New publications

This report outlines findings from the 21st Century Teaching Strategies for a Highly-Connected World program initiated by ideasLAB and NBN Co to help schools and higher education institutions explore the possibilities of the NBN for learning and teaching. The program took place from June 2012 to August 2012 and involved 60 teachers from Willunga High School, Presbyterian Ladies' College Armidale and TAFE New England Institute. Teachers participated in a professional learning program designed to explore ways to use technologies and services via the NBN to open up new learning opportunities in the classroom. At the conclusion of the program 86 per cent of the teachers involved reported that services provided over the NBN are helping them to teach in more powerful ways. Adapted from Executive Summary. The full report is available online. See also article 4 February 2013 on Yahoo News.

Lighting Mathematical Fires 2 is the sequel to Lighting Mathematical Fires by the same authors. The new book aims to provide stimulating material for students in years 2 to 8, in the form of a series of problems. Lighting Mathematical Fires 2 covers the basics of mathematics, activity problems, numbers and algebra, measurement and geometry, and statistics and probability. The final section focuses on problems based on the three content strands of the Australian Curriculum: Mathematics. An ebook version is also available. Adapted from publisher's description, which also links to professional learning opportunities related to the text.

The report presents information about the issues and challenges experienced by students with disabilities in the Victorian school system. It also identifies potential solutions, consistent with Victoria's equal opportunity and human rights framework, to improve access to education for students with disabilities. The report is supported by a series of fact sheets. Adapted from publisher's description, linked to the full report online.

This report is part of a wider three-year program of research, 'Vocations: the link between postcompulsory education and the labour market', which is investigating the educational and occupational paths that people take and how their study relates to their work. It is specifically interested in exploring the transitions that students make in undertaking a second qualification (that is, whether they change field of education and/or move between the VET and higher education sectors). It also looks at the reasons why they decide to undertake another qualification. Adapted from report. See also publisher's description, linked to the full report which is available online (requires free registration with NCVER).

Hannah McGlade's new book addresses the issue of Aboriginal child abuse. The author is a Noongar woman living in Perth. She is a member of the WA State Administrative Tribunal – Human Rights stream and an Adjunct Researcher at the Curtin Centre for Human Rights Education. Chapter 1 is titled 'Introduction – Facing the challenge'; Chapter 2 'Understanding colonisation and trauma'; Chapter 3 'Patriarchy, and women and children's oppression'; Chapter 4 'A decade of government reports and inquiries'; Chapter 5 'The criminal justice response to child sexual assault'; Chapter 6 'Close to home: Noongars taking a stand in the courts'; Chapter 7 'Looking forward: Aboriginal victims at the centre'; Chapter 8 'Knowing from the heart'.

Most parents of teenagers are concerned about what their teenage children do online and how their behaviour could be monitored by others. Some parents are taking steps to observe, discuss and check up on their children's digital footprints, according to a new survey by the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project. Issues include the information that advertisers learn about their child's online behaviour; their children's online interactions with strangers; their child's reputation online; and how their child's online activity might affect their future academic or employment opportunities. Some of these expressions of concern are particularly acute for the parents of younger teens. Adapted from report overview. The full report is available online.