New centre to transform education through science

THE HON DR CRAIG EMERSON MP
Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research
MEDIA RELEASE

 

7 May 2013

New centre to transform education through science

Researchers and educators will work together to improve the quality and methods of teaching used in schools as part of a new national Science of Learning Research Centre established by the Gillard Government.

Tertiary Education Minister Craig Emerson today said the Government would invest $16 million in the Centre, which will be led by the University of Queensland.

The Centre is a key recommendation of the Prime Minister's Science, Engineering and Innovation Council Expert Working Group report, Transforming Learning and the Transmission of Knowledge.

The project will help Australia build a solid scientific evidence base that directly informs teaching practices.

It will bring researchers in education, neuroscience and cognitive development, pedagogy and educational technology together with teachers to develop a better understanding of the learning process.

"This is about giving teachers the practical tools they need to give young Australians a flying start in life," Dr Emerson said.

"It will build on the Gillard Government's education revolution by bringing evidence-based teaching methods into the classroom."

The Centre will be based at the University of Queensland and at the University of Melbourne. Each campus will house a state-of-the-art experimental classroom where the neurological, psychological and social aspects of learning can be studied and measured while students are learning.

Centre Director, Professor Ottmar Lipp at The University of Queensland, has a distinguished research career in enhancing teaching and curriculum design in psychology, and is highly experienced in leading multi-disciplinary teams.

The research at the Centre will be based around three themes: understanding learning, measuring learning and promoting learning.

It aims to establish criteria to assess the impact of different types of learning and innovative strategies to inform teaching practices. It will also explore the role of digital technology as a learning tool.

For more information on the Science of Learning Research Centre, visit www.arc.gov.au

Media contact: 
Minister's office 02 6277 7420

ARC Media contact: 
ARC Stakeholder Relations 
0412 623 056 or communications@arc.gov.au