One provocative question: what on earth does evidence-based really mean?

Paul Gardner

By Paul Gardner
Community contribution / December 13, 2021

This post was written before Alan Tudge took leave from his position as the Minister for Education. But he's not the only one to bang on about 'evidence' without really being clear what he means.

There can be little argument in wanting university Schools of Education to impart to their students, knowledge premised on systematically-acquired ...

School Learning Officer (Industrial Technologies & Design), Good Counsel College, Innisfail - Good Counsel College

Catholic Education - Diocese of Cairns Innisfail Queensland

Good Counsel College is seeking applications for a School Officer (Industrial Technologies & Design) to join their College community.

Non Teaching Positions/Roles / Jan 28, 2026

School Learning Officers - Casuals - St Gerard Majella School, Woree - St Gerard Majella Primary School

Catholic Education - Diocese of Cairns Woree Queensland

St Gerard Majella School is seeking applications for a Casual School Learning Officers to join our community and support students learning in class in small groups and...

Non Teaching Positions/Roles / Jan 28, 2026

Teacher Special Education - The Meadows Public School

The Meadows Public School Seven Hills

Teaching - Primary / Jan 28, 2026

By Paul Gardner

Community

Paul Gardner is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Education at Curtin University. He is also the United Kingdom Literacy Association’s Country Ambassador to Australia. Paul specialises in research around writer identity; compositional processes and pedagogy. He has written about process drama, EAL/D, multicultural education and collaborative learning. His work is premised upon inclusion and social justice. Twitter @Paugardner

Similar news

Opinion / What does 'back to basics' really mean? What 'reforms' are being signalled this time? Careers / Evidence-based approach is the key Policy / Inclusive education: does one size really fit all?

Latest comments

Between 3 teachers in my office we spent well over 10k of our own money. With one hitting the 6k mark. This doesn...

— Surfer Boy on ‘Unacceptable Reality’: Teachers Spend $1k Annually On Their Own Classrooms, Union Finds

Top events

School news / Tech proliferation in schools is harming students’ learning, neuroscientist warns

A prominent educational neuroscientist has warned that we risk further eroding children’s cognitive development if the expansion of edtech into classrooms continues as it is currently.

School news / ‘A societal issue’: urgent call to keep students engaged in STEM as school year begins

As students across the country return to classrooms, Engineers Australia says that declining participation in mathematics and STEM subjects poses a long-term risk to Australia’s workforce and prosperity, while denying young people the option of em...

School news / Become secure in your insecurities: the speaker that’s reframing school bullying

Before discovering how to disarm bullies for good, Jonny Shannon thought his physical appearance and learning disorder made him an all too easy target throughout his disrupted secondary schooling.

School news / Children’s books a powerful starting point for facilitating critical conversations: research

Teachers and parents are being asked to adopt a new framework for teaching critical consciousness in children through the way they learn to view the books they read.

School news / For nation’s most vulnerable, school costs progressively more unaffordable: research

For families battling homelessness, the costs associated with the beginning of the school year – new books, stationary, uniform, tech – can make for the most stressful of times.

School news / France begins steps to ban under-15s from social media

France's National Assembly has backed legislation to ban children under 15 from social media, amid growing concerns about online bullying and ‍mental health risks.

School news / Get outside: myopia rates amongst indoor generation cause for concern

As we approach the 2026 school year, optometrists are encouraging parents and educators to make outdoor play a priority for their children this school year, with new data revealing that 27 per cent of Australian children who underwent an eye test ...

School news / Parental mediation significant in lowering risk of internet addiction: new research

The use of mobile devices by primary school-aged children for gaming, social media and streaming significantly increases the risk of internet addiction – and parents are the main influence, new research has found.

School news / Britain looking to follow Australia’s lead in banning kids from social media

While the jury remains out on the effectiveness and ramifications of Australia’s social media ban for under 16s, at least attempting to curb the often unsavoury and negative influence is having rippling effects globally.

Opinion / Pinterest classrooms can wreak havoc with students' attention, regulation and cognitive load

Step away from the laminator. Gently lower the staple gun. It’s that time of year again. When fonts, colours, and classroom themes suddenly feel like very important decisions (I beg you to steer away from the apparently resurfacing 70s and 90s tre...

Comments