SIPA research on quality teaching

By Jennifer Leete

Federation is represented on the advisory committee for an important research project which is looking at the link between quality teaching and student achievement over time.

The project, called Systemic Implications of Pedagogy and Achievement in NSW Public Schools, or SIPA for short, involves University of Newcastle researchers Dr James Ladwig and Professor Jenny Gore who also worked with the Department of Education and Training (DET) on the development of the Quality Teaching in NSW Public Schools discussion paper.

The research project is a longitudinal study of the relationships between teacher professional learning, pedagogy and student achievement, tracking the experiences of three cohorts of students as they progress through school. The study is jointly funded by the Australian Research Council (ARC) and DET, as part of the ARC linkages program. As such it is subject to rigorous ethical and research protocols which ensure that the identity of teachers, students and schools involved will not be revealed in any report arising from the research. DET will not have access to any of the raw data.

Involvement or otherwise in the project is a professional decision to be taken by schools staffs and individual teachers. Teachers may withdraw from the project at any time.

Federation is happy to support the project as one which will contribute positively to research and knowledge of the importance of quality teaching and professional learning in our public schools.

For further information

September 2004 contents