This article argues that particular experiences in the workplace are more important than others and can lead to transformational learning. This may enable practitioners to cross ‘vocational thresholds’ to new ways of being.  A notion of ‘vocational thresholds’ is developed, aiming to help build an understanding of the most powerful learning experiences of general practitioners (GPs). Vocational thresholds takes its cue from the idea of ‘threshold concepts’ - concepts that ...

"For days and days, you make out only the fragments of what to do. And then one day you’ve got the thing whole. Conscious learning becomes unconscious knowledge, and you cannot say precisely how". (Atul Gawande in Complications, 2002, p. 21)

This is the submission from NZCER's Research team on the Update of the Education Act. It draws on NZCER's deep expertise, particularly in curriculum and assessment, school leadership and governance, and future-focussed education, to respond to the discussion document. 

This report is the second annual evaluation report for the Teach First NZ pilot programme. The first report focused on the programme’s first year, Cohort 13. This second report focuses on Year 2 for Cohort 13 and Year 1 for Cohort 14.

The full report can be found at: www.educationcounts.govt.nz/publications/schooling/2014-annual-evaluation-report-for-the-teach-first-nz-programme

How do people learn to become general practitioners, carpenters and engineering technicians? This report is based on the Knowing Practice project and explores practice-based learning (apprenticeship or vocational immersion) across three different fields. It is based on observations and interviews with 41 learner-practitioners and their workplace-based mentors, teachers, and advisors:

1. GP registrars in the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners’ (RNZCGP) General Practice Education Programme
2. carpentry apprentices in managed apprenticeships with ...

Part of experiencing success as Māori within schools depends on having opportunities to learn and use te reo Māori and tikanga Māori. But how well do we provide for Māori students in English-medium schools? This report looks at whether provision differs in relation to the level of Māori enrolment in a school, using data from NZCER's National Surveys of primary and intermediate schools in 2013, and secondary schools in 2012. The ...

This report outlines the findings of the evaluation of a pilot initiative known as the Manaiakalani Digital Teaching Academy. The project paired first year teachers with teacher mentors to help them develop skills and knowledge in digital teaching methods and modern learning environments. The evaluation drew on the perspectives of the different participants, including teachers, mentors and principals.  It described the pilot as successful, with the teachers going on to ...

Science capabilities are a set of ideas for teachers to think with about science education. There are five: gathering and interpreting data, using evidence, critiquing evidence, interpreting representations of science, and engaging with science. This paper explores what student progress  in developing capabilities might look like. It draws on student responses from a small research project with students from Years 1-10 in a range of New Zealand schools. The appendix ...

This is the second report in the Teaching and Learning Research Initiative (TLRI) Project Plus series. It looks at the 18 literacy-related projects in the early childhood and schools sector funded by the TLRI between 2003 and 2014. It considers what the community of researchers see as important in literacy teaching and learning, the problems to be tackled, the approaches taken and the new knowledge that has been built ...

 This 2015 report updates the findings from a large multi-method study of environmental education in New Zealand schools, done in 2002-2004. The update report will be of interest to schools and environmental education providers and stakeholders who support schools.

The update drew on New Zealand environmental education literature published since the previous study, and also involved workshops with key individuals knowledgeable about environmental education practice and developments over the past ...