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Rosemary (Rose) Hipkins MNZM

Job Title: 
Kaihautū Rangahau | Chief Researcher

Rosemary (Rose) began her working life as a science and biology teacher, followed by several years working in teacher education. Rose joined NZCER in 2001 and over the last 20+ years she has led, and supported, a wide range of research projects. Most of her work has broadly related to curriculum and/or assessment innovation in New Zealand.  

Currently Rose is working on several projects supporting the review of the NCEA (New Zealand Certificate of Educational Achievement). She is co-editing a collection of papers being written by members of NZARE’s Science Education Special Interest Group, exploring the intersection of curriculum and assessment in the science learning area. She is also working with a small group of colleagues to explore the implications of decolonisation for the wider work of NZCER’s team. Ongoing contributions to NZCER’s National Surveys of schools are another area of her work.     

Teaching for Complex Systems Thinking  is her most recently published book. This work draws together practical and philosophical challenges for ensuring that both teachers students are equipped with the knowledge and insights they will need to respond constructively to complex issues we all face in our futures. The book is written as a personal learning journey and includes an explicit discussion of parallels between complexity science and indigenous knowledge systems (specifically mātauranga Māori in the New Zealand context). In many ways this work continues previous research carried out by a small NZCER team, culminating in the 2014 publication of Key Competencies for the Future. This book draws clear lines of connection between the in-principle idea of key competencies and the future-focused nature of the teaching and learning changes key competencies were intended to foster. 

Rose’s research has contributed to the development of a “capabilities” approach to weaving a coherent local curriculum from its many pieces. The overall approach is summarised here. This paper explains the approach for an international audience. Most recently, Rose led the team that developed a design approach intended to unify curriculum and assessment design work in the science learning area. The report is titled Enduring competencies for designing science learning pathways.   

NCEA has been another consistent focus for Rose’s research. Her concern with maintaining the fidelity of the curriculum in high-stakes assessments is reflected in the book NCEA in Context, co-authored with two colleagues from Victoria University of Wellington. The three authors also published an article exploring the effect of high-stakes assessment on the representation of epistemic knowledge in the enacted curriculum. Rose continued this exploration of the senior secondary curriculum by co-publishing an article that compares the Israeli and New Zealand approaches to curriculum and assessment. 

In 2018 Rose led a review of future-focused assessment literature to prepare the report Trends in assessment for the Ministry of Education. Other recently completed projects include: an exploration of curriculum integration; and a study of senior secondary students’ subject choices in relation of the future of work

Rose serves on the editorial boards of several journals and particularly enjoys helping teacher-researchers shape their experiences and insights for formal publication. She also supported a number of TLIF (Teacher Led Innovation Fund) projects over the years of this fund’s existence. 

In 2019 Rose was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to science education. In 2022 she was awarded Life Membership of the New Zealand Association for Research in Education (NZARE).  

Selected Publications

Publications related to school curriculum and key competencies:

Bonne, L. & Hipkins, R. (2019). An initial exploration of curriculum levels in Science and Mathematics and Statistics .New Zealand Council for Educational Research. What's changing? | Curriculum Refresh (education.govt.nz) 

Chamberlain, M., Darr, C., Hipkins, R., McKinley, S., Murphy, H. & Sinnema, C. ((2021). New Zealand Curriculum Refresh: Progressions Approach. What's changing? | Curriculum Refresh (education.govt.nz) 

Hipkins, R., Tolbert, S., Cowie, B. & Waiti, P. (2022). Enduring competencies for designing science learning pathways. NZCER, University of Canterbury, University of Waikato, Ahu Whakamua. What's changing? | Curriculum Refresh (education.govt.nz) 

Hipkins, R. (2020). Beneath the surface of timetable changes. New Zealand Principal, 35(3), pp.25-29 

Hipkins, R. (2019). Weaving a local curriculum from a visionary framework document. European Journal of Curriculum Studies, 5(1), pp.742-752. 

