RfT

Students' views about science theory and practice

This month we feature the work of another influential educational thinker - Rosalind Driver (1941-1997).Rosalind Driver is widely acknowledged, by teachers and other educational practitioners in England and abroad, for her contribution to our understanding of how children's ideas about science influence their learning. She began with the perspective that children construct their own ideas about the behaviour of the natural world, as a result of their observations of things happening and the ways that people talk about them.

Curriculum

The Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency (QCDA) described the curriculum as 'the entire planned learning experience of a young person', which includes skills, values and personal development in addition to what is to be taught and learnt. But what does this mean in practice? The key factor is the design of the curriculum at school level.

Neuroscience

Improvements in brain scanning technology and the use that scientists make of it means that our understanding of the learning process is continually developing. While understanding the functions of the brain has many implications for teaching and learning, it is a complex and dynamic field of study that can seem daunting.

Teachers and school-based research

Teacher engagement in and with research can be a highly rewarding form of professional development. There is also evidence of beneficial outcomes for students. We have decided to summarise one example of such work in this TLA research summary. Because teachers' engagement in/with research involves a dynamic mixture of empirical enquiry, experimenting with new approaches and is often supplemented by peer observation and support, the work is not usually undertaken or reported in forms that are traditional for research.

Deprivation and education

Numerous studies have shown that the relationship between deprivation* and education is crucial for understanding the significant impact deprivation has on later outcomes in adulthood. Deprivation can leave young people with fewer qualifications and skills, which in turn can affect their future employment and earnings, health and social well-being.

Parental involvement

The importance of parental involvement in children's education is well evidenced. But how much difference does parental involvement make and what kind of involvement makes the difference?For this TLA research summary we have summarised a literature review of studies that explored the impact of parental involvement on children's educational progress and strategies for enhancing their involvement.The study is:Desforges, C. and A. Abouchaar. The impact of parental involvement, parental support and family education on pupil achievement and adjustment: a review of the literature.

Teachers' professional learning

CPD is high on the school improvement agenda. It's also a vital ingredient in the development of teachers' careers and an important aspect of school leadership. Our TLA research summary in February 2004 explored the evidence from a systematic review about effective professional development for teachers - at the time national interest in CPD was growing fast.

Effective classroom talk in science

Talk is a teacher's prime teaching tool, but how many of us stop to plan or analyse what we say, or think about how it affects pupil learning? This research summary features a project* that examined in detail how teachers use talk to promote meaningful learning in science.  The researchers analysed the interactions between 12 teachers (six primary and six secondary) and their pupils in science lessons to find out what strategic use of talk in teaching (often called 'dialogic teaching') looked like in science.

Positive alternatives to exclusion

growing number of pupils, including primary school pupils, who are permanently excluded from school. The authors recognised the position of many teachers whose unions were demanding protection for their members and for pupils by excluding unruly pupils from mainstream schools. The authors believed that many teachers did not see exclusion as an acceptable solution to the problems posed by the most challenging students.

Teaching methods in England and France: A comparison

When it comes to judging the progress of the nation's education system the media tends to focus on rankings provided by international educational surveys such as the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS). More detailed comparative studies, on the other hand, go further in contrasting the processes and contexts in which learning takes place. These studies can be informative for teachers wanting to explore effective teaching and learning strategies.