Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Victorian secondary schools'
To see the other types of publications on this topic, follow the link: Victorian secondary schools.
Create a spot-on reference in APA, MLA, Chicago, Harvard, and other styles
Consult the top 21 dissertations / theses for your research on the topic 'Victorian secondary schools.'
Next to every source in the list of references, there is an 'Add to bibliography' button. Press on it, and we will generate automatically the bibliographic reference to the chosen work in the citation style you need: APA, MLA, Harvard, Chicago, Vancouver, etc.
You can also download the full text of the academic publication as pdf and read online its abstract whenever available in the metadata.
Browse dissertations / theses on a wide variety of disciplines and organise your bibliography correctly.
1
Laffan, Carmel Therese, and res cand@acu edu au. "An Ethnographic Study of a Victorian Catholic Secondary School." Australian Catholic University. School of Religious Education, 2004. http://dlibrary.acu.edu.au/digitaltheses/public/adt-acuvp46.29082005.
Full textAbstract:
This thesis constitutes a study of a Catholic secondary school in the State of Victoria, Australia, in the year 2001. It addresses the issue of the nature and purpose of Catholic schools in situ, the focus of the research being an in-depth analytical description of the participant school. Consequently, the findings are of potential relevance to those interested in the issue of the nature and purpose of the Catholic school in situ from a general and holistic perspective. Specifically, given the concern of the research with the nature and purpose of a Catholic school in situ, two anticipated areas of focus for the study were identified. These were the defining features of the school, in relation to the concern of the study with the nature of the school, and the ends of the school, in relation to the concern of the study with the purpose of the school. The study was thus governed by 2 two-part general research questions. 1. What are the defining features of the school, and how are they maintained? 2. To what ends is the school oriented, and how is this orientation sustained? In the form of an ethnographic study, the research describes and interprets the participant school from the perspective of those who constitute the day-to-day community. The findings of the study are located within a contextual understanding involving historical and prescriptive perspectives for, and literature pertaining to, the contemporary Catholic school. Given the concern of the ethnography with the development, as opposed to the verification, of theory, data gathered from five major sources over the period of a school Section headings for the Introduction through to the References have necessarily been deleted for electronic presentation. Likewise, page numbers have necessarily been deleted for electronic presentation. year were focused and analysed, through the method of grounded theory, to arrive at the findings of the study. These five sources were participant-observation, in-depth interviews conducted with a number of the school personnel, observation of various school meetings, school documents, and a survey of the student body. The findings of the study, in their descriptive and analytical dimensions, are presented in four chapters. Specifically, these are presented in Chapters Five through to Eight, in relation to four main organising principles pertaining (a) to the description of the school, (b) to predominant perspectives on the school from within its day-to-day community, (c) to the prevailing characteristics upon which the perspectives of the day-today community turn, and (d) to the theoretical construct consequent upon the description, the predominant perspectives, and the prevailing characteristics. As with the descriptive aspect, to which the first two organising principles predominantly pertain, the interpretive dimension of the findings is largely undertaken in two chapters. The first of these chapters (i.e., Chapter Seven), pertaining to the delineation of the prevailing features evident within the perspectives of the day-to-day community, provides an interpretation of the descriptive findings in terms of an autocratic hegemony, a managerial administrative focus, and a bureaucratic organisational culture. Thus, this chapter signifies the primary analysis of the findings of the two previous chapters through completion of the descriptive dimension. The second of these chapters (i.e., Chapter Eight) places this preliminary analysis of the descriptive findings within a theoretical construct pertaining to concepts of disparity and congruity, opposition and compliance. The concepts of disparity and congruity relate to the school's adherence to ideological and primitive imperatives respectively. Those of opposition and compliance relate to the degrees of consonance, within the day-to-day community, in terms of assent to the prevailing order within the school. Consequently, it is to be observed that the elements of description and interpretation, essential to the in-depth analytical description demanded of the ethnographic methodological approach, decrease and increase, respectively, across these four chapters. Section headings for the Introduction through to the References have necessarily been deleted for electronic presentation. Likewise, page numbers have necessarily been deleted for electronic presentation. The study concluded that the nature and purpose of the school were consequent upon its prevailing autocratic hegemony, its pre-eminently managerial administrative focus, and its profoundly bureaucratic organisational culture. These interconnected elements of the school's practices, disparate from the ideological imperatives advocated for the Catholic school, were found to effect a latent opposition within the school community, principally in relation to the teaching personnel, masked by the overall compliance of the day-to-day community with the prevailing order.
