Category Archives: Assessment

Using data to improve teaching – a work in progress.

I don’t think many teachers would disagree with the idea that its a good thing to use student assessment data to try and determine what students need to learn next, at least in Victorian schools – or would they? Often teachers … Continue reading

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Teach to the test – what’s next?

Well, as reported in the Age Newspaper, it didn’t take long for some directive to teachers to teach to the Naplan test. We all know you get some short term gain for 1 year and as the article points out … Continue reading

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How far have we come as teachers in using technology to engage learners?

Have a quick flick through this presentation as we in Australia shut down for the summer school holiday period. I’m reminded of a now famous quote “Yes we can” when I see this. I remember as far back as the … Continue reading

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Using sticky notes on a wall to promote dialogue about a school’s purpose

  I’m not sure this works for adults – hence my go at this for my staff but I can see this as a hit for students as they review their inquiry topic. I will post the wallwisher link for … Continue reading

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assessment for learning

At last weeks leadership meeting we struggled for some time with the question how to best use the latest assessments we had of students mathematical understandings. During March we had all our 350  Prep – Year Four students individually tested … Continue reading

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TIMMS test results spark controversy

This past fortnight I have talked about my schools performance on national tests to school council [NAPLAN] and now I’ve seen lots of editorials and responses in newspapers about Australia’s performance in the recent international tests in maths and science for years … Continue reading

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School is about more than tests

  I have just spent some time this week with school council looking at our year 5 student results for this years national tests [NAPLAN]. I publish the performance data of year 3 and 5 students on these tests each year … Continue reading

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Student transitions from year to year

Today whilst hearing about the Departments latest version of the school review I had one of those light bulb moments when I heard a school reviewer talk about student transitions. To put this into context in Victoria all public schools … Continue reading

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The Class Size Debate

I was fortunate to meet John Hattie recently who is one academic I often quote in my work. John Hattie is from New Zealand and has been researching amongst other things the effects of various strategies or innovations on student learning. … Continue reading

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Making a difference by Douglas Reeves.

I was fortunate to hear Douglas Reeves for the second time at the recent ACEL conference in Melbourne. He is the founder and chief executive officer of the Center for Performance Assessment, an organization dedicated to improving student achievement and … Continue reading

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School improvement is not unlike peeling an onion – the jouney is layered and may produce tears .

  At most weekly leadership meetings we agenda a discussion on a published research paper distributed and read prior to meeting and this week it was the 90/90/90 Schools: A Case Study article. The article written by two journalists was based on research … Continue reading

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Maths materials – tools or manipulatives? A walkthrough query.

Readers of my blog will know that we have Michaal Ymer, an educator with a focus on maths, coaching teachers in classrooms. Michael early on in his work with us presented three main messages: students need maths materials to manipulate so … Continue reading

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tests and the Rudd education revolution

Today the Prime Minister of Austalia, Hon Kevin Rudd delivered a speech at the National Press Club on the education revolution. I received a transcript of the speech which for me had several highlights: While Australian schools stand up reasonably … Continue reading

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“Lessons from the Supreme Tester” by Julia Gillard

  Julia Gillard is reported to have said this month that she was blown away by the works and ideas of Joel Klein, the former Assistant Attorney General of the United States – anti trust division. Mr Klein has been … Continue reading

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Toronto Superintendent Kathy Cowan visits Elsternwick.

On Wednesday 7/8/08 I was honoured to host Kathy Cowan a superintendent of a family of schools [SE6] in Toronto. I first met Kathy at Harvard University in 2006 and again in 2007 in Toronto when I visited a number of the family’s principals. … Continue reading

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