Digital learning research
Research into digital learning, including the use of artificial intelligence in education, is an ongoing priority at ACER. Recent areas of research include:
- AI systems in teaching and learning
- Teacher capacity to use ICT in education
- Case studies of successful implementation of digital technologies
- Equity of access and cultural and social interactions
- ICT in assessing and reporting.
Submissions from 2025
AI systems in teaching and learning: Principles and practical examples. Building a PATH forward, Jonathan Brazil, Suijing Yang, and Fabienne van der Kleij
Empowering teaching and learning with educational technology: Literature review, Suijing Yang, Daniel Taylor-Griffiths, Fabienne van der Kleij, Pauline Taylor-Guy, and Ralph Saubern
Books from 2024
Infographic: Finding the digital learning ‘sweet spot’, Andrew Broadley
Teachers and technology in the Pacific, Anna Dabrowski, Yung Nietschke, and Elizabeth Cassity
EdTech for learning outcomes and impact: A comprehensive approach, Priyanka Sharma
Gender barriers to basic digital skills for employment in the ASEAN region: A review of promising practices, Louise Wignall, Anita Roberts, Justin Brown, and Syeda Kashfee Ahmed
Submissions from 2023
Introducing competency-based assessment through online workshops, ACER India
Supporting the quality of digital learning: Project brief, Abha Bhagat
Engaging young female students in digital technology programs: Part one, Sarah Buckley, Syeda Kashfee Ahmed, Kristy Osborne, Celia McNeilly, Shani Sniedze, and Rachel Felgate
Eight ways to better engage girls in digital technologies education, Sarah Buckley and Kristy Osborne
Infographic: ICT standards for teachers – an international snapshot, Jo Earp
National Assessment Program: ICT Literacy 2022: Public report, Tim Friedman, Kate O'Malley, Zachary Watts, Kristy Osborne, Louise Ockwell, and Laila Helou
National Assessment Program: ICT Literacy 2022: Technical Report, Dominique Hall, Kate O'Malley, Renee Kwong, Emma Camus, Tim Friedman, Kristy Osborne, Zachary Watts, and Dulce Lay
Technology in education: a case study on Lao People's Democratic Republic, Yung Nietschke and Anna Dabrowski
Engaging young female students in digital technology programs: Part two, Kristy Osborne, Rachel Felgate, and Sarah Buckley
Rethinking assessment in response to generative artificial intelligence, Jacob Pearce and Neville Chiavaroli
Infographic: How teachers feel about AI, Dominique Russell
Professional learning conversations: Adaptive expertise for schools. Supplementary digital materials, Helen Timperley
Building capacity for Quality Teaching Rounds – Victoria. Final report, Tanya Vaughan, Sarah Richardson, Toby Carslake, Trisha Reimers, Greg Macaskill, Toby Newton, Nathan Zoanetti, Andrew Mannion, and Martin Murphy
Events from 2022
An innovative method for teachers to formatively assess writing online, Dr Sandy Heldsinger and Stephen Humphry
Infografik: Kesenangan dan kemampuan membaca di era digital, Zoe Kaskamanidis
Infographic: Digital copyright laws and online teaching, Zoe Kaskamanidis
Infographic: Student reading in a digital age, Zoe Kaskamanidis
Introducing the Education Technology Value Evaluation Tool for Schools, Ralph Saubern, Pauline Taylor-Guy, and Fabienne van der Kleij
IEA International Civic and Citizenship Education Study 2022: Assessment framework [Early online version], Wolfram Schulz, Julian Fraillon, John Ainley, Bruno Losito, Valeria Damiani, and Tim Friedman
A policy model for implementing online social moderation to develop professional learning standards, Pina Tarricone
Review of the Australian Core Skills Framework and Digital Literacy Skills Framework and relevant assessment tools. Final report, Louise Wignall, Anita Roberts, and Jana Scomazzon
Submissions from 2021
Rapid review of effective practice principles in the design and delivery of digital resources for teachers, Syeda Kashfee Ahmed, Pru Mitchell, and Jenny Trevitt
Education in Conflict-Affected and/or Fragile States: Foundation level, Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER)
Education in Conflict-Affected and/or Fragile States: Practitioner level, Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER)
What sources of data did teachers use to inform remote teaching under Covid-19?, Anne-Marie Chase, Kathryn Richardson, and Nathanael Reinertsen
Online Training on Formative Assessment for Early Language, Literacy, and Numeracy (ELLN) in the Philippines: Final report, RTI International
Online school assessments: lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, Kavita Sanghvi
Submissions from 2020
International Computer and Information Literacy Study, Australian Council for Educational Research
Using picture books to reduce maths anxiety, Sarah Buckley
Universities need to train lecturers in online delivery, or they risk students dropping out, Anne-Marie Chase and Pauline Taylor-Guy
Remote learning rapid literature review, Gill Cowden, Pru Mitchell, and Pauline Taylor-Guy
Infografis: Keamanan Online Anak di Asia Tenggara, Jo Earp
IEA International Computer and Information Literacy Study 2018. Technical report, Julian Fraillon, Wolfram Schulz, John Ainley, Tim Friedman, and Daniel Duckworth
Digital development: what it means for teachers, Amy Lightfoot
Ministerial Briefing Paper on Evidence of the Likely Impact on Educational Outcomes of Vulnerable Children Learning at Home during COVID-19, Geoff N. Masters, Pauline Taylor-Guy, Julian Fraillon, and Anne-Marie Chase
Embracing digital learning in the COVID-19 era, Ashok Kumar Pandey