Hipkins, R. (2018). How the key competencies were developed: The evidence base. NZCER; Ministry of Education.

Hipkins, R. (2017). Weaving a coherent curriculum: How the idea of ‘capabilities’ can help. New Zealand Council for Educational Research. 

Johnston, M., Hipkins, R. & Sheehan, M. (2017). Building epistemic thinking through disciplinary inquiry: Contrasting lessons from history and biology. Curriculum Matters, 13, 80-114.  

McDowall, S. & Hipkins, R. (2018).  How the key competencies evolved over time: Insights from the research. NZCER; Ministry of Education. 

Zohar, A. & Hipkins, R. (2018). How “tight/loose” curriculum dynamics impact the treatment of knowledge in two national contexts. Curriculum Matters, 14, 31-47.  

Publications related to assessment and NCEA:

Darr, C. & Hipkins, R. (2020).  Opportunities to reframe moderation practices in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. set: Research Information for Teachers, 2, on-line first 

Hipkins, R. (2019) Thinking critically about PISA. set: Research Information for Teachers, (2), pp.49-52. 

Hipkins, R. & Cameron, M. (2018). Trends in assessment: An overview of themes in the literature. Wellington, New Zealand Council for Educational Research. 

Hipkins, R., Johnson, M. & Sheehan, M. (2016). NCEA in Context. NZCER Press. 

Lee, J. & Hipkins, R. (forthcoming). Accommodating diversity in assessment: A snapshot of practice in 2022. New Zealand Council for Educational Research.

Publications relating to complexity  

Hipkins, R. (2021). Teaching for Complex Systems Thinking. NZCER Press. 

Hipkins, R. (2020). Teaching science concepts relevant to climate change without getting lost in the complexity. set: Research Information for Teachers, 3, 67-71

Drake, J., Kupers, R. & Hipkins, R. (2017). Complexity – a big idea for education? International School, 19 (2) 30-33. 

Other commissioned reports

Eyre, J. & Hipkins, R. (2020). Subject choice for the future of work: Insights from focus groups. New Zealand Council for Educational Research. 

Hipkins, R. & McDowall, S. (2020).  Working with the PLD Priorities: Nine high impact practices. New Zealand Council for Educational Research.

Hipkins, R. & Vaughan, K. (2020). Subject choice for the future of work: Insights from research literature. New Zealand Council for Educational Research. 

 

Research projects that I am currently leading:

