New Open Access article by Burak Aydin, Marjolein Fokkema, Nurullah Eryilmaz, Ronny Scherer, Marcus Pietsch and me on the relationship between school leadership, teaching and achievement using the PISA-TALIS 2018 link dataset. www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

This description of the Irish Curriculum spec for the English LC by @finn_mcredmond is a perfect example of the vacuousness of many curricula. Typical of what we often see when curriculum developers are afraid to specify actual content and scared of setting high expectations.

What is a knowledge-rich curriculum? In any event not just facts, not just math and reading, and not elitist. It is the strongest lever for equity. And thus ultimately a matter of social justice. #EduSky @timsurma.bsky.social, @danielmuijs.bsky.social

Five Common Misconceptions About the Knowledge-Rich Curriculum Tim Surma, Paul A. Kirschner, Michiel Wils, Daniel Muijs*, Claudio Vanhees, Jasper NijlunsingCentre of Expertise Education and Learning, Thomas More University of Applied Sciences, Antwerp, Belgium; *Queen’s University Belfast, School…

Initial reviews for @ensermark.bsky.social and @greeborunner.bsky.social’s new book, #HowDoTheyDoIt? have been glowing! ⭐ Thank you to @danielmuijs.bsky.social for these comments. Have you ordered a copy yet? We would love to hear your comments if you do read it: buff.ly/3K6qYvp

New evidence from France: RCT's showed that students taught using explicit instruction performed better than those who were taught with socio-constructivist teaching. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

The number of PhD’s being awarded is increasingly outpacing the supply of academic jobs. This requires a rethink by universities of (over)recruitment, training and expectation management. Interesting blog by Huw Morris blogs.lse.ac.uk/highereducat...

It’s here 👏🏻 the 5th edition of the social science student journal @danielmuijs.bsky.social

This paper by Pietro Sarcassani is a nice illustration of the importance of subject knowledge to teacher effectiveness. In this study of Science teaching he finds that holding a subject degree in the relevant taught science (e.g. Biology, Physics...). sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Dit is een goede zet. Taalachterstand moet aangepakt worden. Jong beginnen is daarbij belangrijk, dus goed dat men al bij de kleuters gaat screenen en ondersteunen. Extra taalklassen op latere leeftijd zijn ook zeer wenselijk. www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/20...

Verjaardagsboeken/birthday books

Lining up is a sensible thing to do. Sets up the day and expectations and allows for an orderly move into classrooms.

Lucy Crehan presenting her strategic review of the NI curriculum. Need for reform made clear: we need to move to a new curriculum framework that is specific, focussed, knowledge-rich, purposeful, and flexible and inclusive. A clear and evidence-based direction. #Curriculum #NI

As ever, the loudest voices calling for the collapse of universities, presumably in the post-92 sector, benefitted from privileged educations.

In educational research we are often unclear on on our definitions and concepts, which makes it harder to develop a coherent knowledge base. New article on why teacher effectiveness research often shows small effect sizes. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....

Our article 'The role of knowledge-rich curricula in promoting deep thinking and complex skill acquisition' is online and free. #EduSky @danielmuijs.bsky.social @timsurma.bsky.social @dylanwiliam.bsky.social www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Increasing the importance of coursework in high-stakes assessment just as the AI revolution hits must be one of the worst decisions in education. #LeavingCert #Ireland www.irishtimes.com/ireland/educ...

Very interesting study on the impact of AI as a tool in research and development. Study in materials lab showed that using AI significantly improved research productivity, but that this depended on how knowledgeable the researcher was. arxiv.org/abs/2412.17866 #knowledgematters

Twee dagen in Brussel, werkend aan de nieuwe Vlaamse minimumdoelen met onze commissie. Die moeten kennisrijk, ambitieus en haalbaar worden. Met dank aan al onze expertengroepen zien ze er al goed uit, nu de schouders eronder op weg naar de eindmeet!

Hear from @paulkirschner.bsky.social, Carlo van Hees and me on The ThoughtStretchers Podcast on our co-authored book: The Knowledge Revival, Curriculum For Deep Thinking youtu.be/lz2OtbLJWxI?...

Brilliant two days visiting West London Free School & Michaela as part of my role as Chair of the Commission rewriting Flanders' curriculum minimum goals with Minister Zuhal Demir, education providers, journalists and @timsurma.bsky.social. Much to be learnt about a knowledge-rich approach.

I'm off to Flanders to visit primary schools and discuss their work on curriculum, so a reminder of this paper which reports some very promising findings on the value of a knowledge-rich curriculum in primary: edworkingpapers.com/ai23-755

In a school where the behaviour culture is strong and behaviour leadership is everywhere, a good teacher can be an excellent teacher. In a school where it's absent, a good teacher will have to fight just to remain good, and it will probably burn them out in the process.