2
Daniels, Ray Education Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences UNSW. "The management of change in six Victorian secondary colleges." Awarded by:University of New South Wales. School of Education, 2001. http://handle.unsw.edu.au/1959.4/18223.
Full textAbstract:
This study explored change in six Victorian secondary colleges some four years into the major school-system change program known as ?????Schools of the Future?????. The purpose of the study was to identify successful models and practices for positive school change by exploring school change from the school level perspective. A focus of the investigation was an organizational development program designed by a North American professor of organization and management in which Victorian school principals were trained as their schools entered the ?????Schools of the Future????? program. The project was guided initially by four major research questions to which six additional research questions were added as the research progressed. The research methodology was qualitative. The data for this investigation were collected in 1997. The main means of gathering them was the in-depth interview of the principals of the six schools in the study and of the four members of staff they nominated as knowledgeable about their school?????s change processes. A follow-up questionnaire to the interview, a telephone questionnaire that asked principals for background information about their schools, and a study of school documents were also sources of data. The analysis and interpretation of the data related to charge in the schools was presented in the forms of six case studies and a multisite study. Eleven variables and eighteen insights identified the aspects associated with successful change across the sites. The study?????s three major findings identified the critical importance in the success of change of the school?????s organizational culture and individual participants in change processes, its relationship to elements in its external environment and the nature of its planning for change. A theoretical framework for positive school change environments was developed. It combined the elements associated with successful change in the study. This framework may prove useful as a basis for further research on systemic change in schools and as a point of reference for those actually engaged in leading the change process in schools and school systems.
3
Rennie, Robert Wylie, and res cand@acu edu au. "The Phenomenon of Problematic School-Related Absenteeism." Australian Catholic University. Education (VIC), 2007. http://dlibrary.acu.edu.au/digitaltheses/public/adt-acuvp156.30052008.
Full textAbstract:
This research was concerned with the phenomenon of problematic school-related absenteeism (PSRA) within the Victorian secondary school system with particular reference to middle schooling. The study investigated categories of PSRA, identified major risk factors associated with PSRA, and outlined outcomes relevant to selected school-based strategies employed in the management and minimisation of PSRA. A review of literature was undertaken that identified a number of major categories and risk factors that were associated with PSRA. Subsequently, a conceptual framework was developed. It was the conceptual framework underpinned by the research questions that guided the research design and the collection and analysis of data. Five research questions underpinned this research. The primary research question was:
4
Grace, Michael James, and res cand@acu edu au. "The Use of Scripture in the Teaching of Religious Education in Victorian Catholic Secondary Schools." Australian Catholic University. School of Religious Education, 2003. http://dlibrary.acu.edu.au/digitaltheses/public/adt-acuvp31.29082005.
