Australia Association for Research in Education
Artificial intelligence in Schools: An Ethical Storm is Brewing
‘Artificial intelligence will shape our future more powerfully than any other innovation this century. Anyone who does not understand it will soon find themselves feeling left behind, waking up in a world full of technology that feels more and more like magic.’ (Maini and Sabri, 2017, p.3) Last week the Australian Government Department of Education …
Ban smart phones in schools. Not because they’re disruptive but because of this
Largely missing from the ban-phones-in-schools debate are the opinions of important regulatory bodies such as the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) and the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC). Although these bodies may seem far removed from the debate, I believe how they view data and data collection should be heard. Significantly, their views may …
Is there a need for multi-faith education in all Australian schools?
Australia’s diversity is frequently celebrated by politicians as a multicultural success story. Schools, particularly public schools, educating children with diverse cultural and social backgrounds, are seen as the lynchpin to such success. Yet schools and other education sites in Australia constantly confront tensions and difficulties in their efforts to be inclusive and to create a …
Students with disability have a right to inclusive education: Reviewing the Melbourne Declaration
Students with disability were not identified as an explicit priority within the Melbourne Declaration, a statement that was agreed back in 2008 by all Education Ministers in Australia. It stated that the main goal for education in Australia should be equity and excellence for all young Australians and outlined a commitment to action. Now the …
Teachers also are affected by the ‘school choice’ policies dividing Australia
What is it like to be a teacher? Often when we hear talk about teachers, whether in popular …
The flawed thinking behind a mandatory phonics screening test
The New South Wales Government recently announced it intends to “trial an optional phonics screening test” for Year One students. This seems to be following a similar pattern to South Australia where the test, developed in the UK, was first trialled in 2017 and is now imposed on all public schools in the state. The …
Education shaped by big data and Silicon Valley. Is this what we want for Australia?
The recent banning of smart phones in public schools by several state governments shows Australian policymakers are concerned about children’s use of technology and social media in school time. But what about the way our schools use digital technologies and, in particular, how the data collected by schools about our children is being used? We …
How can a ‘learn by making mistakes’ approach work for outdoor education teachers?
Within many contemporary social, workplace and sporting contexts, mistakes are often perceived to be negative, resulting in underperformance …
What if compulsory schooling was a 21st Century invention?
There are many long-running debates in Australia around the schooling our children. Often the battle lines are drawn …