Daniel Muijs

This open access book discusses why the seemingly straightforward strategy of teaching children how to think deeply does not work and offers an alternative way forward for the curriculum to achieve these objectives. Over the years, the role of knowledge in the curriculum has, like a pendulum, shifted between two extremes, from highly visible to virtually invisible knowledge elements. Insights from cognitive and educational psychology, sociology, and curriculum studies are used to underpin the current knowledge revival that is widely being observed in education. A knowledge-rich curriculum is proposed by the authors as not only the soundest way forward to both effectively acquire knowledge and complex cognitive skills in school, but also as a crucial lever to achieve equitable opportunities for all students. In understanding how a knowledge-rich curriculum can enhance learning, three overarching principles are discussed: (1) content-richness, (2) coherence, and (3) clarity. These principles are illustrated through practical examples from schools and educators who have effectively integrated knowledge-rich curricula.

This essential guide for education students and researchers explains how to use quantitative methods for analysing educational data using IBM SPSS Statistics. By using datasets from real-life educational research, it demonstrates key statistical techniques that you will need to know, explaining how each procedure can by run on IBM SPSS Statistics. Datasets discussed in the book are downloadable, allowing you to hone your skills as you read. In this third edition, explanations have been updated with figures and screenshots from SPSS version 28, alongside a range of new research examples and updated further reading. Daniel Muijs is Dean of the Faculty of Education and Society at Academica University of Applied Sciences in Amsterdam.

This essential guide for education students and researchers explains how to use quantitative methods for analysing educational data using IBM SPSS Statistics. By using datasets from real-life educational research, it demonstrates key statistical techniques that you will need to know, explaining how each procedure can by run on IBM SPSS Statistics. Datasets discussed in the book are downloadable, allowing you to hone your skills as you read. In this third edition, explanations have been updated with figures and screenshots from SPSS version 28, alongside a range of new research examples and updated further reading. Daniel Muijs is Dean of the Faculty of Education and Society at Academica University of Applied Sciences in Amsterdam.

This new edition of the popular textbook digs into the research behind different aspects of teaching in order to give students an informed understanding of what underpins high quality teaching. It explores what the evidence shows about the effectiveness of different approaches, drawing from a variety of educational schools of thought. New to this edition: enhanced discussion of what we can learn from cognitive science researchnew chapters on metacognition and thinking skills, teacher subject knowledge, evaluating teacher performance, and international comparisons on teachingnew Further Reading and Think Point features encouraging critical engagement with key research findings. This is essential reading for all students on initial teacher education courses including undergraduate, postgraduate, School Direct, Teach First and employment-based routes into teaching, and also qualified teachers wanting to deepen their understanding of educational research.

This new edition of the popular textbook digs into the research behind different aspects of teaching in order to give students an informed understanding of what underpins high quality teaching. It explores what the evidence shows about the effectiveness of different approaches, drawing from a variety of educational schools of thought. New to this edition: enhanced discussion of what we can learn from cognitive science researchnew chapters on metacognition and thinking skills, teacher subject knowledge, evaluating teacher performance, and international comparisons on teachingnew Further Reading and Think Point features encouraging critical engagement with key research findings. This is essential reading for all students on initial teacher education courses including undergraduate, postgraduate, School Direct, Teach First and employment-based routes into teaching, and also qualified teachers wanting to deepen their understanding of educational research.

Collaboration and networking have recently come to the fore as major school improvement strategies in a number of countries. A variety of initiatives, from government and other agencies, have encouraged collaboration and led to a lot of practical activity in this area. However, at present there are no texts in education that explore collaboration and networking from both a theoretical and practical perspective. In this book, we aim to provide a theoretical background to educational collaboration, drawing on research and theory in policy studies, psychology and sociology, leading ultimately to a typology of networks. This theoretical base will be tested in the discussion of a number of case studies referring to specific initiatives such as the Federations programme, multi-agency collaboration and Networked Learning Communities. Lessons for practice will be drawn and presented in terms of factors internal and external to the school. The key issue of network leadership will be addressed here as well.

Collaboration and networking have recently come to the fore as major school improvement strategies in a number of countries. A variety of initiatives, from government and other agencies, have encouraged collaboration and led to a lot of practical activity in this area. However, at present there are no texts in education that explore collaboration and networking from both a theoretical and practical perspective. In this book, we aim to provide a theoretical background to educational collaboration, drawing on research and theory in policy studies, psychology and sociology, leading ultimately to a typology of networks. This theoretical base will be tested in the discussion of a number of case studies referring to specific initiatives such as the Federations programme, multi-agency collaboration and Networked Learning Communities. Lessons for practice will be drawn and presented in terms of factors internal and external to the school. The key issue of network leadership will be addressed here as well.

It is now widely accepted that improving schools invest in teacher leadership and build the capacity for improvement by distributing leadership responsibilities to teachers. In primary, secondary and special schools, teachers are uniquely placed to influence the quality of teaching and learning and they are important gatekeepers to development and change. This book explores how teacher leadership is an intrinsic and important part of school and classroom improvement. It investigates teacher leadership in action and considers the roles, responsibilities and influence of teachers who lead. It considers the implications of teacher leadership for teachers’ professional development and focuses on ways in which this important form of leadership can be fostered and enhanced. The central message in this book is that teachers play a critical role in leading improvement in the classroom and school level and that this form of leadership contributes directly to raising achievement among learners. This book is crucial reading for all those who are concerned with teacher and school development, school leadership and school improvement.

How can we really evaluate teacher effectiveness?Systems of teacher appraisal and evaluation are being created across the world in order to monitor and assess teacher performance. But do the models used really give a fair evaluation?Based on international research, the authors argue that teacher effectiveness is too narrowly conceptualised and methods of measuring it are not attuned to the real contexts in which teachers work. They propose a model of differential teacher effectiveness which takes into account that:* teachers may be more effective with some categories of students than with others* teachers may be more effective with some teaching contexts than others* teachers may be more effective with some subjects or components than with others.Building on and developing previous research on models of teacher effectiveness and current theories, the authors open up possible new debates which will be of interest to academics and researchers working in this area throughout the world.

How can we really evaluate teacher effectiveness?Systems of teacher appraisal and evaluation are being created across the world in order to monitor and assess teacher performance. But do the models used really give a fair evaluation?Based on international research, the authors argue that teacher effectiveness is too narrowly conceptualised and methods of measuring it are not attuned to the real contexts in which teachers work. They propose a model of differential teacher effectiveness which takes into account that:* teachers may be more effective with some categories of students than with others* teachers may be more effective with some teaching contexts than others* teachers may be more effective with some subjects or components than with others.Building on and developing previous research on models of teacher effectiveness and current theories, the authors open up possible new debates which will be of interest to academics and researchers working in this area throughout the world.