Full textAbstract:
This thesis examines the use of scripture by religious education teachers with their students in Victorian Catholic secondary schools in late 1999. The aims of the research were: to present a picture of the incorporation of scripture into the religious education program of Victorian Catholic secondary schools in 1999, and in particular the incorporation of the historical-critical method of modern biblical scholarship (focus will also be placed on the purpose for which scripture is used, the extent to which it is used and the methods employed in its use); to investigate how and to what extent VCE Texts and Traditions1 Units 1 to 4 have been adopted by senior Victorian Catholic secondary students and its influence on Years Seven to Ten religious education curriculum; and to extend the work of Stead (1996b) into the use of scripture in Victorian Catholic primary schools. This study is built on an understanding of religious education based on an educational rationale, and it examines the use of scripture in the light of modern critical biblical scholarship, particularly the historical-critical method. Religious Education Coordinators from 67 of the 99 Victorian Catholic secondary schools and 61 teachers of Years Seven to Ten religious education in these same schools completed self administering questionnaires in this area. The research demonstrated that while there is an extensive range of good modern biblical scholarship material present in these schools, there is no policy concerning how scripture is to be used in the curriculum, questionable translations of the bible are used, and there is a limited use of many sections of the bible. A key finding of the research is that a thematic, proof-texting use of scripture is prevalent in these schools. This thematic use can lead to a literal, fundamentalist use of scripture within Catholic secondary religious education. This approach is linked with many religious education teachers. predominantly catechetical understanding of the nature of religious education. The self administering questionnaires asked for an indication of the personal practice of respondents in their own religious education classrooms. The data indicated the presence of the historical-critical method in the classrooms of Victorian Catholic secondary schools, however there was an over-reliance on the student text and the predominance of a thematic, literal, non-critical use of scripture. This thesis indicates that this misuse of scripture comes about from teachers. catechetical understanding of the nature of religious education. In particular the study of scripture in Years 11 and 12 is an area of concern. Except for a small percentage of students studying Texts and Traditions (13%), the use of the historical-critical method of biblical studies is almost non-existent.
5
McLain, Richard Dalton. "The evolution and expansion of the Victorian English public schools : a comparative case study of Blundell's, Clifton, Eton, Lancing and The Leys." Thesis, University of Exeter, 2003. http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.288702.
Full text
6
Gleeson, Elizabeth Anne, and res cand@acu edu au. "Set Text Study: a Collective case study." Australian Catholic University. Trescowthick School of Education, 2004. http://dlibrary.acu.edu.au/digitaltheses/public/adt-acuvp67.25092005.
Full textAbstract:
This thesis investigates the practice of set text study as it is encountered within the English curriculum of a Victorian secondary school. The study evolved from a range of concerns to do with the researcher’s own teaching and the attitudes being expressed in her school community. It developed into an investigation of the student experience of reading, and of studying the required texts in subject, English This research aims to: • provide understanding of the development of set text study and to consider whether this construct is meeting the goals of contemporary English teaching examine both the beliefs which underpin the practices and the practices themselves provide greater understanding of the way students experience this aspect of their school learning consider how notions of transformation, insight and emerging identity through literature study fit with student experience Five guiding research questions address the issues which gave rise to the study. These questions provide a focus and structure throughout the research process. The questions address issues of: students’ school and non-school reading practices, enjoyment, beliefs about learning, ideology and specifically, the potential influence of textual representations of suicide and adult characters on a teenage student’s emerging sense of self. An overview of key theoretical positions on the act of reading situates the attitudinal and theoretical aspects of this research. The practical orientation of this study is situated alongside research on the experience of reading and of teaching literature, both from Australia and overseas. This thesis adopts a phenomenological approach within a constructivist framework. A qualitative methodology using a case-study approach, allows for the prolonged engagement necessary to explore the research questions and develop the sort of relationship necessary to facilitate the in-depth and reflective responses being sought. In-depth interviews (both face-to-face interviews and on-line chat sessions) are the primary data-gathering tool. In reporting the findings, the student voice is privileged. Practical and theoretical notions of communication and language are explored. The processes used to undertake this research are reflected upon and some possibilities for incorporating some of these methods into a school learning context are considered. While the focus of the study is to increase understanding of individual experience, some clear findings emerge. Although reading played an important part in the non-school lives of most of these students, the school experience of reading was more often than not, disappointing. Key factors which students perceived as contributing to their lack of enjoyment and satisfaction included: text choice, lack of challenge in lesson content, the sameness of the associated tasks, the behaviour of peers and lack of opportunity for having their opinions heard. Almost conversely, the students who gained greatest satisfaction reported on: particular texts, the creativity and scope for individual input of required tasks, teacher involvement, more positive class interaction and specific modelling by teachers of required tasks. The thesis concludes with recommendations for structural support (both whole school and classroom) to enable the positive shared reading experiences to become the experience of more students. It challenges the sanctity of the set text and offers a range of alternatives. In calls on teachers to consider the implications of entering a continuing story of students’ reading and to work at developing better ways of incorporating components of effective non-school reading practices into school reading practices. The concerns regarding the potential negative influence of set texts on a student’s identity were not validated in this research. However new concerns for students’ well being did emerge. The research indicates that set texts can make a difference to the quality of students’ lives. By incorporating a range of texts and class activities, by knowing students as well as possible, and by fully engaging as co-readers, teachers are in a better position to minimise student distress and to attend to the work of creating democratic reading environments with the greatest potential for reading success for everyone.
