Career
At ETS, Ball conducted what are today considered classic evaluations of the impact on learning of children's educational television, studying the effects of first, Jim Henson's Sesame Street and then The Electric Company for Children's Television Workshop. In 1978, he left ETS to assume a professorship at the University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. While at Sydney, from 1979 to 1984, Ball was editor of the American Psychological Association's Journal of Educational Psychology, the preeminent scholarly publication in the field of learning sciences.
Positions held:
- Senior Research Psychologist, Educational Testing Service c. 1968–78
- Professor of Education, University of Sydney 1978–93
- Chair of Academic Board, University of Sydney 1988–91
- Pro-Vice Chancellor (Community Affairs), University of Sydney 1991–93
- Chief Executive, Victorian Board of Studies 1993–99
- Professorial Fellow, Melbourne University 2000–03
Ball was the original adjudicator for Sale of the Century as it aired for the first time in Australia in 1980. He would write the questions and producers would pick questions they liked and card them for airing. In close decisions Tony Barber would ask 'Professor Sam' to adjudicate.
Consultancy work was completed for the UN in Africa and the Philippines.
Read more about this topic: Samuel Ball (educator)
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