Who should decide what students learn at school? I’ve grown increasingly interested in this question since becoming an educational researcher, but writing this article also reminded me of something that happened when I was still at secondary school.

What is research, what does it involve, and how can you plan research so that it is effective? This article, written for educational practitioners who are (or would like to be) involved in planning and undertaking research, gives an overview of the research process, guidance on planning a research project ...

The authors argue the case for teachers to engage in and make use of research. Drawing on their experiences as consultants working in English schools they show how the "research-engaged" school can make an important contribution to self-evaluation, improvement, and the professional learning of staff. Their article explores the powerful ...

Reading Recovery is offered in most New Zealand schools, yet recent research shows that low-decile schools are less likely to offer it.

This article explores reasons for the lower uptake of Reading Recovery in low-decile schools, identifies some of the challenges they face in implementing it, and presents some solutions ...

This article, the fourth of a series about student research activities, examines the underlying reasons why it is important for students to have rich opportunities to carry out research-related activities. The author discusses the nature of research as enquiry, identifies some common themes in advocacy for future-focused education, and links ...

A look at the range of assessment tools available, what they do, and how to select the most appropriate tool for your assessment needs.

This first issue of set: Research Information for Teachers 2006 begins what will be a stimulating series for the year. We are fortunate to have writers who bring leading-edge research to our attention and so enable us to pass on to you evidence-based information on issues of emerging importance. Last ...

As the first early childhood e-Fellow, the author worked with five case-study children at Westmere Kindergarten to research whether Internet and communication technology (ICT) can enhance young children’s storytelling. This article shares the story of one of the case-study children, Casper, to illustrate the overall research findings, which suggest that ...

Can traditional definitions of professionalism be reconceptualised to respond to the unique and evolving characteristics of quality early childhood practice? As part of a larger analysis, this article explores the views of teachers working in care and education settings on the nature of professional behaviour in early childhood education.

This article looks at how the belief system of “special” education can act as a barrier to inclusion in early childhood education for children with disabilities and their families. The author suggests that changes in special education thought and practice are necessary if early childhood education is to progress inclusion ...