7
Ertan, Naciye, and res cand@acu edu au. "Factors Relating to Women Attaining Principal Positions in Victoria's Government Secondary Colleges: a Case study." Australian Catholic University. School of Education, 2004. http://dlibrary.acu.edu.au/digitaltheses/public/adt-acuvp44.29082005.
Full textAbstract:
Regardless of the promotion structures employed within the different educational systems of this country, men dominate the position of Principal of secondary schools. Despite legislation seeking to provide equality of opportunity and the apparent breaking down of deeply entrenched societal attitudes of women being the servers or followers, there still exist factors that give rise to the under-representation of women in Principal positions of secondary schools. This thesis was designed to investigate issues associated with the apparent gender imbalance in Principal positions in Victoria's government secondary schools. It will attempt to identify elements that have militated against women gaining such positions. The research methodology employed to investigate the problem is a case study approach. The study centered on a girl's school, Gilmore College for Girls, which has had a succession of female Principals. The research involved inviting women who were Principals of Gilmore College for Girls to participate in an interview. Within that format structured interviews were used to seek the women Principals' perceptions as to factors leading to this under-representation of women as Principals. The findings from this study are then interpreted in the light of factors by which the literature explains the problem. Various reasons emerged to explain the lower number of women Principals. It seemed to stem from perceptions about their roles, which limited the level of their involvement in schools: for instance once women teachers were married with children they were less likely to advance in their careers and to apply for Principal positions. The workload of the Principal was also identified as one of the factors inhibiting women from applying for Principal positions. It was seen to make marriage and child rearing almost impossible. Therefore most women were content to be classroom teachers and only apply for positions that suited their interests and allowed them to meet family, home and social commitments. It is suggested that further related investigations be pursued of women in Principal positions of our secondary schools.
8
De, Souza Marian, and res cand@acu edu au. "Students' and Teachers' Perceptions of Year 12 Religious Education Programs in Catholic Schools in Victoria: Implications for curriculum." Australian Catholic University. Department of Religious Education, 1999. http://dlibrary.acu.edu.au/digitaltheses/public/adt-acuvp201.02072009.
