More and better research needed for education

Submission by Michelle Green, Chief Executive of AISV, to the Australia 2020 Summit to be held at Parliament House, Canberra on 19 and 20 April, 2008

Improving educational standards will increase labour force participation and productivity, impacting positively on Australia’s ability to sustain economic growth and contribute to national well-being. Better outcomes for young people have the potential to increase parent satisfaction and produce more informed, engaged and active citizens.

However to identify impediments to raising educational standards we must make greater use of research, which can
led to improved teaching practices and a greater number of students staying at school longer or moving more easily
from school to further education or the workplace.

Research will enhance the national debate about future directions in education.  We know the questions.  We think we know some of the answers but often proposed solutions are not well-based on evidence.

Wide-ranging research will help governments and their education authorities, the teaching profession and parents to
better understand the challenges and to find answers to today’s questions. 

One example:  How best to use computers in the classroom to harness creativity, enhance problem-solving skills,
ensure cooperative learning and team building, increase communication skills and develop higher order cognitive skills.

In-depth educational research tests assumptions. Sharing research will allow different areas within the education sector
to learn from one another.  

This is why the Association of Independent Schools of Victoria (AISV) has developed tools to enable Member Schools to take a data-informed approach to identify areas for improvement.  

They can, for example, measure, monitor and compare stakeholder perceptions to assess the school’s performance to inform management and stakeholders. Benchmarking is based on demographic data, psychometrically developed
surveys covering staff and parent satisfaction, student feedback and salary surveys.  Principals have access to postgraduate education modules that assist them to make decisions to increase quality outcomes for their school.

The education sector must undertake more research in such key areas as improving student learning opportunities and outcomes, high quality professional learning, curriculum innovation, whole-school effectiveness and capacity building, creating social capital, leadership training and pre-service teacher education. 

Research can contribute to the wider debate, showing for example that private investment in education increases overall educational quality while minimising public costs; parents paying for their children’s independent schooling are freeing up resources for state education.

It can be demonstrated that independent schools consistently deliver quality outcomes and make a significant contribution to Australia’s prosperity and social well-being.   There is evidence that independent schools build social cohesion and drive innovation.

Like all other Australians, independent schools are committed to our country’s future. Independent schools, parents, students and their local communities work together to ensure they play a vital role in building the Australian economy
and national well-being.

The healthy debate that Australia must have on the tough issues facing our politicians and leaders in education will be more productive if it is based on information that has been rigorously tested and proven in soundly-based research.

 

 

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