Research outputs

Year published Title Publication type Category
2020 Subject choice for the future of work: Insights from focus groups Research report Schooling for the future Careers and transition Implementing New Zealand Curriculum
2020 Subject choice for the future of work: Insights from research literature Literature review Schooling for the future Careers and transition Implementing New Zealand Curriculum
2019 Curriculum integration: What is happening in New Zealand schools? Research report Curriculum and assessment Implementing New Zealand Curriculum
2019 Rich tasks planning cards Classroom resource
2018 1 How the key competencies were developed: The evidence base Research report Key Competencies
2018 2 How the key competencies evolved over time: Insights from the research Research report Key Competencies
2018 Challenges for initial teacher education in the context of 'twenty-first century' learning imperatives Book chapter Professional learning Learning at work
2018 Complexity–a big idea for education? Journal article
2018 How “tight/loose” curriculum dynamics impact the treatment of knowledge in two national contexts Journal article NCEA Curriculum and assessment
2018 Trends in assessment: An overview of themes in the literature Literature review Policy Curriculum and assessment Implementing New Zealand Curriculum
2017 An innovative approach to assessing more complex outcomes of learning Journal article
2017 Building epistemic thinking through disciplinary inquiry: Contrasting lessons from history and biology Journal article NCEA
2017 Exploring the impact of the Teaching and Learning Research Initiative (TLRI) Research report
2017 Nurturing citizenship: road safety as a rich context for learning Research report
2017 Remixing the Key Competencies: A curriculum design deck Professional learning resource Key Competencies
2017 Weaving a coherent curriculum: How the idea of 'capabilities' can help Research report Key Competencies
2016 Capabilities are curriculum weaving tools Journal article Curriculum and assessment
2016 NCEA in Context Book NCEA
2015 Environmental education in New Zealand schools: Research update 2015 Research report Science education Schooling for the future Curriculum and assessment Implementing New Zealand Curriculum
2015 Evaluation of the Manaiakalani Digital Teaching Academy Research report
2015 Exploring new metrics for Education 3.0 Research report Schooling for the future
2015 Learning to learn in secondary classrooms Research report Curriculum and assessment Implementing New Zealand Curriculum Key Competencies
2015 Science capabilities for a functional understanding of the nature of science Journal article Science education
2015 Science Engagement Survey: A new tool for primary science Journal article Assessment tools
2015 Year 2 Evaluation - Getting Runs on the Board Research report Student engagement Student health and wellbeing Evaluation
2014 Constructing your primary school's science curriculum Book Science education
2014 Different ways of thinking about learning Paper Public understanding of education Schooling for the future
2014 Doing research that matters: A success story from statistics education Research report
2014 Editorial Journal article NCEA
2014 Key Competencies for the Future Book Implementing New Zealand Curriculum Key Competencies
2014 Supporting teachers' work Conference presentation Science education Professional learning
2013 Competencies or capabilities: What’s in a name? Journal article
2013 Measuring New Zealand students' international capabilities: An exploratory study Research report Public understanding of education Schooling for the future
2013 NCEA one decade on Research report NCEA Moderation Curriculum and assessment
2013 Reflecting on purposes for learning science Research report Science education
2013 Student management systems in secondary schools Journal article School governance and management
2013 Teaching for present and future competency: A productive focus for professional learning Journal article Implementing New Zealand Curriculum Key Competencies
2012 Assessment of naturally occurring evidence of literacy Journal article Curriculum and assessment
2012 Building a science curriculum with an effective nature of science component Research report Science education
2012 Curriculum support in science Research report Science education
2012 Editorial Journal article Key Competencies
2012 Editorial Journal article
2012 Laying learning foundations to lift success at NCEA level 3 Conference paper NCEA
2012 NCEA and Curriculum Innovation Working paper NCEA Implementing New Zealand Curriculum
2012 New Zealand students' intentions towards participation in the democratic processes: New Zealand results from the International Civic and Citizenship Education Study Research report Implementing New Zealand Curriculum Key Competencies
2012 NZCER presentation about creating and embedding change in schools Presentation Student engagement Student health and wellbeing Evaluation
2012 Student inquiry and curriculum integration: Shared origins and points of difference (Part A) Journal article Policy Professional learning Curriculum and assessment
2012 Supporting future-oriented learning and teaching - a New Zealand perspective Research report Public understanding of education Schooling for the future
2012 The complexities of moderating student writing in a community of practice Journal article Curriculum and assessment
2012 The primary school curriculum: Assimilation, adaptation, transformation Research report Curriculum and assessment Education leadership practices Implementing New Zealand Curriculum Longitudinal projects
2011 Curriculum Implementation Exploratory Studies 2: Final report Research report Curriculum and assessment Implementing New Zealand Curriculum Key Competencies
2011 Editorial Journal article
