This working paper describes some of the ideas underpinning NZCER’s Future-Focused Issues (FFI) project. There is a variety of ways to interpret what it means to take a “future focus” in education. This paper explains why the FFI project has focused primarily on concepts specifically mentioned in relation to “future focus” in The New Zealand Curriculum: sustainability, enterprise, globalisation and citizenship. It introduces the notion of “wicked problems”—challenges characteristic ...

In New Zealand and in the United Kingdom there is a growing need for school-age childcare. New Zealand has made considerable progress in the provision of OSCAR (Out-of-School care and recreation) in recent years. However, there are still some challenges. The international and comparative research and information outlined in this review shows which areas still need attention. Among these are staff training and qualifications.

This chapter provides a brief overview of the organisation of science in the curriculum within the Asia-Pacific region and highlights the ongoing challenge of achieving the multiple purposes of learning science. Key influences of curriculum change are outlined, including the role research has played in influencing the teaching and learning of science in the region. Finally, challenges for the future are posed.

Chapter in: International Handbook of Educational Research in the ...

Youth transition has been targeted by the New Zealand government as an area for increased policy and programme development and budget support.

The budget and transition package attempts to bring together transition policy and programmes under the rubric of a ‘pathways’ approach to young people moving beyond school.

This acknowledgement of ‘pathways’ recognises the complexity of the school to work transition period in young people’s lives. The notion of ‘pathways’ ...

This chapter explores some of the characteristics of playcentres as communities of learners, as well as describing schema learning and teaching and how it came to be integrated into Wilton Playcentre's curriculum and practices.

Book chapter in: Catching the waves: Innovation in early childhood education.  Wellington: NZCER Press, 2005. p. 45-53

This chapter describes the multiple meanings of curriculum and the changing way the school curriculum has been conceptualised over time. International and local influences on curriculum are discussed, as is the changing focus of curriculum in terms of content and process. A number of curriculum development models are outlined and the role research plays within this development process is explored. Finally, future possibilities for curriculum are highlighted.

Book chapter in: International ...

Here are the papers from NZCER's annual conference. The presenters put forward some challenging ideas. What differentiates an "expert" from an "experienced" teacher? Which pedagogies and assessment practices make a difference to student learning outcomes: both social and academic? Do good teachers necessarily always deliver good teaching and how do we know? What makes sustainable school improvement possible?

Conference participants reflected on these questions and their perspectives are also included.

This publication contains the papers from the third semi-annual NZCER conference on research into educational policy, Self-Managing Schools, held in Wellington, New Zealand, 28 June 1991.

The papers represent widely differing viewpoints on school self-management. Overall, "People from schools were not yet convinced that full bulk funding would solve their present problems of under-resourcing and workload, or allow better progress toward the goals of equal educational opportunity and improved learning ...

Making Progress—Measuring Progress presents leading thinking on what it means for students to progress, and how might we usefully measure it.

The proceedings from NZCER’s thought-provoking 2008 conference, Making Progress—Measuring Progress draws together ideas from influential figures in New Zealand education, including keynote speakers Margaret Carr and Jeffrey Smith.

Margaret Carr, Professor of Education, University of Waikato, explores a range of ways progress can be constructed.

National Educational Monitoring ...