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As we hop into a new month, we do hope you had a restful and relaxing Easter break and are refreshed and ready to go. 

We've been busy! I'm pleased to share that several AERO publications have gone live today. Our discussion paper highlights how effective intentional teaching is critical for maximising children’s learning and development outcomes in early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings, particularly for children experiencing disadvantage. Also, 4 new explainers provide teachers with insights into how students learn, process, retain and apply information, and are a welcome addition to our Model of Learning and Teaching.

AERO will be at the Tasmanian Educational Leaders' Conference in Hobart and the MultiLit Summit in Sydney in late May. If you're planning on attending either event, drop by our booth as we would love to say hello. 

Wishing you all a wonderfully productive month of May. 

Dr Jenny Donovan, CEO
Australian Education Research Organisation

Today, we’re releasing 4 new explainers describing the research behind how students learn. 

Each explainer summarises an element of the student learning process outlined in AERO’s Teaching for How Students Learn: A model of learning and teaching, supported by the associated teaching practices explained in the Model – enabling, planning, instruction and gradual release. 

These explainers shine a light on the hidden processes behind effective learning, providing teachers with insights into how students learn, process, retain and apply information. These insights help teachers select and apply the teaching practices that align best with the 4 key learning processes: 

• Attention and focus – Students are actively engaged when learning.  
• Knowledge and memory – Learning is a change in long-term memory.  
• Retention and recall – Students process limited amounts of new information.  
• Mastery and application – Students develop and demonstrate mastery of their learning.  

Our new discussion paper highlights the importance of intentional teaching in ECEC. The new research shows that intentional teaching can significantly enhance learning outcomes, especially for children experiencing disadvantage.  

AERO CEO, Dr Jenny Donovan commented: ‘Historically, intentional teaching and play-based learning have often been positioned in opposition to one another. Our research challenges that notion, showing that significant associations exist between educators and teachers intentionally supporting learning through play to achieve positive outcomes for the child.’  

The paper, Play-based learning with intentionality, is available now and builds on our prior work on how improvements in ECEC quality can reduce the likelihood of developmental vulnerability at school entry. 

All students benefit from evidence‑based practices that align with the processes of acquiring, retaining, retrieving and consolidating learning. With today's release of the new explainers, it's worth revisiting the wider suite. 

• AERO's Model of Learning and Teaching identifies the most effective and efficient teaching practices aligned with how students learn.

• The overview of the evidence highlights the impact that aligning teaching practices with how students learn has on educational outcomes.
• The practice guides include evidence-based practices and techniques aligned to AERO's Model.
• The video examples show evidence-based teaching practices in real Australian schools.

If you're a Tasmanian school leader considering attending the Tasmanian Educational Leaders' Conference in Hobart, AERO will be there so grab your ticket and come and chat to members of our Evidence Adoption and Implementation team at the 2-day event. 

This year's MultiLit Summit will include presentations, workshops and panel discussions covering current research on reading, writing, oral language and numeracy, as well as leading transformation. Teachers and leaders will also be there sharing their experiences of translating theory into practice. AERO CEO Dr Jenny Donovan will be speaking on 'The long and winding road to evidence-based practice in Australian education'. AERO will have a booth at the event, so come and have a chat to us. 

The Educator recently highlighted our new resources to support effective implementation of evidence-based teaching practices. 

'Without successful implementation, evidence-based teaching practices languish as good ideas,' Dr Jenny Donovan, CEO of AERO, told The Educator.

Read the full article. 

Joining AERO means working with a diverse, committed team of experts who are passionate about education and improving outcomes for children. We’re a remote-first organisation with staff members in every state and territory.

To keep up to date on our research, resources and news, follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

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Contact us at
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