Research, Evaluation & Development
Research and development was a critically important part of NALP which aimed to:
- Codify and explain its key elements
- Identify areas of need
- Investigate NALP’s impact
- Inform key decisions on its future.
Charles Darwin University was responsible for the research component of the program, which was divided into two inter-related parts: evaluation and development. All of the research was conducted with support of the NT Department of Education and Training.
Evaluation
CDU’s evaluation program analysed NALP’s outcomes to determine its success.
The evaluation examined three main questions:
- What are teachers’, AL school-based coordinators’, principals’ and DET AL coordinators’ opinions of the effectiveness of the Accelerated Literacy teaching method, professional development, resources and support?
- Has the NALP implementation led to the teaching of Accelerated Literacy in participating schools?
- What are the student learning outcomes of the program?
Stage One, from mid-2004 to mid-2006, identified and reported on key issues relating to the implementation of the program in the Northern Territory. It was submitted as the NALP Evaluation Interim Report in November 2006.
Read the NALP Evaluation Interim Report (an overview) March 2007
Stage Two, across 2007 and 2008, focused more closely on the methodology's impact on student progress, and the effectiveness of the training and support mechanisms of NALP. Submitted in late 2008, the report will be published in full in the second half of 2009.
Read more about the evaluation process here.
Development
The research focus for NALP is on the codification, verification and refinement of the current practice, with a number of additional research projects designed to extend the program beyond its current capacity.
In 2009, development research projects included: