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Primary Education Forums 2006

The Office of the Board of Studies conducted two Primary Education Forums in 2006 inviting lecturers in primary education from universities across New South Wales. The forums were an opportunity to share information on issues to do with the primary key learning areas, support for primary teachers in schools and research in primary education. Overview of Conference Papers.

Primary Forum - Wednesday 10 May 2006

The forum provided information to lecturers in primary education from universities across New South Wales with teacher education facilities. Sessions provided participants with information about the Foundation Statements and support to teachers on aligning grades A-E through the Assessment Resource Centre (ARC). Guest speakers were invited from the Department of Education and Training, Catholic Education Commission and Association of Independent Schools to inform participants of the support primary teachers receive in schools from each of the relevant schooling authorities.

Built into the forum was an opportunity for each university to participate in discussions on the implications of the Foundation Statements for teacher education and training programs and for participants to provide further feedback to the Office.

Primary Forum - Tuesday 21 November 2006

The Primary Education Forum held on Tuesday 21 November, 2006 involved lecturers in primary education from universities across New South Wales with teacher education faculties. Sessions provided participants with an update about the wide support and acceptance the Foundation Statements have received in schools. Participants at the Forum also viewed the Respect and Responsibility and the ARC websites.

At the Respect and Responsibility Forum held on 30 May, as part of the NSW Government's action plan for values, respect and behaviour in our schools, a number of school education initiatives were announced to promote the key community values of respect and responsibility. This forum showcased good practice in the teaching of respect and responsibility in NSW schools. An update of the Assessment Resource Centre informed lecturers in primary education about support that has been developed primarily for teachers to enhance professional practice in the assessment and reporting of student achievement from K to Year 12. Participants were shown authentic student work samples that have been aligned to a grade A-E.

Lecturers from six universities presented current research in a variety of areas specific to primary education. Topics ranged from Values Education and current initiatives in Mathematics research to multimodal possibilities in literacy and Science and Technology inquiry and implications for syllabus. A summary of each presenter and their presentation appears below. If more information is required about the presentations and/or the research contact details for the individual lecturers have been provided.

Guest speakers from the Department of Education and Training, Catholic Education Commission and Association of Independent Schools were invited to update participants about support in primary schools from each of the relevant schooling authorities. Built into the forum was an opportunity for each university to participate in discussions on the implications of current research in the primary classroom and for participants to provide further feedback to the Office on the major issues in primary education.