How to help your child love reading

Many parents bought their children books for Christmas, but how many will get read? There are several ways in which adults can help encourage a love for reading in children and unlock all the benefits which books can bring.

What makes a good education video?

Research – and common sense – suggests that students prefer videos that are simply produced, convenient to watch and have a clear narrative delivered in an informal conversational way.

Indigenous children need better pre-school education

A large study shows preschool benefits Aboriginal children’s development more than childcare or being taken care of at home, but the benefits of preschool are not as large as for non-Aboriginal kids.

A replan for NAPLAN

This has been a year of schools closing and a rapid switch to online learning. It’s also been a year with no NAPLAN, offering a chance to reassess how we monitor school performance.

My greatest hope for our future is an inclusive education

Education is the key to success for people with a disability as well as their able-bodied peers. Ensuring that everyone has access to high quality education will unlock all the talents Australians have to offer.

Helping disadvantage kids learn after COVID

COVID-19 has exposed fault lines in the education system for already disadvantaged students who are more likely to be severely impacted by the pandemic.

School anti-bullying schemes can do more harm than good

International research into the effectiveness of school bullying prevention programs shows that a high proportion of programs either do not reduce bullying or can even increase it.

Arvanitakis on education: Building brave spaces

The strength of our democracy depends on a commitment to upholding both diversity and free expression, especially when it is hard, and this is particularly important in education.

Pre-school is becoming a federal election issue

As well as promising benefits for children, a more integrated, universal preschool education system would deliver significant benefits to families and the economy.

What have we learned from online learning?

Online learning in primary and secondary schools and higher education institutions has challenged how teachers have traditionally created strong relationships and positive learning environments.

Minimising ‘mathemaphobia’

Maths – it’s the subject some kids love to hate, yet despite its lack of popularity, mathematics is critical for a STEM-capable workforce and vital for Australia’s current and future productivity. Now, researchers exploring the impact of anxiety on learning maths have found that boosting student confidence is pivotal to greater engagement with the subject.

Parents’ lessons for teachers

While it’s hoped schooling will return to “normal” post-COVID remote learning, the experiences of parents should inform educators’ practices of the future.