2011 Exploring connections between engagement and student voice Conference presentation Student engagement
2011 Learning to be a new school: Building a curriculum for new times Research report Professional learning Schooling for the future Implementing New Zealand Curriculum
2011 Learning to reinvent the school curriculum Conference paper Curriculum and assessment Implementing New Zealand Curriculum Key Competencies
2011 Learning to reinvent the school curriculum Research report Curriculum and assessment Education leadership practices
2011 Moderation and Teacher Learning: What can research tell us about their interrelationships? Research report National Standards
2011 National Standards, moderation challenges and teacher learning Conference presentation National Standards Curriculum and assessment
2011 Students’ experiences of their first two years at Albany Senior High Research report Professional learning Schooling for the future Implementing New Zealand Curriculum
2011 The challenges of graph interpretation in science Journal article Literacy Science education Key Competencies
2011 The recursive elaboration of key competencies as agents of curriculum change Journal article Curriculum and assessment Implementing New Zealand Curriculum Key Competencies
2011 The shape of curriculum change Research report Curriculum and assessment Implementing New Zealand Curriculum Key Competencies
2011 The shape of curriculum change Conference presentation Curriculum and assessment Implementing New Zealand Curriculum Key Competencies
2011 The transfer of literacy, language and numeracy skills from learning programmes into the workplace: Literature review Research report Learning at work
2011 The Work of Accent Advisers Research report Professional learning
2010 Inspired by science Research report Science education Curriculum and assessment
2010 Kick-starting the Nature of Science Book
2010 Learning through moderation Occasional paper
2010 Learning through moderation: Minding our language Journal article National Standards NCEA Curriculum and assessment
2010 More complex than skills: Rethinking the relationship between key competencies and curriculum content Conference paper Key Competencies
2010 Public attitudes to science: rethinking outreach activities Journal article Science education
2010 Reflections on being “labelled” by National Standards Journal article National Standards Key Competencies
2010 Reshaping the secondary school curriculum: Building the plane while flying it? Research report Curriculum and assessment Longitudinal projects
2010 Should students learn to ‘read’ science writing from the media? Journal article Science education
2010 The Evolving NCEA Research report NCEA Longitudinal projects
2010 Thinking in science—What might progress look like? Journal article Science education Curriculum and assessment Key Competencies
2010 Working with the New Zealand Curriculum principles Journal article Implementing New Zealand Curriculum
2009 Assessment dilemmas when “21st century” learning approaches shift students into unfamiliar terrain Conference paper Science education Curriculum and assessment Key Competencies
2009 Children's literary engagements with texts Book chapter Literacy
2009 Competent Learners on the Edge of Adulthood: A summary of key findings from the Competent Learners @ 16 project Research report Families and communities Longitudinal projects
2009 Complex or complicated change? What can biology education learn from disciplinary biology? Journal article Science education
2009 Determining meaning for key competencies via assessment practices Journal article Curriculum and assessment Key Competencies
2009 Engaging students in science Journal article Science education Student engagement
2009 Meaning making for democratic participation Conference paper Key Competencies
2009 New Zealand curriculum implementation exploratory studies: Final Report Research report Curriculum and assessment Implementing New Zealand Curriculum Key Competencies
2009 What it looks like when it’s going well … Journal article Implementing New Zealand Curriculum
2008 Curriculum changes, priorities and issues: findings from the NZCER secondary 2006 and primary 2007 national surveys Research report Curriculum and assessment Longitudinal projects
2008 Early experiences of longer learning periods at Alfriston College Journal article School governance and management
2008 Interplay of context and concepts in primary school children's systems thinking Journal article Science education
2008 Longer learning periods for the secondary school day: What does research say? Journal article Student engagement
2008 Putting the Nature of Science strand into the water cycle Journal article Science education Implementing New Zealand Curriculum
2008 Seeing yourself in science Research report Science education
2008 The "something more" in key competencies Journal article Key Competencies
2008 Themes from the curriculum implementation case studies. Milestone report for November 2008 Paper Curriculum and assessment Implementing New Zealand Curriculum Key Competencies
2007 Assessing key competencies: Why would we? How could we? Journal article Curriculum and assessment Implementing New Zealand Curriculum Key Competencies
2007 Course innovation in the senior secondary curriculum: A snapshot taken in July 2007 Research report Curriculum and assessment
2007 Engaging teachers in re-imagining curriculum Journal article Science education Professional learning Curriculum and assessment
2007 School planning and reporting in action: The early years of the new framework Research report Implementing New Zealand Curriculum
2007 School planning and reporting: Is it making a difference to student learning? Journal article School governance and management
2007 Taking the pulse of NCEA: Findings from the NZCER National Survey of Secondary Schools 2006 Research report Longitudinal projects