Southampton Education School Southampton Education School Can educational research really inform teaching in schools? Marcus 27 March 2015

Southampton Education School Southampton Education School Ways in which the latest educational research can be used to inform teaching in schools LifeLab – how can we transfer what we do there into the classroom?

Southampton Education School Southampton Education School Is educational research any use? Policy makers don’t make great use of research findings Teachers don’t have much time to read research findings Anyway, there is rapidly expanding OFSTED database on school practice

Southampton Education School Southampton Education School Aren’t Ofsted data sufficient? Ofsted is a non-ministerial govt. dept. Independent researchers are needed to question the hasty or incoherent policy

Southampton Education School Southampton Education School Can we trust independent research? Lots of educational research has been flawed - some promoted by the media: children only learn properly in groups children learn using brain gym drinking water frequently during lessons children only learn if you appeal to their learning style children must have iPads to learn in the 21 st century

Southampton Education School Southampton Education School OECD Education Policy Outlook 2015: trillions of dollars are spent on education policies globally, only 1 in 10 are actually evaluated. "If we want to improve educational outcomes we need to have a much more systematic and evidence-based approach. We need to make education a lot more of a science.“ Andreas Schleicher, OECD Director of Education and Skills

Southampton Education School Southampton Education School Raising achievement: What actually works? John Hattie – Visible Learning Biggest analysis of educational research ever Meta-analysis of 60,000 studies/0.25 billion students All comes down to: Teacher Expertise Not class size, uniform, school type, homework, length of school day, setting/streaming… 7

Southampton Education School Southampton Education School Hattie, John (2008). Visible Learning: A Synthesis of Over 800 Meta-Analyses Relating to Achievement. NY: Routledge. p ISBN ISBN Encourage: Teachers with passion! Teachers with high expectations Teachers who look for impact Teachers need to talk together about their teaching Peer learning Give GOOD teachers autonomy

Southampton Education School Southampton Education School Hattie: Why are we falling behind in international league tables? 1.We’re neglecting our highfliers. 2.Lower expectations: In England: if you don’t succeed it’s because you aren’t very able. In Asia: if you don’t succeed it’s because you didn’t try + wanting their families, schools & society to be proud!

Southampton Education School Southampton Education School ‘Me, my health and my children’s health’

Southampton Education School Southampton Education School 12 Southampton teenagers’ views (Survey of year old students: 395 girls & 370 boys from 9/12 schools) They think they’re generally healthy They know much fruit & veg they should have, but don’t follow this in practice 30% usually have an alcoholic drink at least once a week 19% smoke on a regular basis

Life course CHRONIC DISEASE RISK Timely intervention produces substantial risk reduction Fixed genetic contribution to risk is small Impact of adult intervention is small Lifecourse approach to non-communicable disease risk reduction

Southampton Education School Southampton Education School 14 School Ofsted Report “A particularly successful workshop, LifeLab…is making an important contribution to students’ understanding of the need to adopt healthy lifestyles.” & School of Medicine

Southampton Education School Southampton Education School A lasting impression 15 Our studies have demonstrated important statistical changes in the attitudes of children six months after experiencing LifeLab. Grace, et al., (2012) Health Education, 112(6),

Southampton Education School Southampton Education School LifeLab programme Teacher Professional Development Lessons at school Visit to LifeLab (one day) Follow-up lessons at school Celebration Day: pupils present scientific posters at LifeLab ??? 16

Southampton Education School Southampton Education School Post-LifeLab activity Later LifeLab experience in Year 10/11? An app to keep checking diet Fitbits Teacher research?

Southampton Education School Southampton Education School Links between schools and Southampton Education School LifeLab ‘Talk to US’ (linking pupils with researchers) Maths & Science Learning Centre PD courses PGCE (Schools Direct & Placement Led) Masters PhD Taught PhD Open to any new ideas! e.g. action research in the classroom