Browse the AERO collection

This report provides insights into strategies and interventions that improve aspects of wellbeing linked to learning.

This discussion paper synthesises evidence related to intentional teaching in early childhood.

Attention and focus are essential for students to process and retain new information effectively. Attention refers to the selective focus of conscious thought on specific information, allowing students to engage meaningfully with learning tasks. Engagement encompasses how students behave, feel and think as they actively participate in learning activities.

Effective intentional teaching is critical for maximising children’s learning and development outcomes, particularly for children experiencing disadvantage, according to a new discussion paper from the Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO) released today.

Learning depends fundamentally on how students process and retain information. Knowledge refers to the facts, concepts and procedures that students acquire through experience and education – their theoretical and practical understanding of subjects. That knowledge is stored in long-term memory so that it can be retrieved for later use.

Mastery of learning is the accumulation and retention of knowledge, conceptual understanding and skills, and knowing when and how to use them. Application of learning includes transferring information to both familiar and new contexts, which leads to deeper understanding and more sophisticated use of knowledge. Mastery is fundamental to students’ achievement in school and their lives beyond formal education.

Retention and recall are fundamental to successful learning outcomes. Knowledge needs to be retained so that it can be used. Retention is the ability to store information in memory over time, while recall is the ability to retrieve and use stored information when needed. When students effectively retain and recall information, they can easily access and apply it to build on existing knowledge and develop deeper understanding.

This collection of resources provides insights about the learning process common to students across learning contexts, as well as the practical implications for teaching.

New resources explaining how students learn, and the research behind this, have been released today by the Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO).

Our Strategic Plan outlines how we will work towards our vision for Australia to achieve excellence and equity in educational outcomes for all children and young people through effective use of evidence.

Our Research Agenda outlines our annual research priorities. The agenda is developed in consultation with the education community and approved by our Board and a meeting of Education Ministers.