Long reads

From a technical school of the future in Denmark to a building that reimagines school architecture in India ­– the 12 shortlisted designs up for this year’s World Architecture Festival (WAF) award in the ‘Education - Future Project’ category have the potential to redefine how students learn.

From a six-storey vertical school in the heart of Melbourne to a converted dumpsite in rural Morocco ­– the 10 shortlisted school designs up for this year’s World Architecture Festival (WAF) award have a whole host of unique features that make them stand out above the rest. Here’s a snapshot of the shortlisted projects.

Much discussion of evidence-based teaching is based on a narrow definition that would benefit from a broader recognition of the role of evidence in teaching and learning, Professor Geoff Masters AO writes in his latest Teacher column.

While low levels of physical activity among children and adolescents remain a concern in Australia, student engagement in the maths classroom also requires attention. One pilot program in New South Wales sought to tackle both issues simultaneously.

In his new Teacher column, OECD Director of Education and Skills Andreas Schleicher outlines several strategies for elevating the teaching profession, including strengthening professional autonomy, trust and the collaborative culture.

This year’s International Mathematical Modeling Challenge (IMMC) required students to measure and choose the ‘best hospital’. Here, Ross Turner explores how teams from Australia approached the task.

Emeritus Professor Bill Louden from the University of Western Australia presented at Research Conference 2018 in Sydney. His session, titled Evidence-based approaches to school improvement: Kimberley Schools Project outlined the fundamental principles that underpin the thinking behind the project.

Educators across Australia are always trying new ways to improve outcomes for their students. Not all changes result in improvements. Is there a way that we increase the likelihood of a change leading to improvement?

One of the main resources in schools is teachers, and in this column Dr Sue Thomson looks at the provision of teachers to advantaged and disadvantaged students in Australia.

In this fortnightly series, Teacher takes a closer look at some of the Gonski recommendations and what they might look like in practice. Today we explore the role of education research and evidence in driving practice and innovation to improve student outcomes.