Columnists articles

105 total results
Getting all children off to a good start
Getting all children off to a good start

One of the biggest challenges we face in improving quality and equity in our schools is to better address the learning needs of the many children who, on entry to school, are at risk of being locked into trajectories of long-term low achievement, writes Professor Geoff Masters AO.

The ‘long tail' of underachievement
The ‘long tail' of underachievement

One of the biggest challenges educators face is to find better ways to meet the learning needs of the many students who fall behind in our schools, fail to meet year-level expectations (often year after year) and, as a consequence, become increasingly disengaged, writes Professor Geoff Masters AO.

A 21st Century curriculum
A 21st Century curriculum

One of the biggest challenges we face in school education is to identify and develop the knowledge, skills and attributes required for life and work in the 21st Century, writes Professor Geoff Masters AO.

Reducing disparities between Australian schools
Reducing disparities between Australian schools

According to Professor Geoff Masters AO, one of the biggest challenges we face in school education is to reduce current disparities in the schooling experiences of students in Australia’s most and least advantaged schools

Raising the professional status of teaching
Raising the professional status of teaching

One of the biggest challenges we face in school education is to raise the status of teaching as a career choice, to attract more able people into teaching and to develop teaching as a knowledge-based profession, writes Professor Geoff Masters AO.

‘Big five' challenges in school education
‘Big five' challenges in school education

Real reform and significant progress in improving the quality and equity of Australian schooling depend on tackling our deepest and most stubborn educational challenges, writes Professor Geoff Masters AO.

Achievement gaps - the continuing challenge
Achievement gaps - the continuing challenge

Professor Geoff Masters AO discusses the challenges of closing achievement gaps.

Rethinking formative and summative assessment
Rethinking formative and summative assessment

It’s a popular idea – educational assessments are either ‘summative’ assessments of learning or ‘formative’ assessments for learning. But just how fundamental is this distinction? And is it truly useful?

Challenging our most able students
Challenging our most able students

Professor Geoff Masters AO discusses identifying and addressing the needs of individual learners in Australian schools.

Planning a stronger teacher workforce
Planning a stronger teacher workforce

Ongoing improvements in educational performance in Australian schools depend on continual improvements in the quality of classroom teaching.