January 7, 2008
NZ education research ‘smartest in the world’
A leading Canadian educationalist has hailed the Ministry of Education-funded Best Evidence Synthesis (BES) programme as
‘state-of-the art’ saying no-one else in the world is doing work as good.
Dr. Linda Kaser, Professor of Education at the University of Victoria, British Columbia, is in New Zealand to speak at
the annual conference of the International Congress for School Effectiveness and School Improvement (ICSESI) in
Auckland.
Dr Kaser says the BES programme, which gathers evidence of what works in education from local and overseas studies, is
“the smartest intellectual property in the world”.
The Ministry of Education launched the latest research in its series of BES reports at the conference. Teacher
Professional Learning Development is a study written by four researchers headed by Professor Helen Timperley of Auckland
University.
Dr Kaser praised the broad nature of the BES studies and their development of models to help teachers and students reach
their full potential. She says the BES Research manages to identify methods that can improve the learning of all
students – particularly disadvantaged ones.
“I’ve been a member of the ICSESI congress for six years and I’ve read everything that’s been written that could help
education in British Columbia. We thought that finding a solution that works for all learners was impossible. The fact
that you have done it is incredible.”
Dr Kaser’s praise continues a period of good news for education in New Zealand, following the international PISA study
showing New Zealand 15-year-olds’ achievement up with the best in the world.
*******
About the Best Evidence Synthesis: Teacher Professional Learning and Development
The latest research from the Ministry of Education shows that effective professional development can give students a two
year boost in their learning.
The analysis of 97 studies of teacher professional learning and development programmes is part of the Ministry’s Best
Evidence Synthesis programme. Seventeen of the professional development studies were carried out in New Zealand and all
showed what actually produced better results for students.
The New Zealand studies showed high overall effect compared with other countries.
“Much of our professional development work is clearly world leading”, said Ministry deputy-secretary Rob McIntosh.
The new BES was written by a team of four researchers headed by Professor Helen Timperley of Auckland University.
Their work has already received international acclaim from the International Academy of Education which plans to publish
the findings worldwide, and from the American Educational Research Association which will feature the research in its
2008 annual review.
Key findings included:
- New Zealand’s literacy professional development project was exceptionally successful, especially for low achieving
students
- New Zealand’s numeracy development project is a national professional development initiative that compares well by
international comparison
- Teacher development programmes that made the most difference involved cycles of research and development
- When school principals and leaders are actively involved, teacher professional learning and development is more likely
to succeed
- Big gains were made by students if the teacher’s content and assessment knowledge improved
- The quality of expertise available to assist schools with professional development was critical to its effectiveness
The hard copy of the new Best Evidence Synthesis on teacher professional learning and development will be launched at
the Conference of the International Congress for School Effectiveness and School Improvement on January 6 and available
online at http://educationcounts.edcentre.govt.nz/goto/BES
ENDS