Research
Domain 01
Classroom Experience
The Barker Institute will undertake research projects that will provide research-informed practical advice and guidance to educational practitioners and leaders about classroom experience.
Our Purpose
Rationale
Coeducational classrooms reflect the realities of contemporary society and the workplace, offering rich opportunities for inclusive educational practices that meet the needs of every learner to ensure that all learners benefit from teaching approaches that value difference and diversity.
Research Questions
- How do coeducational and inclusive classroom practices shape students’ academic development, wellbeing and sense of belonging across different stages of schooling?
- In what ways do teachers design learning, assessment and classroom cultures that are responsive to gender, ability, background and individual learning needs?
- How can the thoughtful use of technology, including artificial intelligence, enhance differentiated instruction and inclusive classroom experiences while preserving human connection and professional judgement?
Selected Projects & Writings
- The Barker Journey: Tracking the first co-educational Year 3 class (2019) through to Year 12 (2028)
- Girls and Mathematics
- Confidence and support for all Mathematics Students in a Co-educational context (2023) - Amy Young
- The measurement, structure and trajectories of cognitive and affective dimensions of mathematics interest among Australian grades 7-10 students - PhD awarded to Dr Kester Lee in 2020.
- A Coeducational Future (2017) Teaching in a Coeducational Classroom (2020) - Mel Brady
- Gender and STEM
- Gender and self-efficacy
Classroom Experience Publications
Pop-in Week: A Teacher’s Window into Learning
Last week I had the unique privilege of stepping into dozens of classrooms across our vibrant Secondary School as part of our Pop-in Week, where teachers are invited to visit each other's classes.
- Sarah Clifton
- 06 June 2025
Confidence is Key! A Celebration of Mathematics at Barker
Celebrating maths with mini challenges and puzzles over dinner!
- 14 June 2024
Journal Launch - Learning in Practice: The Barker Institute Journal (2023)
This week we are proud to launch the 2023 edition of the Barker Institute Journal, Learning in Practice. The full journal and individual articles are now available online on the Barker Institute website .
- Dr Timothy Scott, Dr Matthew Hill
- 23 February 2024
The Barker Junior School Journey: Reporting on Years 3-6 from 2019-2022
The Barker Journey longitudinal study has now completed its fourth year. The subjects of the study are a group of students who celebrated the conclusion of their primary schooling in 2022. Detailed results reporting on the first four years have recently been shared.
- Dr Matthew Hill, Dr Timothy Scott
- 20 March 2023
Barker Institute Events for Semester 1, 2023
The first five events of the 2023 Barker Institute event calendar have been released, commencing with the community launch of the Lift@Barker project. Parents, students, teachers, and the wider community are warmly welcomed to our events. More events for Term 2 and Semester 2 will be announced soon.
- Dr Matthew Hill
- 20 February 2023
Publication of the 6th Edition of Learning in Practice: The Barker Institute Journal
Publishing the close-to-practice research that takes place within the Barker community is an important part of the Barker Institute’s role within the school. We are keen to share what has been learnt by experts in education, be those expert classroom practitioners, pastoral care and wellbeing leaders, or school leaders. Learning in Practice is a published conversation in which reflections on practice take place, and professional learning and development benefit.
- Dr Timothy Scott, Dr Matthew Hill
- 20 February 2023
AARE Conference 2022 – Transforming the Future of Education: The Role of Research
The Barker Institute was represented at the Australian Association of Research in Education (AARE) Conference in Adelaide last week including a presentation on the first four years of the Barker Journey. I had the opportunity to attend sessions on all four days of the conference on topics related to our Research Agenda before our own presentation on the final day.
- Dr Matthew Hill
- 05 December 2022
The results are in for the Barker Journey 2022 - Year 6
Two big weeks of data collection for the Barker Journey project
- 21 November 2022
Memorable Moments for Year 6
What is most memorable for Year 6 as they come towards an end of their Barker Junior School Journey?
- 21 November 2022
Looking back on 2022
While only four years into the ten-year project, 2022 marks the end of the Junior School component of the Barker Journey study.
- Dr Timothy Scott
- 15 November 2022
Year 7 Study Habits
An interactive workshop to help Year 7 students and their parents develop good study habits
- 10 May 2022
The Importance of success and value in career development for Women
An informative and challenging presntation given by Barker College parent and the CEO of Local Government Professionals Australia NSW, Annalisa Haskell
- 31 March 2017