New publications

Now in its 14th edition, The Report on Government Services provides ongoing comparisons of the performance of government services and reports on reforms to service provision. Chapter 4 focuses on government-funded school education in Australia. Descriptive information and performance indicators are reported for government and non-government primary and secondary schools. See also media release from the Productivity Commission and statement from the South Australian Government, 30 January 2009.

This collection brings together a diverse range of perspectives on participatory approaches to education. Chapters address participatory work with children, youth and adults in both formal and non-formal settings. Authors combine reflections on experience, models and case studies of participatory education with commentary on key debates and issues, including the relationship of participatory education to issues such as the environment, health and sustainability. Adapted from publisher's description.

A diverse group of scholars address critical questions about the general decline in enrolments in Computing and Information Technology (CIT) subjects at the school level, as well as the gender-specific issue of the under-representation of girls in CIT education. Drawing on data from New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia, the authors analyse current curriculum structures, pedagogical practices, school contexts and student and teacher beliefs in order to interrogate how CIT as a curriculum area is socially constructed and gendered. Edited by Julianne Lynch. (Adapted from publisher's description. See also media release 30 April 2008 from the University of Western Sydney.)

How to Get Your School Moving and Improving is based on over three decades of experience and research by Professor Steve Dinham in all aspects of teaching, learning and school leadership. It is designed to cut through fashion, fads, jargon and ideology to show what research has revealed about what really works and adds value in twenty-first century schools. Aimed at professionals at any stage of their career seeking to improve teaching and learning, this book highlights relevant research from educators and students in many schools across a variety of countries, along with a number of short case studies and vignettes. Adapted from publisher's description.

The paper considers the effectiveness of accountability processes regarding spending on education by the world’s governments, particularly in relation to standardised tests of student performance. While many high-performing OECD countries do not have extensive national student testing, the paper argues that these systems do improve student results and offer the best way forward for Australia’s education system. (Adapted from ACER media release 14 January 2009)

This book examines the importance of English language teaching in China, and argues that it should be modernised if China is to better compete in the world economy. The current trend within English teaching in China is for 'communicative competence' - that is, being able to communicate with linguistic, pragmatic, discourse and strategic competence. This volume argues that such a theoretical framework of communicative competence needs to be expanded to address both global needs and local contexts. The contributors examine every aspect of language teaching and suggest new ways in which communication and grammar can be balanced. Adapted from publisher's description.