Non-completion of senior secondary schooling continues to be a matter of concern for policy makers and practitioners in Australia today. Despite the efforts of governments to improve participation and retention rates, 30% of students drop out of school before completing Year 12. Further, some students remain at school, just biding their time until…

Research investigating patterns of intergenerational risk taking has produced evidence of increased risk taking of female adolescents compared with their mother's generation and a reduction in the traditional gap between levels of teenage male and female risk taking. The research is part of a larger, multistage project on factors affecting…

A large-scale study conducted in Tasmania, Australia, of teenage risk-taking across 26 potentially harmful risk activities has examined a range of factors that encourage or inhibit risk-taking. Among these factors, the degree of social and professional support the teenage students say they would access for personal, study or health problems has…

This paper is concerned with research into early school leaving. A narrative interview approach was used to document and analyse the experiences, processes and decisions that a small sample of boys made prior to leaving school, in this case, before completing year 10 and 11. Data collected in 2004 indicate that schools along with students…

Syllabus and policy documents in many states and countries around the world, and more specifically in Queensland are underpinned by an emancipatory agenda, in particular the principles of social justice. Educators are called upon to achieve this through a pedagogy which is immersed in the language of critical theory. Two elements that underpin…

The presence of questions improved retention for material directly related to the questions but not for incidental information, and their presence had no effect on the amount of retroactive inhibition. (Author)

The English language program presented embodies the research of English language scientists since the beginning of the century and has been designed to increase the student's ability to use the language. This curriculum guide for the teaching of English at the eleventh-grade level is presented in the following manner: "The Language Programme…

Focuses on the 11th grade geography curriculum which was introduced into Australian schools in 1974. Outlines the background, objectives, structure, and content of the curriculum syllabus. For journal availability, see SO 505 212. (Author/DB)

Background: The Reef education evaluation: environmental knowledge and reef experience report concerns PhD research about marine education, and the investigation of learning with high school students and the effect of coral reef monitoring marine experiential education interventions. The effectiveness of classroom learning and reef trips were…

This paper describes a disruptive model of interpretation which explores positions in discursive practices embedded in visual culture as a means of understanding self and difference. The model understands interpretation as a Foucauldian technique of the self, and its use may give art teachers and students strategies for understanding the social…

Presents the results from a cross-cultural research project that explored adolescents' interpretation of the social contract (obligations, rights, and responsibilities between individuals and society) in seven countries, including Australia, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Russia, Sweden, and the United States. Includes appendices and…

Research in the form of a case study explores the factors that influenced physics enrollment in year 11 of a group of students taught over three consecutive years, from year 8 to year 10 in a New South Wales country school. The findings reveal that students who enjoyed their learning experiences in junior science and achieved good results in…

Investigated gender differences in economics education and achievement, using data from a study of Australian secondary school students that collected data on student background and economics achievement (via the Test of Economic Literacy). Results showed few gender differences related to item bias, total performance, and student background…

This document consists of test items which are applicable to biology courses throughout Australia (irrespective of course materials used); assess key concepts within course statement (for both core and optional studies); assess a wide range of cognitive processes; and are relevant to current biological concepts. These items are arranged under…

Investigated students' metaphors for themselves as learners in an 11th-grade chemistry classroom. Discovered that students' metaphors were congruent with their views of learning and learning processes as evidenced by multiple data sources. Argues that students' metaphors can provide valuable information for practicing teachers and researchers who…