Melbourne Graduate School of Education - Theses
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ItemProvision for longer term residents in the Adult Migrant Education Program : an historical overview from 1947 to 1990( 1991)The aim of this study was to consider the reality of access of longer term resident adult migrants into English language learning opportunities in Australia across the period 1947 - 1990. Chapter 1 describes the background and justification of the research brief and refers to the processes and procedures taken in developing an analytical approach to the consideration of policy development and implementation. Chapter 2 outlines the range of available resource material while Chapter 3 provides a summary of the documentation. This summary is used to analyse the demands and the decisions and actions which impacted on access to the program. A set of basic assumptions is then developed and comments sought from a group of experts. A selection of indicative responses are examined in detail and the reliability of the assumptions is considered. In Chapter 4 the results of the findings are developed into a final statement. In doing so the researcher demonstrates the realities of policy development over a considerable period of time and shows that environmental factors play an important role in shaping the future from past and present experience. The study shows that the Adult Migrant Education Program was originally planned as an initial settlement program and at stages in the last forty years this focus has been restated. The concept of "longer term " residents did not exist in the early years of the program and the issue has emerged as an important factor in the discussions on equity of access to education.
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ItemThe Australian Science Education Project: a case study in curriculum implementation( 1991)The Australian Science Education Project (ASEP) was developed between 1969-74 as Australia's first national curriculum project. ASEP was designed to introduce major changes for years 7-10 science in materials, content and assigned roles for teachers and students. While initial sales of the ASEP materials were excellent in Victoria the extent of implementation was low. This study examines reasons for this unsuccessful implementation from a user (i.e. teacher and schools) perspective. Determinants or causes of the extent of implementation relating to the nature of the ASEP materials, the strategies for implementation and the nature of teaching and schools are examined. The fundamental cause of the low level of implementation in Victoria is related to the development of the ASEP materials from a 'technological' perspective with limited input by classroom teachers. The materials developed in this way could only be successful if the implementation strategies included extensive in-service and curriculum support for science teachers and this did not happen in Victoria. Based on Havelock's 'Problem Solver' perspective of curriculum change a model for effective implementation is proposed which incorporates a 'user' perspective and the notion of mutual adaptation between the innovation and the user system.
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ItemThe international baccalaureate in Australia( 1991)This study includes a brief historical sketch of the development of the International Baccalaureate (IB) and a survey of the ten schools that currently offer the International Baccalaureate within Australia. The purpose of the research project is to; 1. describe the historical and philosophical background of the IB including the way in which the IB has developed within the context of the international schools movement throughout the world. 2. discuss the status of the IB within Australia. The analysis of the questionnaire on the IB draws together the major concerns about the implementation of the IB in the Australian setting. The concluding section of the project makes a number of suggestions for further research in Australia. These include; 1. a study of the students taking the IB within Australia. 2. the second language requirement of the IB. 3. an evaluation of the assessment methods of the IB. 4. the curriculum of the IB. There is very little research that has been done or is underway on the IB. The need for research is urgent and the opportunity for this research is almost limitless.