Are the rights of children in conflict with the rights and entitlements of school teachers?, Vimala Ramachandran
Infographic: Child online safety, Dominique Russell
A learning culture for the digital world – something to learn from Moscow?, Andreas Schleicher
Computer-based assessment of collaborative problem-solving skills, Claire Scoular
Universities need to train lecturers in online delivery, or they risk students dropping out, Pauline Taylor-Guy and Anne-Marie Chase
Play and learning in the digital age, Nicola Yelland
Submissions from 2019
Preparing for a digital future, Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER)
The Relationship between Teaching, Learning and Digital Assessment. Literature Review, Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER)
Digital literacy: Myths and realities, Julian Fraillon
IEA International Computer and Information Literacy Study 2018 Assessment Framework, Julian Fraillon, John Ainley, Wolfram Schulz, Daniel Duckworth, and Tim Friedman
Preparing for life in a digital world: the IEA International Computer and Information Literacy Study 2018 International Report, Julian Fraillon, John Ainley, Wolfram Schulz, Tim Friedman, and Daniel Duckworth
Gender Differences in Computer and Information Literacy: An In-depth Analysis of Data from ICILS, Eveline Gebhardt, Sue Thomson, John Ainley, and Kylie Hillman
Digital literacy skill development: Prescriptive learning analytics assessment model, Elspeth McKay
The Relationship between Teaching, Learning and Digital Assessment: Final Report, Sarah Richardson
Infographic: ICT Literacy of students, Dominique Russell
Infographic: Top borrowed picture books, Dominique Russell
The Research Files Episode 52: Keeping students safe online, Rebecca Vukovic
Submissions from 2018
NAP sample assessment ICT literacy: years 6 and 10., Julian Fraillon, Eveline Gebhardt, Tim Friedman, Daniel Duckworth, Kate O'Malley, and Kim Vernon
Leading school-based coaching to evaluate Open Education Resources, Kathryn Moyle
Making online group-work work: Scripts, group awareness and facilitation, Peter Reimann
Teacher attrition: What’s the real picture?, Paul R. Weldon
Submissions from 2017
Initial teacher education online throws a curve ball to teacher workforce planners, Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER)
Online assessment and good feedback, Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER)
Online assessment to support student learning, Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER)
In their words: student choice in training markets: Victorian examples, Justin Brown
Most borrowed picture books, Jo Earp
Developing an effective, accessible and sustainable digital repository of OLT learning and teaching resources: Final report, Philip Hider, Pru Mitchell, Helen Galatis, and Katie McDowell
Assessment online: informing teaching and learning, Geoff N. Masters
Assessment online: informing teaching and learning, Geoff N. Masters AO
Measuring the engagement of online learners, Darren Matthews
Final Report: Development of an online engagement scale, Darren Matthews, Ling Tan, and Daniel Edwards
Counting the costs and benefits in transition to a digital world, Juliette Mendelovits and Ling Tan
Understanding online pedagogy, Clare Nelson
Creating a global measure of digital and ICT literacy, Wolfram Schulz
Assessment of online learning: A world of possibilities, Michael Timms
Infographic: Cyberbullying and other digital dangers, Rebecca Vukovic
Submissions from 2016
The big picture : The impact of assessments on education policy
A global measure of digital and ICT literacy skills, John Ainley, Wolfram Schulz, and Julian Fraillon
Unplugging computer science, Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER)
Assuring the quality of future Victorian teachers : ACER Response to DET Discussion Paper: Working together to shape teacher education in Victoria, Lawrence Ingvarson
STEM digital projects at the The Cube : An exploration of The Cube : A digital and interactive STEM learning environment, Jacina Leong
Snapshots issue 9: How are computers and the Internet being used for out-of-school activities?, Catherine Underwood
School Staff Workload Study: Final Report to the Australian Education Union – Victorian Branch, Paul R. Weldon and Lawrence Ingvarson
Victorian Teacher Supply and Demand Report 2012 and 2013, Paul R. Weldon, Chandra Shah, and Glenn Rowley
Images from 2015
Australian Students in a Digital World
Assessment by stealth in a digital learning environment, ACER
Students head to Olympiads with new online support, ACER
Students head to Olympiads with new online support, ACER
The big picture: The impact of assessments on education policy, ACER
Infographic: ICT skills and student self-efficacy, Jo Earp
International Computer and Information Literacy Study: ICILS 2013: Technical Report, Julian Fraillon, Wolfram Schulz, Tim Friedman, John Ainley, and Eveline Gebhardt
National Assessment Program : ICT Literacy Years 6 & 10 Report 2014, Julian Fraillon, Wolfram Schulz, Eveline Gebhardt, and John Ainley
Evaluation of ICT in Education in Papua Province (ACDP-045): Final Report, Susanne Owen, John Hunt, Eda Simanjuntak, Eko Sediyono, Prapto Yuwono, Sri Yulianto, and Wigati Yektinintys Modouw
The move to NAPLAN online: The advantages and the road ahead, Stanley Rabinowitz
Australian Students in a Digital World, Sue Thomson
Taking stock of progress in ICT literacy, Sue Thomson
Examining the impact of computer games on achievement, Catherine Underwood
Snapshots issue 8: Playing computer games for recreation, Catherine Underwood