Full textAbstract:
This research study aimed to explore and describe students' and teachers' perceptions of religious education programs for Year 12 students in Catholic schools in Victoria in light of theoretical concepts of religious education. It sought to discover how appropriate these programs were in meeting the needs of today's students and achieving the aims of religious education for senior secondary students in Catholic schools in Victoria. The purpose was to propose guiding principles that could inform a review of Year 12 religious education curriculum in Catholic schools. There were two broad areas of investigation to this study: the theory and the practice of religious education in Catholic schools, with special attention given to the Year 12 programs. With the first area, there was an examination of religious education theory as revealed in the literature. This was concerned with the nature and purpose of religious education in Catholic schools. Different approaches to religious education were explored and their strengths and weaknesses for senior secondary programs were highlighted. In addition, recent approaches to teaching and learning at the broader curriculum level were investigated to highlight possible relevance to religious education. Thirdly, the theory of and approaches to religious education were considered in relation to some aspects of the context of contemporary classrooms. The second area was an investigation into current practices in the compulsory or core Year 12 religious education programs since these were accessed by all or most students in Catholic schools. Eleven schools were involved in the study. They were drawn from the four dioceses in Victoria and were chosen because they displayed certain characteristics which were seen as representative of the wider range of Catholic schools. In order to gain an insight into classroom practices, three sources of data were collected from these schools and examined. Firstly, through the use of questionnaires and interviews, data was collected on students' perceptions of their experiences in their religious education program. Secondly, questionnaires were used to gather information on the teachers' experiences of the program, their perceptions of their students' experiences and their background in religious education. Teachers' perceptions were used as a point of comparison with students' perceptions. Thirdly, religious education documents were examined and analysed to discover their aims and objectives, the content and topics included and their assessment strategies. In general, the various approaches (in terms of content and method) to Year 12 religious education classroom programs in Catholic schools in Victoria either emphasized cognitive learning or it focused on affective learning. With the former, an intellectual study of religion through a study of different religious traditions was offered which, it was hoped, would lead to an increased understanding and appreciation of the subject. With the latter, more attention was given to the personal dimension in religious education in terms of interpersonal and intrapersonal learning. The findings of this research study indicated that, in the perceptions of a majority of students, the religious education programs were not meeting their needs. This raises the question of the pertinence of the aims for senior secondary religious education as proposed in curriculum guidelines for Catholic schools in Victoria. The findings, therefore, suggest a need for a review of such programs in Catholic schools. The study concluded with the proposal of thirteen guiding principles that could inform the development, implementation and evaluation of future Year 12 religious education programs in Catholic schools. The principles, drawn from key insights from both the theory and current practice of religious education, could have relevance for Catholic school administrators, policy makers and religious education teachers. In addition, other areas were identified which could be useful for further investigation to enhance existing knowledge in this field of study.
9
Loreman, Timothy J. (Timothy John) 1970. "Secondary school inclusion for students with moderate to severe disabilities in Victoria, Australia." Monash University, Faculty of Education, 2000. http://arrow.monash.edu.au/hdl/1959.1/8824.
Full text
10
Pollard, Anna, and apollard@parade vic edu au. "The Professional Development and Training Needs of Literacy Coordinators in Secondary Schools in Victoria, Australia." RMIT University. Education, 2008. http://adt.lib.rmit.edu.au/adt/public/adt-VIT20080514.122251.
Full textAbstract:
The research presented in this thesis investigates the professional development and training needs of Literacy Coordinators in secondary schools in Victoria, Australia. This study augments the extensive body of research pertaining to knowledge about literacy programs, theory and pedagogy and it aims to explore a further dimension relating to the skills and knowledge that Literacy Coordinators need to acquire and apply in order to successfully manage their programs. The research paradigm of this study, as described by Guba and Lincoln (1994), uses constructivist (naturalistic) inquiry methodology and a case study approach. The collection of the data in these case studies has been achieved using a semi-ethnographic approach described by Denzin and Lincoln (2000) where the researcher observes the classroom program as a non-participant observer and engages in active collaborative reflection and analysis of the key knowledge and strategies required for successful p rogram management, in conjunction with the Literacy Coordinator participants. This study has also employed purposeful sampling (Patton, 1990) in the selection of the Literacy Coordinator participants and their schools and incorporates the use of teacher's voice in the construction and interpretation of key issues. The literature review examines the conceptualisation of literacy learning with a focus on the past three decades and explores current leadership and management theory as an integral component of program provision. A historical background to the industrial and political influences on the provision of literacy support for the purpose of raising the literacy achievement of students in secondary schools in Victoria is also provided. The value and relevance of having a theory that informs the Literacy Coordinators' practice is explored. The importance of professional development through participant observation and shared retelling and collaborative interpretation of the events is also examined. The case studies highlight the need for training in program design, diagnosing of student needs and for training for the leadership component of the role. The data collection involved six school sites and six Literacy Coordinators employed in secondary schools in the Northern metropolitan region of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Data included key informant interviews, curriculum and strategic planning documents and program materials. A number of key skills and knowledge criteria emerged as key factors in successful program management. They include the need for time and appropriate resources to effectively manage the program; the need for Literacy Coordinators to be trained in selecting and designing content, the need to master pedagogical knowledge related to literacy program provision and the need for training in the use of testing instruments and interpretation of testing data. Other key knowledge and skill requirements include training in management, the ability to develop effective partnerships and the ability to build and maintain teams. Recommendations for enhancing professional practice flow from this thesis; they have most relevance to Literacy Coordinators and other program leaders and for principals, policy makers and tertiary educators.
