Shoot Arrows, Not Darts
When I began teaching, my practices regarding curriculum, instruction, assessment, and grading were similar to the way I played darts. I knew the basics of the “rules” for games; I understood how to “aim” and “throw” at the array of numeric targets; and while I thought I knew what I was doing, my consistency was sporadic, at best.
I have since learned that teaching practices are more like archery. The preparation is more focused and purposeful. The aiming goal is similar for every shot (Hit the bullseye!). The quality of equipment both matters and should be regularly evaluated for effectiveness. And it takes a higher level of concentration and intentionality…it’s impossible to be successful while holding a beer and talking about the Packers.
One of the main misconceptions about education is that each teacher needs to figure out the “secrets” to maximizing student learning. The truth is that there are few professions with more active research regarding best practices than education—and at all levels. There is no reason to haphazardly fire darts at 20 (or more) different aiming points.
One of the most trusted names in education worldwide is John Hattie. He conducted the largest meta-analysis research project (almost 1,200 different research studies and growing) related to best practices in education. He ranked 252 different influences on student learning based on their effect size, both positive and negative, in an attempt to answer the question: What works best in education?
Hattie evaluated the impact of all 252 different influences in his study. Essentially, the greater the impact, the more teachers should pay attention and add it to their educational quiver.
When the first edition of his book Visible Learning was published in 2009, it was called “the holy grail of education” because Hattie unearthed the most impactful interventions to increasing high levels of student learning, including six that have an effect size of over 1.00! This means that all six have the potential to improve the rate of student learning by 50%, which equates to a nearly two grade level leap or more in a single school year!
Over the next six months, I will reveal and explain the top six most impactful findings from Hattie’s study and what their implementation looks like in classrooms. This will help all educators in a variety of ways:
develop more focused and purposeful preparation
create consistent aiming goals
evaluate the quality of their current education practices
concentrate specifically on practices that can help foster impactful student learning gains.
Put down the darts; it’s time to start shooting arrows.
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