Standardised testing, and the last tickets to our book launches

Editor's note

With the school year wrapping up, we’ve launched a series looking at standardised testing. Catch up on our pieces about the limits of NAPLAN data, and how beliefs about the purpose of testing determine whether or not you support it. Look out for more in coming days around the standardisation of English language tests for international students, and how cultural differences create disadvantage for rural students.

And a big thank you to all those who have booked tickets to our book launches. So far, Perth and Sydney have sold out, with only a few tickets left for our Brisbane and Adelaide events. You can still book your tickets to see Michelle Grattan in conversation with Charis Palmer and Fabrizio Carmignani in Brisbane. Or if you live in Adelaide, join Dr Hannah Brown and Dr Sarah Keenihan as they discuss the year in science, technology and medicine – get your tickets here.

Sophie Heizer

Assistant Education Editor

Education

To make sure we get the most out of education, we may need to both broaden our narrative about standardised testing and try to minimise its negative influences. Shutterstock

Support for standardised tests boils down to beliefs about who benefits from it

John Munro, Australian Catholic University

The use of standardised testing is a divisive topic, and most of the disagreement comes down to beliefs about whether using it to control education is a good or bad thing.

After 10 years of minimal breakthroughs, NAPLAN doesn’t seem to be going anywhere but online. Shutterstock

NAPLAN only tells part of the story of student achievement

Rachael Jacobs, Western Sydney University; Katina Zammit, Western Sydney University

NAPLAN is great at tracking changes over time and between demographics, but not so great at measuring what factors effect change, engagement or creativity.

Queensland Election FactCheck

One Nation Queensland leader Steve Dickson, federal leader Pauline Hanson, and one of the party’s Queensland election candidates, Tracey Bell-Henselin. Facebook

FactCheck: are 'up to 21 fathers' dying by suicide every week?

Samara McPhedran, Griffith University

One Nation Queensland leader Steve Dickson said 'up to 21 fathers' are taking their lives in Australia every week. Is that accurate?

Jobs have been a constant theme of the Labor government’s campaign for a second term in Queensland. AAP/Darren England

FactCheck: has Queensland Labor created 'more than four times' as many jobs as the LNP?

Fabrizio Carmignani, Griffith University

Queensland Labor claimed it has 'created 122,500 jobs – more than four times the number of jobs created under the Newman-Nicholls government'. Is that right? We asked the experts.

Arts + Culture

Fossilised ancient human footprints at the Mungo National Park. How are we to engage with a history that spans 65,000 years? Michael Amendolia/AAP

Friday essay: when did Australia’s human history begin?

Billy Griffiths, Deakin University; Lynette Russell, Monash University; Richard 'Bert' Roberts, University of Wollongong

Over the past half century, Australia has experienced a 'time revolution' with Indigenous history pushed back into the dizzying expanse of deep time. The latest discovery reminds us that science, like history, is an ongoing inquiry.

People celebrate the results of the same-sex marriage postal survey in Melbourne. AAP Image/Luis Enrique Ascui

The road to same-sex marriage support has been long – and the fight isn't over yet

Scott McKinnon, University of Wollongong

Given that only 20 years ago Tasmania decriminalised male homosexuality, the same-sex marriage survey result represents an extraordinary change. But there is still work to be done.

Politics + Society

Blaxland MP Jason Clare voted yes in a strong “no” electorate. Mick Tsikas/AAP

It's unrealistic to expect MPs to follow the view of the people who elected them every time

Gregory Melleuish, University of Wollongong

Some people may think it's the duty of their MP to vote in the way they do. But political theory shows this doesn't work.

If a woman fights back, it does not necessarily mean she’s the primary aggressor in a family violence situation. Shutterstock

How Victoria's family violence system fails some victims – by assuming they're perpetrators

Ellen Reeves, Monash University

Police sometimes misidentify victims as perpetrators – because the real perpetrator has misled them, or because the victim is not displaying "typical" behaviour.

Science + Technology

Mungo Man finally returns to where he was found in the Mungo National Park. Office of Environment and Heritage/J Spencer

Mungo Man returns home: there is still much he can teach us about ancient Australia

Michael Westaway, Griffith University; Arthur Durband, Kansas State University

The remains of the first known Australian, Mungo Man, begin their journey home today. Scientists hope they'll still get a chance to study the ancient remains, working with the Traditional Owners.

A gloomy octopus perched above a bed of discarded scallop shells. Peter Godfrey-Smith

Did they mean to do that? Accident and intent in an octopuses' garden

Martin Hing, University of Wollongong; Peter Godfrey-Smith, University of Sydney

Intentional actions by usually solitary octopuses improve a sandy site, allowing group living in 'Octlantis'. But the buzz around the site grew quickly, creating some interesting interpretations.

Health + Medicine

Humans and underwater animals are the only mammals that don’t eat their placentas. from www.shutterstock.com

No, you shouldn't eat your placenta, here's why

Bryony McNeill, Deakin University

Don't follow the celebs: eating the placenta has no proven benefits, and could be dangerous.

Menstrual cups are carving out a market beyond earth mothers. David Pereiras/Shutterstock

Cups, lingerie and home-made pads: what are the reusable options for managing your period?

Lauren Rosewarne, University of Melbourne

Be it because of concerns over big femcare, landfill, cost, toxic ingredients or toxic shock syndrome, some menstruators seek solutions outside of the Kotex box. These are those choices.

Cities

A living room rented by the minute and another room shared for sleeping – the age of the ‘distributed’ home is upon us. Ziferblat

Living rooms for rent by the minute outsource the whole idea of home

Christian Tietz, UNSW

So you're having to room share to live in the city. What if you need more than a place to sleep? Well, now you can rent a living room by the minute. Welcome to the world of distributed living.

The Ballarat Road project in Maidstone and Footscray, Melbourne, will transform vacant land into housing for people at risk of homelessness. Schored Architects

Portable units and temporary leases free up vacant land for urgent housing needs

Katrina Raynor, University of Melbourne

An innovative collaboration between government, a non-profit group and philanthropists has found a way to provide urgently needed housing on land that would otherwise be left vacant for years.

Business + Economy

Slow wage growth is leading to over-indebtedness among those that can afford hosues. shutterstock

Increasing wages would make the Australian economy safer

Stephen Kinsella, University of Melbourne

Low wage growth isn't just bad for households - it's also bad for the overall economy. Research shows that increasing wages would take some of the risk out of the housing sector.

Central authorities are still important to create legitimacy in a cryptocurrency. Shutterstock

The blockchain does not eliminate the need for trust

Dirk Baur, University of Western Australia; Niels Van Quaquebeke, Kühne Logistics University

You may have imagined the blockchain would lead to a world without governments or institutions veryifying transactions, research shows that it probably won't.

Environment + Energy

A chain used for land clearing is dragged over a pile of burning wood on a drought effected property near St George, Queensland. AP Image/Dan Peled

Australia is a global top-ten deforester – and Queensland is leading the way

Noel D Preece, James Cook University; Penny van Oosterzee, James Cook University

The failed attempt to reinstate land clearing regulations in Queensland has prompted 'panic clearing', pushing Australia into the global top-ten deforesters.

Climate fight: a traditional Fijian warrior poses at the UN climate summit in Bonn. Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters

Don't give up on Pacific Island nations yet

Jon Barnett, University of Melbourne

To many people, island nations such as Tuvalu, Kiribati and the Marshall Islands are synonymous with climate catastrophe. But prophesies of doom aren't all that helpful.