- Title: Learning about learning; What every new teacher needs to know
- Authors: Laura Pomerance, Julie Greenberg and Kate Walsh
- Access the original paper here
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Paper summary
This report from the National Council on Teacher Quality assesses the alignment of teacher preparation programs’ textbooks and coursework with research-based instructional strategies. It finds a significant gap between established best practices, identified by the Institute of Education Sciences, and what is actually taught to aspiring teachers. The six key strategies—pairing graphics with words, linking abstract and concrete concepts, posing probing questions, alternating solved and unsolved problems, distributing practice, and assessing to boost retention—are largely absent or inadequately covered in reviewed textbooks and coursework. The report concludes with recommendations for textbook authors, publishers, teacher preparation programs, and state agencies to improve teacher training by emphasizing these evidence-based strategies. The lack of emphasis is attributed to low research standards in the field and a preference for individual teaching approaches over universally effective methods.
What are the key implications for teachers in the classroom?
The sources highlight some key implications for teachers in the classroom:
- Teachers should use research-proven instructional strategies in their classrooms. The Institute of Education Sciences (IES) has identified six strategies that are supported by a large body of research and that have been shown to be effective for all students, regardless of grade or subject.
- Teachers need to understand the cognitive science behind learning. These strategies are based on an understanding of how the brain learns and retains information. Teachers who understand these principles can make more informed decisions about how to design and deliver instruction.
- Teachers should integrate these strategies into their lesson plans. There are many ways to incorporate the six fundamental strategies into lessons, regardless of the subject matter or grade level. Teachers can use a lesson-planning template to help them integrate these strategies into their teaching.
- Teachers should assess student learning frequently. This can be done through a variety of methods, such as quizzes, tests, and projects. Regular assessments help students to retain information and also provide teachers with feedback on student learning.
- Teachers should provide students with feedback on their assessments. This helps to reinforce learning and correct any misunderstandings. Teachers should also ensure that students have opportunities to practice retrieving information from memory, as this helps to solidify learning.
- Teacher training programs need to do a better job of preparing teachers to use these strategies. The sources note that teacher preparation programs often do not adequately cover the fundamental instructional strategies. This is a serious problem, as it means that many teachers are not being equipped with the tools they need to be effective.
The sources make it very clear that teachers need to be trained in research-based instructional strategies in order to be effective. The six fundamental strategies identified by the IES are a great place to start. By incorporating these strategies into their teaching, teachers can help all students to learn and succeed.
Quote
Teaching aspiring teachers how to maximize student learning and retention is the paramount task of their training. It is therefore of real consequence that the guidance given by textbooks on these topics makes only passing reference to essential knowledge about learning.
