org.nz/default.php?cPath=122#my-best-lesson http://www.nzcer.org.nz/default.php?products_id=2465 The feature section in this issue of set has articles on what happens when students have a hand in deciding what they do at school. When they chose their own science topic to study or led health initiatives at school, students were empowered and engaged. Plus there are articles on how Maori students' prereading skills can be overlooked, making the transition from early childhood education to school and a new take on assessment in science. Thu, 17 Dec 2009 00:38:59 GMT http://www.nzcer.org.nz/default.php?products_id=2465 http://www.nzcer.org.nz/edtheses The New Zealand Educational Theses Database contains 9000 Doctoral, Masters and Diploma theses in education topics about New Zealand and by New Zealanders at a wide range of overseas tertiary institutions. It has been developed by the New Zealand Council for Educational Research library, as part of the Ministry of Education's Iterative Best Evidence Synthesis (BES) programme. This is database makes theses more accessible to teachers and researchers. The theses identified so far date back to 1970 – and we're still working on it. Wed, 09 Dec 2009 23:09:22 GMT http://www.nzcer.org.nz/edtheses