New publications

'All Australian governments signed the National Education Agreement in January 2009. The objective of the agreement is that all Australian school students acquire the knowledge and skills to participate effectively in society and employment in a globalised economy. This objective recognises the important role that education plays in meeting Australia‘s economic and social goals. We assess and report publicly on the performance of governments against the outcomes in the agreement. This year we focus on whether these outcomes have improved over the five years since the agreement was developed. We mainly assess progress over time and identify trends.' From the report. See also the Reform Council's media releases on the report, in relation to the early years, year 12 completion, and skills and qualifications.

The report 'outlines the findings from the 2013 Australian School Library Survey into Australian school library budgets, qualified staffing levels and NAPLAN literacy results'. (from Executive Summary) Findings include 'a significant positive correlation between the annual school library budgets and NAPLAN Reading Literacy results' and 'a significant positive correlation between the number of school librarians employed in school libraries and NAPLAN Reading Literacy results'. The report also describes the uptake of ebooks, mobile technology and social media by students and schools.

Teacher Education Around the World 'examines what can be learned from the different countries, what policies and practices seem transferable; and which seem embedded in the particulars of the culture of the country. It describe themes that cut across all the countries, documenting not only what they are, but how the countries go about supporting and sustaining changes in teacher education.' From publisher's description.

Contributors examine the notion of 'good' and 'bad' schools; the treatment of vocational education as a place for the less able; grouping pupils by ability in schools; class size; the effectiveness of teaching assistants; traditional versus progressive education; synthetic phonics; ICT; 'neuromyths' in education; multiple intelligences; learning styles; the impact of television; emotion and learning, and dyslexia. Adapted from table of contents. See also publisher's description.

Based on research into secondary education in England and Wales, the book 'transcends the particularities of' those education systems and 'digs more deeply into those issues which are at the heart of educational controversy, policy and practices'. Topics include 'the aims of education, standards of performance, the consequent vision of learning, the role of teachers, progression from school to higher or further education and into employment, the provision of such education and training and the control of education'. Adapted from publisher's description.

This paper, part of the Mobile Economy Project, 'looks at ways that mobile devices with cellular connectivity improve learning and engage students and teachers' in the USA. From Introduction. The paper is available online.