Sunday 15 April 2018

What Makes Great Teaching?

Thank you to @LeadingLearner for pulling all these together.

What Makes Great Teaching – Review of the Underpinning Research by Coe et al
This would be my starter paper for discussion. It grounds you in what great teaching might be and how teachers can become great or at least much better. It looks at six components of great teaching referencing both Rosenshine & Dunlosky (see below). It needs a whole school focus.

1. What Makes Great Teaching – Coe et al via Sutton Trust

Principles of Instruction – Rosenshine
This was Mark Esner’s suggested paper; I agree, one of the top 5. It’s an interesting and detailed paper. The paper is built around principles rather than specific practices. Each principle has a useful “Research Findings” and “In the Classroom” section. It’s one for classroom practitioners.

2. Principles of Instruction – Rosenshine

Cognitive Load Theory – Sweller
Arguably the most important theory for teachers to know, Dylan Wiliam certainly thinks so. The paper discusses the processing (short term memory) and storage (long term memory) of information. “If memory is the residue of thought” (Willingham) and remembering is a good thing; it is the basis for further learning as well as guiding current actions, then teachers need to take account of how to maximise this in their teaching. There are five recommendations for the classroom which are rooted in cognitive load theory.

3. Cognitive Load Theory – Sweller via CESE

Improving Students’ Learning With Effective Learning Techniques: Promising Directions From Cognitive and Educational Psychology – Dunlosky et al

The paper provides a review of the ten learning techniques; each one is set out using the same format: a description of the technique and why it is expected to improve student learning; an exploration of its “generalizability” in different contexts; links to any research and any identified issues with implementation.

4. Improving Students’ Learning – Dunlosky et al

Developing Great Teaching – Teacher Development Trust
If we want great teaching and learning in the classroom then we need great professional development in the staff room first and foremost. Too much professional development is quite literally a waste of time. Substantial effective professional development of teachers is a precursor of effective implementation and supporter of significant improvements in pupil outcomes. Eight key elements of effective professional development are explained within this paper.

5. Developing Great Teaching – Teacher Development Trust


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