Evidence into action: Effective approaches to Feedback – presented by Evidence for Learning
In this workshop teachers will learn about effective feedback approaches, metacognition (getting students to think about their thinking and learning) and self-regulation strategies they can implement in their classroom. Teachers will explore a suite of feedback resources developed for schools by the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) in partnership with Evidence for Learning.
These resources include a research summary that highlights the most effective feedback approaches, case studies that profile effective feedback strategies in schools, and resources to help teachers evaluate the impact of their feedback approaches. The workshop will also examine metacognition and self-regulation by focussing on cognitive organisers (like mind maps) and other mechanisms that are powerful in helping students learn.
Attendees will learn about the Evidence Ecosystem and the hierarchy of evidence. The Evidence Ecosystem is the interaction of two processes; the Impact Evaluation Cycle in schools and the Wider Evidence Chain (engagement with external evidence and research) involving education researchers and policy makers.
Using the Evidence for Learning Teaching & Learning Toolkit and the feedback implementation materials, teachers will detail how they can turn evidence into action within their school (e.g. how to implement feedback at their school or across multiple classrooms).
Attendees will explore:
- how they can use the approaches within the Toolkit to help address a selected challenge in their school, and
- how they can measure the impact of the approaches they plan to implement (e.g. pre and post measurements).
Evidence for Learning supports teachers and schools to make great practice common practice in classrooms across Australia. They help educators increase learning by improving the evidence of what works and why. Evidence for Learning operates nationally across all sectors of the Australian education system.
Mindfulness in the classroom – presented by Smiling Mind
This 2-hour workshop introduces mindfulness theory, research and practice, providing attendees with a solid understanding of what it is, why we need it, and the science behind the benefits.
It also looks at how mindfulness fits into a school setting and includes an overview of the Smiling Mind resources for implementing mindfulness in the classroom, a framework for a whole school approach, professional development opportunities, and an opportunity for attendees to consider how they may bring more mindfulness into their school.
Smiling Mind is a not-for-profit focussed on providing accessible, life-long tools to support healthy minds. They are considered to be one of the world’s leaders in the pre-emptive mental health space and Australia’s go-to expert for youth-based mindfulness programs. They offer guidance for students and teachers and their app has been downloaded 4.1 million times.
