{"id":272,"date":"2019-07-30T00:09:42","date_gmt":"2019-07-29T14:09:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simerr.une.edu.au\/quicksmart\/?page_id=272"},"modified":"2025-12-11T14:53:39","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T03:53:39","slug":"research-overview-and-ongoing-research-aims","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/simerr.une.edu.au\/quicksmart\/research-overview-and-ongoing-research-aims\/","title":{"rendered":"Research Overview and Ongoing Research Aims"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Program Foundation and Scope<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text has-media-on-the-right is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:auto 34%\"><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<p><em>QuickSmart<\/em> is a 30-week intervention program (30 minutes, three times weekly, minimum 90 lessons) that withdraws students from class with clear exit criteria once target skills are acquired. This evolutionary approach combines practical, student-focused learning with theoretical foundations from educational neuroscience and cognitive advances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since 2001, <em>QuickSmart <\/em>has operated as applied research &#8220;undertaken to acquire new knowledge but directed towards a specific, practical aim&#8221; &#8211; representing a longitudinal, programmatic set of coordinated research projects addressing numeracy and literacy under-performance across diverse Australian educational contexts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-right has-small-font-size\"><em>Photo: Professor John Pegg and Associate Professor Lorraine Graham \u2013 2001<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"696\" src=\"https:\/\/simerr.une.edu.au\/quicksmart\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/09\/john_lorraine_2001.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-540 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/simerr.une.edu.au\/quicksmart\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/09\/john_lorraine_2001.png 684w, https:\/\/simerr.une.edu.au\/quicksmart\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/09\/john_lorraine_2001-295x300.png 295w, https:\/\/simerr.une.edu.au\/quicksmart\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/09\/john_lorraine_2001-624x635.png 624w, https:\/\/simerr.une.edu.au\/quicksmart\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2019\/09\/john_lorraine_2001-60x60.png 60w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 684px) 100vw, 684px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong><strong>Current Research Focus<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The SiMERR National Research Centre pursues extensive, ongoing longitudinal research as the only justifiable way to advance this contested social-science field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Core Research Areas:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Working-memory load&#8217;s role in information processing and literacy\/numeracy problems.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cognitive obstacles preventing low-achieving students from reaching acceptable standards.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Development patterns across large student cohorts.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Scaling evidence-based interventions across sectors and jurisdictions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Implementation Research:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Developing models for successful program scaling.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Improving training through analysis of high-growth groups.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Assessing self-factors (efficacy, confidence, scaffolded risk-taking).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Creating closer learning theory\/educational neuroscience links.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong><strong>Current Scale<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Operating across over 1,700 Australian schools spanning urban, regional, and remote communities, SiMERR has collected comprehensive data from over 72,000 students (as of 2025). This extensive implementation provides robust evidence of program effectiveness across diverse educational contexts and student populations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong><strong>Assessment and Methodology<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Higher-Order Skills Measurement: Students&#8217; comprehension (reading) and problem-solving (numeracy) abilities are assessed using rigorous, independent standardised tests relevant to Australian students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Comparison Data: Average-achieving students in the same grades complete selected <em>QuickSmart<\/em> Basic Skills Assessor (QBSA) sub-tests and participate in standardised testing to establish program effectiveness baselines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong><strong>Demonstrated Outcomes<\/strong><\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Independent assessments consistently show substantial academic improvement for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous participants:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Academic Growth:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Effect sizes of 0.60 to 0.94 (representing two-to-three years&#8217; growth in one year, compared to 0.3 for typical yearly growth).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Individual student improvement reaching up to seven times normal growth<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gains maintained or enhanced in subsequent years.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Substantial first-year improvements that increase or double in the second year as schools gain experience.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Broader Benefits:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Positive feedback from principals, teachers, aides, and parents.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Significant outcomes for Indigenous students mirroring non-Indigenous results.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Increased classroom engagement and attendance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong><strong><strong>Research Impact and Recognition<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Inaugural University of New England Vice-Chancellor&#8217;s Award for Excellence in Research. (2009)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>NSW Department of Education approval as an intervention program under state\/federal partnership funding. (2009)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Unique position: Among the few interventions where evaluations examine implementation across all development sites.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>QuickSmart<\/em> was awarded the HTB Harris Award for an innovative program that has \u201cproven to successfully fulfill an educational need or problem over time\u201d. (2020)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>QuickSmart <\/em>was awarded highest ratings in the field of Education on research Engagement and Impact by the Australian Research Council (ARC) in its national assessment of research contribution to the broader community and the economy. (2019)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-css-opacity is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong><strong><strong><strong>Program Development and Support<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Developed at the SiMERR National Research Centre with support from Australian Research Council grants, Federal Government funding, and extensive backing from Northern Territory, New South Wales, and South Australian education authorities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Key Effectiveness Features:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Whole school approach with professional learning for principals and administrators.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>School-based QuickSmart teams including coordinators, instructors, and senior executives.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Five-day professional learning program.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Research-based intervention supported by extensive resources, manuals, software, and practical guidance.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Coordinated stakeholder collaboration ensuring program fidelity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>This systematic research fits the definition of &#8220;creative work undertaken systematically to increase knowledge stock and devise new applications,&#8221; catalysing development of new intervention programs across primary\/secondary schooling, at-risk adult learners, technical education, and workplace contexts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since 2009, the <a href=\"https:\/\/ascentgroup.org.au\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ascent Business Services<\/a> group in Armidale have been subcontracted by SiMERR to administer the packing and sending out of <em>QuickSmart<\/em> flashcard kits and other resources to schools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Program Foundation and Scope QuickSmart is a 30-week intervention program (30 minutes, three times weekly, minimum 90 lessons) that withdraws students from class with clear exit criteria once target skills&#8230; <a href=\"https:\/\/simerr.une.edu.au\/quicksmart\/research-overview-and-ongoing-research-aims\/\">Read more &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-templates\/full-width.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-272","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/simerr.une.edu.au\/quicksmart\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/272","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/simerr.une.edu.au\/quicksmart\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/simerr.une.edu.au\/quicksmart\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/simerr.une.edu.au\/quicksmart\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/simerr.une.edu.au\/quicksmart\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=272"}],"version-history":[{"count":39,"href":"https:\/\/simerr.une.edu.au\/quicksmart\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/272\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5047,"href":"https:\/\/simerr.une.edu.au\/quicksmart\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/272\/revisions\/5047"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/simerr.une.edu.au\/quicksmart\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=272"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}