11
Sproston, Carlyn, and res cand@acu edu au. "When Students Negotiate: an action research case study of a year 8 English class in a Catholic secondary college in regional Victoria." Australian Catholic University. School of Education, 2005. http://dlibrary.acu.edu.au/digitaltheses/public/adt-acuvp88.09042006.
Full textAbstract:
This action research study examines the learning experiences of Year 8 students and their teacher as they negotiate aspects of their English classes. The study takes place in a regional Catholic co-educational secondary college in Victoria, Australia. The question of understanding the lived experience of ourselves and other is fundamental to this study, which is situated within an holistic, enactivist view of the world. From this perspective learning is a shared activity in which students participate in creating their own interpretation as they interact with others to bring forth understanding. The study focuses on classroom practice which aims to include all participants, through negotiation, in the actions that take place in the classroom. I have used a narrative approach to describe the way in which three action research cycles were implemented in the English classroom during one academic year. A variety of data gathering techniques was used and these included: classroom questionnaires, classroom meetings, journals, partnership observation and interviews. The main sources of data were the interviews that I undertook with each of the twenty five students in the class. The three action research cycles allowed both the students and me to reflect upon classroom activities and make appropriate changes as the cycles progressed. In addition, negotiating in this English class has helped me to better understand my students and, through reflection, to improve my teaching practice. Analysis of the data suggests that students experience greater commitment and motivation when they are given opportunities to be actively involved in contributing to their own learning. The data also supports research that recognises the importance of collaboration, positive relationships within the classroom, the importance of metacognitive skills and student voice. In addition, the findings point to the value of action research as a method of improving teaching practice.
12
Barty, Karin, and edu au jillj@deakin edu au mikewood@deakin edu au kimg@deakin. "Students' experiences of e-learning at school." Deakin University. School of Education, 2001. http://tux.lib.deakin.edu.au./adt-VDU/public/adt-VDU20040614.145900.
Full textAbstract:
The dissertation describes the experiences of senior secondary students taking an online course for the first time to further their language education. The experiences are presented from the perspective of students, of supervising teachers and the 'virtual' teacher. Issues of importance with younger learners are identified and discussed and guidelines for the conduct of online courses at school level developed. It is proposed that online courses may have a worthwhile place in school education if specific learning needs can be met using this medium.
13
Parker, Pauline Frances, and paulinefparker@gmail com. "Girls, Empowerment and Education: a History of the Mac. Robertson Girls' High School 1905-2005." RMIT University. Global Studies, Social Science and Planning, 2007. http://adt.lib.rmit.edu.au/adt/public/adt-VIT20080516.164340.
Full textAbstract:
Despite the considerable significance of publicly funded education in the making of Australian society, state school histories are few in number. In comparison, most corporate and private schools have cemented their sense of community and tradition through full-length publications. This history attempts to redress this imbalance. It is an important social history because this school, Mac.Robertson Girls' High School can trace its origins back to 1905, to the very beginnings of state secondary education when the Melbourne Continuation School (MCS), later Melbourne High School (MHS) and Melbourne Girls' high School (MGHS) was established. Since it is now recognised that there are substantial state, regional and other differences between schools and their local communities, studies of individual schools are needed to underpin more general overviews of particular issues. This history, then, has wider significance: it traces strands of the development of girls' education in Victoria, thus examining the significance and dynamics of single-sex schooling, the education of girls more generally, and, importantly, girls' own experiences (and memories of experiences) of secondary schooling, as well as the meaning they made of those experiences. 'Girls, Education and Empowerment: A History of The Mac.Robertson Girls' High School 1905-2005', departs from traditional models of school history writing that tend to focus on the decision-makers and bureaucrats in education as well as documenting the most 'successful' former students who have made their mark in the world. Drawing on numerous narrative sources and documentary evidence, this history is organised thematically to contextualise and examine what is was like, and meant, to be a girl at this school (Melbourne Continuation School 1905-12; Melbourne High School 1912-27; Melbourne Girls' High School 1927-34, and Mac.Robertson Girls' High School from 1934) during a century of immense social, economic, political and educational change.
14
Lipine, Tavita. "Education of secondary Samoan students in New Zealand : the road to success : a thesis submitted to the Victoria University of Wellington in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Education /." ResearchArchive@Victoria e-thesis, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/10063/1317.
Full text
15
Mitchell, Moana Erika. ""All we got to see were factories." : scoping Maori transitions from secondary school : a thesis submitted to the Victoria University of Wellington in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Education /." ResearchArchive@Victoria e-Thesis, 2009. http://hdl.handle.net/10063/1244.
Full text
16
Tito, Janie. "Māori language use in New Zealand secondary schools : what are the issues for teachers and students? : a thesis submitted to the Victoria University of Wellington in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in Māori Studies /." ResearchArchive@Victoria e-Thesis, 2008. http://hdl.handle.net/10063/544.
Full text
17
Daniels, Ray. "The management of change in six Victorian secondary colleges /." 2001. http://www.library.unsw.edu.au/~thesis/adt-NUN/public/adt-NUN20020604.120324/index.html.
Full text
18
Hillman, Robert P. "Transition from secondary school to university." 1999. http://repository.unimelb.edu.au/10187/421.
Full textAbstract:
Transition between secondary school and university can be a time of stress and anxiety. It is a time when decisions about courses and careers can have extraordinarily significant implications. It is, therefore, a time when information about courses, universities and university life must be effectively presented and thoughtfully comprehended. This study explores secondary student insights into university before and during the crucial decision making process as well as the consequences of those insights and decisions. (For complete abstract open document)
19
Shamoail, Edison. "Teachers' Perceptions and Experiences in Adopting 'Blackboard' Computer Program in a Victorian Secondary School: A Case Study." 2005. http://eprints.vu.edu.au/322/1/322contents.pdf.
Full textAbstract:
Over the past decade, information and communication technology (ICT) has become increasingly prevalent in our schools. With the emergence of new technologies in the classrooms, there is a pressing need to study how teachers experience and feel about the integration of new technology in their teaching practice. This study investigated seven teachers' perceptions and experiences in adopting 'Blackboard' computer program into their teaching. This research contributes to our understanding of how teachers adapt to the introduction and integration of new technology in their classrooms. The study combined theory and practice, identifying connections between the experiences of teachers and existing literature and research. One Catholic secondary school was the focus of the study. This school was selected because of its adoption of cutting-edge Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). Data were drawn from four sources: individual teacher interviews; direct observation; email dialogues and school documents during the 2004 academic year. Teachers were interviewed three times; the transcripts of 21 semi-structured, open-ended interviews and observation data were analysed using the system of content analysis that involved identifying, coding, and categorising the main themes in the data. To expedite the research, I identified seven constructs to structure the data analysis: (a) change; (b) teachers' workload/time management; (c) student management; (d) enhancing student learning; (e) skill development; (f) access; (g) online pedagogy. Case profiles were created for each teacher and then compared across the seven teachers to discern both common and unique patterns of perceptions and experiences related to 'Blackboard' integration and implementation processes. Results of the study identified the importance of access to computers, ongoing professional development and leadership support for the integration of 'Blackboard' and other related technologies into teaching. The results also indicated that teachers need sufficient time to practise and plan their lessons with the new technology. The importance of a planned change process, created by all stakeholders, concerning integration of new technologies in the school emerged as an important outcome of this study. The results indicated teachers were most receptive to learning from and with their colleagues about the integration of the 'Blackboard' program into their classroom practice. Based on these research outcomes, a set of recommended strategies to support the integration of 'Blackboard' into teacher pedagogy and school curricula is included in the final chapter. Information gained from this study will provide some insights for the case study school and those schools that are interested in pursuing a similar path in the future.