A lot of AI guys seem to think "knowing how to ask the right questions" is some kind of magical new skill brought about by AI and not the bedrock of every academic discipline ever

Day of annual leave on Rathlin Island. Cold and wet, but still enjoying it.

Important research led by our Queens's SSESW colleagues Dr Colm Walsh, Prof Lisa Bunting and Prof Gavin Davidson.

Brutal takedown of reading policy in Wales and Scotland, as Northern Ireland looks to change course with its new strategy based around phonics. @kathyrastle.bsky.social makes several important (and apparently still necessary) observations about the evidence on reading. www.itv.com/news/2025-02...

Delighted to be at Limavady High School today to talk about curriculum today. Already heard two excellent presentations on routines and behaviour and adaptive teaching.

Interesting study of Kindergarten providing (further) evidence of the positive impact of a knowledge-rich curriculum. psycnet.apa.org/fulltext/202...

ThoughtStretchers Podcast Live: Developing Curriculum for Deep Thinking The Knowledge Revival with @danielmuijs.bsky.social, Claudio Vanhees and me hosted by @dperkinsed.bsky.social #EduSky thoughtstretchers.org/event/develo...

Pleased to announce that I'll be hosting a salon-style discussion Feb 17 with co-authors @paulkirschner.bsky.social, Claudio Vanhees, & @danielmuijs.bsky.social. A significant portion will be reserved for questions from those in attendance. RSVP here to join: thoughtstretchers.org/event/develo...

A useful summary here of presentations from ResearchEd Belfast, with papers from among others @bradleybusch.bsky.social @daisychristo.bsky.social @hugheshaili.bsky.social @ahamill.bsky.social as well as me banging on about curriculum. www.education-ni.gov.uk/news/researc...

Worth a read now that Science teachers in Ireland are planning for new specifications #edchatie #cogscisci #lcreform

For all those interested in Scotland's Curriculum Improvement Cycle this is an excellently timed open access book from several well known authors on the the importance of knowledge in curriculum making and its role in addressing equity @colinmcgill.bsky.social @olliebray.bsky.social

NI education people- worth reading, and soon if you're making a written submission or other contribution to the curriculum review that's in progress.

It’s here! Our new open access book on curriculum written by Tim Surma, @paulkirschner.bsky.social, @dylanwiliam.bsky.social, @timsurma.bsky.social, Nuno Crato, Elizabeth Rata, John Hattie, Claudio Van Hees, Michiel Wils, Jasper Nijlunsing and me. Download it here: link.springer.com/book/10.1007...

We should absolutely try to make lessons interesting and varied, and engage students. Several issues with 'fun' though: 1. The goal of school is learning, not entertainment 2. Aiming for fun is a losing game for education. School and teachers are never going to be able to 'outfun' TikTok or gaming

Lowering standards or simplifying curricula is 'a patronizing and dangerous attitude, cloaked as kindness, that assumes certain people are capable of less because of their race or background'. George W. Bush (NOT my favourite) called this the soft bigotry of low expectations. #EduSky

Interesting analysis of exclusions data using the National Pupil Database shows that ethnicity is not a predictor of exclusion. SEND status is, however, which does raise some questions as to whether mainstream schools are providing suitable support. www.mdpi.com/2227-7102/15...

Wow, a real hidden gem.

Flanders becomes the latest country to ban smartphones in schools (in primary and lower secondary). A sensible move we are seeing more and more often. #EduSky www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/20...

So these are my favourite books of the year, bit of a Shauna Lawless theme going on.

My kind of place.

Educating Tomorrow’s Teachers: Innovating Teacher Education Curricula with Best-Evidence Core Content. Working report on #TeacherEducation by Dries D'haese @timsurma.bsky.social Hannah Bijlsma Jasper Nijlunsing Kristel Vanhoyweghen @paulkirschner.bsky.social J& me. thomasmore.be/nl/media/14395

True and useful: how students participate in the classroom matters, and the routines we install shape this.

An example of the exciting possibilities of VR in education. A lot of potential for safe exploration and simulation.

England continuing a strong run of results in international studies. There is growing body of evidence in favour of the educational reforms of the last decade... #TIMSS2023 schoolsweek.co.uk/timss-2023-m...

Banning social media for under 16's (as Australia is doing) is a nonsense. Governments should refrain from introducing legislation that can't be enforced.

1/ Nice poster presentations at the EAPRIL 2024 conference yesterday. Bianca Claus (Avant Uni of Applied Sciences, NL) on self-regulation and executive functions among Y1: Many students, boys especially, suffer from lack of inhibition and lower SRL as brain still developing. #EduSky #HE

What else is different than other platforms ? A complete firehose for academics, researchers and anyone !