Current Research
Current Research 2007-2009 Creating Culturally Respectful Primary Schools: Enhancing Relationships through Strategic Professional Learning - Australian Research Council Linkage Grant
Chief Investigators: Professor Glenda MacNaughton, Professor Eleanor Wertheim and Elizabeth Freeman.
Collaborating Partners: Scanlon Foundation, Australian Psychological Society, Catholic Education Office Melbourne, Haig Street Primary School and St Anthony's Primary School, Alphington.
A critical issue facing all Australian school communities is how to best support teachers to build sustainable whole school approaches to respecting cultural diversity in times of increasing tension about Australia's multiculturalism. Schools are keys to the benefits of diversity. This project will investigate an innovative professional learning program to build teacher capacity to help children to think about and respond to differences constructively and to creatively problem solve ways to meet diverse needs. Participating schools will be offered sustained professional development, with emphasis on support for a core team who will oversee implementation and maintenance of school changes. Anticipated outcomes include policy and practice recommendations for the national education sector policy about how primary schools can contribute to wider social cohesion through the development of inclusive and culturally respectful school communities.
Futher information [pdf, 300kb]
Presentation for prospective schools [ppt, 584kb]
2006-07 Enhancing Wellbeing and Learning in the Middle Years Classrooms - Australian Research Council Linkage Grant
Chief Investigators: Associate Professor Erica Frydenberg, Elizabeth Freeman, Dr Esther Care, Partner Investigators: Mary Tobin, Beverley Begg
Collaborating Partner: Catholic Education Office Melbourne
Meaningful engagement in schooling promotes academic learning, social emotional wellbeing and healthy futures for young people. Achieving the positive engagement of all adolescent students in schooling is a significant educational challenge for Australia. In partnership with Catholic Education Office Melbourne, and supporting the Youth Services Strategy of the Catholic Education Commission of Victoria, this study is investigating the impact of a sustained intervention by teachers, supported by professional learning teams, to enhance the quality of their relationships with students and improve academic outcomes in literacy in Middle Years classrooms. Using a mixed methods approach, including new measures, the study is tracking the impact of the intervention on student learning and student and teacher wellbeing. The study will provide models for the promotion of student wellbeing and learning and professional learning that could be generalised across classrooms and education systems.
2007 ERIS Phase 2: Enhancing Relationships in School Communities (ERIS)
Project Team: Elizabeth Freeman. Margot Trinder, Anne Farrelly, Professor Eleanor Wertheim(La Trobe University) and Professor Glenda MacNaughton and staff from the Centre for Equity and Innovation in Early Childhood.
Funding: Scanlon Foundation, Morwetz Social Justice Fund
This research project is investigating the trial of a professional learning and inquiry model and cultural diversity curriculum with two primary schools. The study outcomes will inform the development of the professional learning and curriculum model to be used in the Creating Culturally Respectful Primary Schools: Enhancing Relationships through Strategic Professional Learning Project.
