New publications

The Boys' Reading Commission findings reveal that three out of four British schools are concerned about boys' underachievement in reading. The Commission linked boys' underachievement in reading to three interrelated factors. One was the home and family environment, where girls are more likely to be bought books and taken to the library, and where mothers are more likely to support and role-model reading. The second was the school environment, where teachers may have a limited knowledge of contemporary and attractive texts for boys and where boys may not be given the opportunity to develop their identity as a reader through experiencing reading for enjoyment. The third factor was male gender identities, which do not value learning and reading as a mark of success. The full report is available online.

Britain's National Literacy Strategy (NLS) affected every primary and secondary teacher in the country, and attracted the attention of many other governments. This book is the first definitive and objective review and evaluation of the impact of these literacy reforms. It examines how teaching policy and practice were impacted by the reforms; how the NLS came into being, how it was operated; what it did and did not achieve; and lessons from its successes and failures. From publisher's description.

More than 95 per cent of staff members in Australian schools have experienced some form of workplace bullying. Bullying of Staff in Schools aims to assist school employees to understand the phenomenon of staff bullying: its existence, the forms it takes and its impact on staff members and their schools. It draws together responses from more than 2,500 Australian government, Catholic and independent school employees about 42 separate kinds of bullying behaviour. Over 80 per cent of respondents reported having been bullied through questioning of their professional judgement, or being set unreasonable targets, deadlines or workload. The least-experienced types of bullying were those actionable by law under sexual harassment and anti-discrimination legislation, or criminal action such as assault. Adapted from UNE media statement. See also publisher's description.

Scholars in psychology, psychiatry, neuropsychology, law and ethics explore the ways that children are affected by television, movies, video games, music and advertising, and consider ethical, legal and policy implications. Authors discuss behavioural and neurological effects of viewing violence; violent video games; music and music lyrics; and the internet generally. Another topic is the sexualisation of youth, and the role of the media in such sexualisation. Contributors discuss the potential effects of restricting the distribution of sexual themes in the mass media, and the roles that advertisements in the mass media – and particularly highly sexualised advertisements – play in altering children's self-images and behaviour. Adapted from publisher's description.

Every education system that has reached the global top tier of school performance has engaged in ambitious reform to improve the quality of teaching and the school leadership that drives it. Our reform will need to be every bit as ambitious. This paper aims to stimulate and inform discussion about the reform we need. It outlines a vision for the future of the teaching profession and school leadership in Victoria, gives an overview of key challenges, and recommends potential actions. Now is the time to take stock of where we are and to examine best practice across educational jurisdictions to chart the way forward. From Foreward. The full report is available online.

Frontline information and communications technology (ICT) includes the hardware, software, and supporting network infrastructure that helps public sector agencies achieve organisational objectives and deliver services. The objective of this audit was to assess whether the obsolescence of frontline ICT equipment and software is managed effectively and efficiently throughout the technology life cycle. The audit examined agencies that deliver frontline services, including the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development (DEECD) and four government secondary schools. The audit concluded that obsolescence of frontline ICT assets is not being given adequate recognition. There are major shortcomings in planning and asset management frameworks, unsustainable funding models, and a lack of oversight of frontline ICT assets. A more robust funding and management model is needed to better reflect the rapid ageing of ICT assets. Funding arrangements for frontline ICT assets should take into account all the costs involved in sustaining the existing capacity of essential services. Secondary school student learning goals that depend on ICT assets are at risk, due to insufficient oversight. Adapted from report, which is available online.

Open Access (OA) is the provision of free access to peer-reviewed, scholarly and research information to all. It requires that the rights holder grants worldwide irrevocable right of access to copy, use, distribute, transmit, and make derivative works in any format for any lawful activities with proper attribution to the original author. Open Access uses Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to increase and enhance the dissemination of scholarship. The rising cost of journal subscription is a major force behind the emergence of the OA movement. The emergence of digitisation and internet has increased the possibility of making information available to anyone, anywhere, anytime and in any format. Through Open Access, researchers and students from around the world gain increased access to knowledge, publications receive greater visibility and readership, and the potential impact of research is heightened. Increased access to and sharing of knowledge leads to opportunities for equitable economic and social development, intercultural dialogue, and has the potential to spark innovation. In all the work UNESCO does in the field of OA, the overarching goal is to foster an enabling environment for OA in the Member States so that the benefits of research are accessible to everyone through the public internet. Adapted from report, which is available online.