Long reads

‘It's one of those things that people don't feel comfortable talking about. Why is it so difficult to have that conversation when it is absolutely critical for our social wellbeing as well as our health?’ Bronwyn Robinson, Education Manager at the Continence Foundation of Australia, explains not all students start school toilet trained, others need ongoing support, and some who have previously had no problems can start to have difficulties.

In today’s expert Q&A we talk to Professor Pauline Taylor-Guy – Director of School and System Improvement at ACER – about the research on what leads to every student learning successfully, and the role of leaders, wellbeing and student voice.

Effective teaching and learning go hand in hand with supporting the health and wellbeing needs of students and, just as importantly, staff and school leaders. In this Q&A we speak to high school teacher Sue Webb, whose book Teachers Cry Too shares her struggle with and recovery from mental illness.

In our latest submission, researchers from Macquarie University and the University of Wollongong share findings from a study that identified 4 different types of teacher-student relationships, and how these relationships are associated with high school students’ science motivation.

Does your school have a Reconciliation Action Plan in place? Briar Road Public School has been recognised for their reconciliation initiatives and in this article, we speak to the principal and Aboriginal Culture and Curriculum teacher about how they have created a culture at their school where Aboriginal education is embedded in the curriculum.

How does the physical environment at your school impact the way you approach teaching and learning? In today’s article, we hear about Stonefields Primary School’s emphasis on vision and pedagogical alignment, the development of enabling architecture, impactful staff collaboration, and maintaining the learner at the centre of decision-making.

In today’s Q&A we catch up with Dr Dan Cloney – a Senior Research Fellow in the Education Policy and Practice Program and a Member of the Centre for Global Education Monitoring at the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) – to discuss early years transitions, assessment and learning progressions.

There is much talk about the impact that artificial intelligence-powered chatbots like ChatGPT will have on students, teachers and traditional classroom learning. But what is ChatGPT exactly? And how will it affect the way we approach assessment, issues of equity, and policy decisions in the future? In today’s article, we speak to 3 experts to find out more.

Learning Specialist Angela Myler says an understanding of the complexities of twice-exceptional students is paramount to be able to cater to their diverse learning needs, so that both disability and gifts are given the attention they deserve.

Researchers from the University of Queensland are determined to help teachers to improve the air quality in their classrooms, improve students’ cognitive performance and decrease the risk of contracting COVID-19 at the same time.