20
Kotsiras, Angela. "The effects of acceleration on students' achievement in senior secondary mathematics: a multilevel modelling approach." 2007. http://repository.unimelb.edu.au/10187/1704.
Full textAbstract:
Despite the vast research on the effects of acceleration programs on student achievement there is little quantitative confirmation of the benefits of these programs and there is no research that investigates the effects of acceleration on students’ VCE Mathematics study scores.This research attempts to fill this gap by considering four years of data provided by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA) relating to achievement in mathematics. Acceleration in this study means the completion of the Year 12Mathematical Methods study during Year 11. The data constitutes experimental data for content acceleration and the results of students from schools without such acceleration programs provide the corresponding control data. However, the acceleration decision is not taken randomly by schools, so this data is only quasi-experimental in nature. The measures of mathematical achievement (Mathematical Methods and Specialist Mathematics study scores) are carefully audited, and are accepted as reliable and valid by the Victorian education system. Controlling for individual characteristics such as gender and prior knowledge, and allowing for moderation effects due to school sector (Government, Catholic and Independent) and school class setting (single-sex or coeducational), the effects of content acceleration are measured using multi-level modelling.
This study examines the effects of acceleration on the VCE Mathematics study scores of students who completed both Mathematical Methods (Units 3&4) and Specialist Mathematics (Units 3&4) in Victoria, over a four-year period (2001-2004). On average this involved 5341 students from 341 schools in each year with 829 students included in a content accelerated program.
The results suggest that content acceleration is beneficial, especially for students with higher prior knowledge scores. The quasi-experimental nature of the data means that a causal relationship between acceleration and students’ mathematical performance can be claimed. In particular, this study showed that the effect of acceleration on students’ Mathematical Methods (the Year 12 study taken in Year 11 by accelerated students) study score was not significant. However, the effect of acceleration on students’ Specialist Mathematics study scores was significant. Accelerated students performed, on average,2.7 points higher (on a 50 point scale) than equal ability age-peers who were not accelerated. Interestingly, for accelerated students who scored in the top 2% for their General Achievement Test, in the mathematics, science and technology component, their Specialist Mathematics study scores were on average, almost 5 points higher (on a 50point scale) than their equal ability age-peers. The statistical control of other factors means that these results can also be generalised to other states, other countries and, probably, to other subjects.
21
Fisher, Kate. "Aboriginal students' high school mathematics experiences: stories of opportunities and obstacles." Thesis, 2010. http://hdl.handle.net/1828/3103.
Full textAbstract:
The mathematics education experiences of Aboriginal high school students has
received little research attention. Ten urban Aboriginal high school students in Victoria, BC facilitated a narrative qualitative inquiry. Bandura’s (1986) four sources of selfefficacy and social cognitive theory were used to examine the students’ stories.
Performance mastery experiences were found to dominate the formation of students’
sense of competence. Experiences were centrally impacted by students’ affective
domain. The importance of relationality and an inter-connection between all four sources
of self-efficacy are also noted. Implications for future research and practice are provided.