In the pursuit of advancing educational excellence, the constant improvement of teaching is not just necessary – it’s imperative. Amidst the rapid innovations characterising our era, it is tempting to be immediately drawn to new technologies and novel methodologies promising to transform education. Yet, meaningful advancements in educational outcomes can also be achieved by refining practices that have demonstrated impact.
The report aims to deepen the understanding of the complexities involved in refining evidence-backed teaching practices in schools. It does so by exploring the multifaceted nature of teaching – a discipline grounded in scientific research, an art requiring creativity, and a craft necessitating constant collaborative reflection and improvement.
Focusing on 20 practices that support five key dimensions of high-quality teaching, this report draws from extensive research to delineate what we know – and what remains to be understood – about each. While research has shed light into what can effectively improve learning outcomes, applying it in the complex everyday reality of classrooms can be a whole different challenge.
Teachers are tasked with navigating the complexity of the often unpredictable and sometimes chaotic realities of classrooms, where students have diverse needs and abilities, resources are limited, time is constrained, and numerous day-to-day challenges arise. Building upon the expertise from 150 schools across 50 countries, this report offers a rare glimpse into the real-time decisions of teachers and the observations they make in the classroom to gauge their effectiveness.
Teaching, like any science or art, demands craftsmanship. The complexity of teaching requires time and space for continuous learning and reflection, both individually and collectively. Achieving high-quality teaching is not a solitary pursuit; it also depends on the school environment, and the report explores how school leaders can enable high-quality teaching.
This report can be of interest for anyone committed to educational improvement. Incremental gains that enhance student learning might initially seem modest and even negligible, but such gains may accumulate, and ignite real change in our education systems. I hope that this unique report bringing research and practice together can serve as a spark for classrooms around the world.