To consider the evidence base for our assumptions about teaching and learning

Aim

To consider the evidence base for our assumptions about teaching and learning.

Evidence and reflection

Section 1.2 of Reflective Teaching in Schools considers three forms of evidence that can be drawn upon by teachers:

1) School performance or benchmark evidence

2) Educational research and reviews

3) The process of collecting and reviewing evidence from your own classroom

Reflect upon a situation in which you have used evidence to analyse and perhaps change your own teaching. Why did you choose the source of evidence? What was the nature of any change of practice that occurred as a result of your consideration of the evidence? Do you feel that your consideration of your evidence changed any of your views about pupils, teaching or learning?

Extension

Consider the forms of evidence above. Are there any that you haven’t used for a while? Is there something in your practice that might benefit from closer consideration through analysing data, reading or carrying out a small-scale piece of ‘action research’?