Research School Network: The 12 Days of Christmas

Posted by Shaun Allison

On the 12^th day of Christmas my Research School gave to me…OK, it’s a bit early, but here are 12 easy to read research papers to feast on over the Christmas period:

Principles of Instruction by Barak Rosenshine – this classic paper suggests 10 research based principles of instruction, with suggestions for classroom practice.

Putting Students on the Path to Learning by Richard E Clark, Paul A Kirschner and John Sweller – this paper sets out a compelling argument that for novices, direct explicit instruction is more effective than partial guidance.

What will improve a student’s memory by Daniel Willingham – a great exploration of how the mind works, how we learn and then how can we use this in the classroom. 

Strengthening the Student Toolbox by John Dunlosky – this paper looks at the most effective strategies students can use to study.

Cognitive Load Theory: Research that teachers really need to understand – an Australian publication, produced by the NSW Centre for Education Statistics and Evaluation, this is a great summary of the research on this topic.

Metacognition & Self Regulated Learning – produced by the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) this is a useful guide for mobilising the research evidence on metacognition.

What Makes Great Teaching? by Rob Coe, Cesare Aloisi, Steve Higgins & Lee Elliot-Major – produced by The Sutton Trust, this is a really useful review of the research that looks at effective teaching.

The Science of Learning by The Deans for Impact – a really accessible paper that summarises the existing research from cognitive science relating to how students learn.

Critical Thinking: Why is it so hard to teach? by Daniel Willingham – this paper explores why it is so hard to get students to think critically, why we usually get it wrong and what we can do about it.

Making Things Hard on Yourself, But in a Good Way by Elizabeth & Robert Bjork – a great introduction to the idea of ​‘desirable difficulties’ and why it is so useful for learning.

Retrieval-Based Learning: A perspective for Enhancing Meaningful Learning – this paper unpicks why the idea of retrieval practice is such an integral part of the learning process.

Understanding Working Memory by Susan Gathercole & Tracy Packiam Alloway – a brilliant introduction to working memory and the role it plays in supporting learning in schools.