A recent research paper recently caught my eye. It is titled Opting Out as an Untapped Resource in Instructional Design: Review and Implications. This stood out to me for three reasons. Firstly, because I have written a lot about the importance of getting students to think hard (see here and here). Secondly, because I worry that students may use “I don’t know” sometimes (though certainly not all times) as a proxy for “I don’t want to have to think about it”. And finally, because last year I filmed an interview with Headteacher, Michael Chiles about how to respond when students reply with “I d ..read more

Have you heard of the “Spiral Curriculum”? This interesting-sounding strategy explores a different way to help build students’ mastery of complex concepts over time. But what is it, and what does it entail? The Spiral Curriculum is an educational strategy that introduces complex concepts to students at a basic level early in their education journey. These concepts are then revisited in increasing depth and complexity over time. This approach is built on the premise that learning is a process of continuous building and reinforcement. By encountering the same topics at various points in their e ..read more

In the lively environment of a primary school classroom, the Wait Time after asking questions to your class can easily find itself shortened. However, to allow students to process questions more deeply and encourage thoughtful and considered responses, Wait Time management is key – and this may be especially true for younger learners. In our search to discover more about how Wait Times can be used specifically with primary school aged children, we recruited the help and wisdom from Teacher and Team Leader, Sarah Oberle. We had the privilege of interviewing her for the Expert Insights series o ..read more

Classrooms are busy by nature. Sometimes, it can leave students who are more shy and introverted in the shadows. It’s important to understand how shyness and educational expectations interact to figure out whether teachers may unconsciously set different benchmarks for shy students compared to their more extroverted peers. So, let’s unpack these considerations – how does shyness impact educational outcomes? Read on to find out more about: What the research tells us The impact of teacher perspective and shyness on learning 3 tips to help you engage shy students ..read more

Despite it’s growing popularity amongst educators, there is still so much we don’t yet know about Retrieval Practice. According to a recent publication, “there remain many unanswered research questions, under-explored approaches to practice testing, and other dimensions of test-enhanced learning that have yet to be thoroughly investigated”. Fortunately, we have just read a brilliant recent research paper, called Emerging and Future Directions in Test-Enhanced Learning Research that provides an insightful overview of the current state of Retrieval Practice and sets the groundwork for future d ..read more

Two different philosophies have emerged in education about how to help a large range of students: Differentiation and Adaptative Teaching. At first glance, they may look very similar, but upon closer inspection have a very different approach and potentially very different outcomes. And recently there has been a big shift from the former to the latter. So, why is this shift happening? What are the key differences between Differentiation and Adaptive Teaching that are causing it? Read on to learn about: What Differentiation and Adaptive Teaching are How they differ Why Adaptive Teaching is gai ..read more

Every year, as exam season looms on the horizon, tension begins to mount in classrooms. The pressure to perform well, coupled with the fear of failure, can exacerbate feelings of anxiety, ultimately impacting the outcome. The ability to manage these exam nerves and test anxiety is essential in ensuring students’ success. However, with the right approach, these nerves can be managed, allowing students to approach exams with confidence and calm. So, what does research suggest to combat this anxiety? Read on to find out more about: What exam stress is How exam stress affects students 5 things t ..read more

Two different philosophies have emerged in education about how to help a large range of students: Differentiation and Adaptative Teaching. At first glance, they may look very similar, but upon closer inspection have a very different approach and potentially very different outcomes. And recently there has been a big shift from the former to the latter. So, why is this shift happening? What are the key differences between Differentiation and Adaptive Teaching that are causing it? Read on to learn about: What Differentiation and Adaptive Teaching are How they differ Why Adaptive Teaching is gai ..read more

Students often aim for “perfection” in their work; and while this sounds like it should be celebrated, this may come at a heavy cost with approximately 77% of students suffering with fear of failure. This isn’t a surprising result, as aiming for something that is largely unattainable is bound to come with a lot of pressure and little reward. So, what is the mechanism linking perfectionism and fear of failure, and how can we help students get out of this cycle? Read on to find out more about: The link between perfectionism and fear of failure What research suggests 4 tips to help students to ..read more

In an era where digital tools and technologies are increasingly integrated into every facet of our lives, Generative AI seems to be on everyone’s mind in education. Proponents claim that this technology has the potential to radically transform how students learn, offering both unprecedented opportunities and new challenges. But we’re also seeing increasing concerns surrounding cheating, plagiarism, and lessened learning outcomes. So, which is true? Is generative AI helping or harming students? New research would suggest the latter… Let’s discuss: The state of AI in education How AI has affec ..read more