Articles

In this series, we take a look at some further readings available on a particular topic, including open access research papers from various online databases. In this edition, the focus is online professional development.

Research has found that educators working in primary schools in Australia lack the confidence and competence to address racial issues in the classroom. As well as this, white normative teaching and the belief that minimising discussions about racism is better than drawing attention to them are common behaviours. In this podcast, we discuss the role of school leaders in addressing these behaviours, and how teachers can confront their own biases.

In today’s article, Assistant Principal at Kerrimuir Primary School, Jo Jolly, updates Teacher readers on the progress and impact of an intervention program for incoming Foundation students to ensure they are well-equipped with the essential skills needed to be ready to learn.

‘[Reflection] does not come naturally to many of the students in our classrooms (perhaps not even to ourselves).’ Head of Department Lia Sharma shares how the Christian Studies teaching team at Sydney’s Roseville College has been working to develop their own and their students’ skills in this area.

‘Computer adaptive tests offer a glimpse into the future of learning, the curriculum and assessment.’ In his new column for Teacher, Professor Geoff Masters AO discusses the role of adaptive tests in challenging traditional achievement tests, and why they provide a more accurate estimate of the point an individual has reached in their learning, regardless of their age or year level.

‘At times struggling with sadness and sorrow, I found that playing a musical instrument that requires total focus … only allowed time to focus on the present and future possibilities, not on the sadness of the past.’ Barbara Calder, an educator from New South Wales, shares why she made the decision to take up the challenging hobby of learning to play the saxophone.

Music is universal across human populations as all cultures, from the most primitive to the most advanced, make and listen to music. But what is it about music that we enjoy so much? And, what impact does listening to music have on our overall sense of wellbeing? We ask Dr Margaret Osborne from the University of Melbourne.

More than 900 students aged 13 and above were surveyed about ‘the prevalence of peer-on-peer sexual harassment and sexual violence, including online, in their lives and the lives of their peers’ as part of a rapid review in the UK. Here, we share how boys and girls responded, which shows boys were much less likely to think these things occurred.

Sexual harassment, including online sexual abuse, has become ‘normalised’ for children and young people and so commonplace for some that they see no point in reporting it to teachers and school staff, according to the findings of a review in England.

A refugee student mentoring program has proved to be successful with South Sudanese students at a school in New South Wales. Here, Greg Whitby sits down with Melinda Bowd to discuss how the program supported students by preparing them for life after school.