Data in Schools Melbourne 2026

Dr. Geoff Masters AO, a prominent education scholar specialising in educational measurement and large-scale reform, kicks off 'Data in Schools - Melbourne' for a powerful keynote and whole-group workshop that challenges traditional views of assessment. Drawing on his extensive work as the former CEO of ACER and his expertise in the development of progressive achievement, Dr. Masters will guide the audience in defining the critical theme of progress, not just attainment.

Dr. Anne-Marie Chase joins us for an essential, hands-on workshop on leveraging Generative AI to transform your assessment process. Taking the work out of creating valid, diagnostic quizzes explores how teachers can redesign quizzes to make learning visible in the age of generative AI. Moving beyond scores and performance, this session introduces a practical approach to creating diagnostically aligned quiz items and using Guttman analysis to reveal patterns of student understanding. Participants will experience a simple, repeatable workflow, from rubric to item design to analysis, and see how AI can ethically reduce workload while supporting, not replacing, teacher expertise. Expect hands-on activities and real-time data insights that show how quick quizzes can become powerful tools for responsive teaching and meaningful learning conversations.

Dr. Therese Hopfenbeck, Professor of Educational Assessment and a Visiting Fellow at the University of Oxford, closes Day at 'Data in Schools - Melbourne' for a timely keynote on the rapidly evolving role of Artificial Intelligence in education. Dr. Hopfenbeck's research sits at the intersection of data, digital technology, and teaching practice. In this session, she will address the critical question of how AI is disrupting traditional ideas about assessment, particularly in language learning.

Almost a decade of sitting with school leaders across HSC, VCE, QCE, and the IB has taught us one thing above all: the most powerful analytical tool in a school is a well-formed question. AAS's PSAM (Post Secondary Academic Measure) was shaped not by data scientists alone, but by principals and heads of department who became more curious the more they understood — and whose questions, in turn, made the platform smarter.
 
In this 15-minute session we offer a window into that decade-long dialogue: how human conversation and rigorous statistical modelling grew together, and what it means now that AI has entered the room. The central tension is this — AI-assisted analytics can scale insight, but they also scale misinterpretation. A system that generates confident, declarative statements without the contextual knowledge behind the figures is a system that can mislead as easily as it illuminates. We'll share how PSAM is integrating AI-assisted insights in a way that preserves — rather than replaces — the human judgement that has always been at its core.
 
If you want to explore the full methodology, the data models, and the consultation approach in depth, join our 60-minute session this afternoon

Dr. Linda McIver, the pioneer of authentic Data Science and Computational Science education with real impact for secondary students, joins us for a dynamic keynote and workshop. Drawing from her work as the founder of the Australian Data Science Education Institute and author of Raising Heretics: Teaching Kids to Change the World, Linda is an inspiring speaker who regularly delivers engaging professional development for educators across all disciplines. A passionate advocate for STEM, equity, and inclusion, her session will focus on her mission: empowering Australian students with Data Science skills in the context of projects that enable them to solve problems and make a positive difference to the world.

This 60-minute session will explore the transformative impact of measuring general capabilities on school practice. Angela Pollock, Director of New Metrics and Director of Research Practice Partnerships at the University of Melbourne, will begin with a short presentation demonstrating how these new measures are changing schools. Angela brings 17 years of experience as a secondary school teacher and Assistant Principal and holds a Master of School Leadership. She is passionate about the powerful collaboration between schools and research institutions.

Following her opening, the session will transition into a panel discussion where educators and leaders from Victorian based schools (Alli Lehmann, Angeline Yannopoulos, Travis McKenzie, and Kathryn Pearson) will share their direct experiences with these changes.