About these resources
Professional learning cycles offer more support for changing teaching practice than isolated, one-off professional learning sessions. They’re a core strategy in a deliberate and structured approach to implementation, and include knowledge-building sessions, planning support, modelling and coaching.
- AERO has developed a series of modules and accompanying checklists to help implementation teams use professional learning cycles to embed explicit instruction in their school. They include guidance on how your school can tailor content according to your context and practice focus.
Knowledge-building modules
These modules are designed to help school implementation teams carry out knowledge-building sessions with staff on explicit instruction. Each module comes in the form of a slide deck, which takes approximately 45 minutes to one hour to complete with staff. They include:
- brief definitions of explicit instruction techniques and summaries of how these can be applied in classrooms
- examples and videos illustrating specific techniques
- suggested discussion or rehearsal activities.
The modules are:
- Module 1: Rules and Routines
- Module 2: Learning Objectives and Success Criteria
- Module 3: Teach Explicitly
- Module 4: Scaffold Practice
- Module 5: Monitor Progress
- Module 6: Revisit and Review.
Modelling and coaching checklists
These checklists are designed to help school implementation teams or coaches provide modelling and coaching support to teachers. They can be used to guide classroom observations and collaborative conversations between coaches and teachers about specific explicit instruction techniques.
The checklists are:
- Modelling and Coaching Checklist 1: Rules and Routines
- Modelling and Coaching Checklist 2: Learning Objectives and Success Criteria
- Modelling and Coaching Checklist 3: Teach Explicitly
- Modelling and Coaching Checklist 4: Scaffold Practice and Monitor Progress
- Modelling and Coaching Checklist 5: Revisit and Review.
More information
These modules and checklists are part of a set of practical resources for implementation teams running professional learning cycles, including:
- a video on using professional learning cycles at Maffra Secondary College, which shares a school implementation team’s experiences embedding explicit instruction
- a practice guide on using professional learning cycles, which provides an overview of what professional learning cycles are, and practical tips for running them in your school.
Keywords: evidence-based education, evidence-based teaching, professional development, teacher development