Schools will be able to access more support for their efforts to embed evidence-based teaching practices, with the Australian Education Research Organisation (AERO) unveiling a new collection of implementation resources.
The resources, which include practice guides, videos, professional learning modules and modelling and coaching checklists, have been designed to assist school leaders and implementation teams in adopting a deliberate and structured approach to implementation.
The new resources are the culmination of AERO's three-year project that seeks to bridge the gap between knowing about evidence-based practice and putting that information to work inside classrooms.
AERO CEO Dr Jenny Donovan said the resources had been developed with insights from schools and were a response to growing demand for implementation support.
"Knowing what the evidence says will work in the classroom is the easier part," Dr Donovan said.
"Schools and school leaders are consistently telling us they need more support to turn that evidence into everyday practice in a way that can have lasting impact.
"These resources are designed to meet schools wherever they may be in the implementation process, whether they are just starting or have been working on implementation for some time and are wanting to enhance or strengthen that work."
Among the new resources is a "How Ready Are We?" checklist, which helps school leaders and implementation teams work through important factors, such as competing priorities, to staff willingness and capacity, before beginning an implementation effort.
New guides cover the unique role of principals in creating ideal conditions to support a school's implementation efforts as well as monitoring implementation outcomes to keep implementation efforts on track.
There are 6 new knowledge-building modules on evidence-based teaching practices, and a guide that helps schools go beyond one-off sessions and run professional learning cycles that are more likely to support and sustain changes to teacher practice. One of the modules includes “Monitoring Progress", which provides school staff with a guided introduction to checking student understanding during lessons, identifying gaps in learning and adjusting teaching to meet students' learning needs.
AERO's implementation resources have been informed by AERO's Learning Partner project and developed in partnership with school leaders, implementation teams and principals from schools across New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.
"As the national evidence body for education, our job is to make sure schools aren't left to work out the implementation puzzle on their own," Dr Donovan said.
"Evidence-based teaching practices only improve outcomes for students when they are implemented well.
"These resources give school leaders and their teams practical, ready-made support, so the effort they put into embedding evidence-based practice actually leads to better outcomes for students."
AERO's implementation resources, including the new additions, are freely available on the AERO website:
For AERO media enquiries, contact:
Rebecca Urban
M: 0411 790 304
E: media@edresearch.edu.au