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 ...

Teacher Special Education - Campbelltown Performing Arts High School

Campbelltown Performing Arts High School Campbelltown

Teaching - Secondary / Sep 30, 2026

Teacher Science - Wilcannia Central School ($20K Recruitment Bonus and $5k - $8k Relocation Support Payment)

Wilcannia Central School Wilcannia

Teaching - Secondary / Sep 30, 2026

Teacher Special Education - Willyama High School ($20k Recruitment Bonus plus $5K to $8K Relocation Support Package)

Willyama High School Broken Hill

Teaching - Secondary / Sep 30, 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

He taught for approximately 3 years. He sells books.

— Pat Pender (Patpend) on ‘Literacy Underlies All Achievement’: Popular Author Andy Griffiths Speaks Out

Top events

Opinion / Unis and schools are moving away from AI detection software. They should stop using it altogether

Since artificial intelligence (AI) software ChatGPT was released in 2022, teachers have been looking for ways to tell when AI has been used to generate text in assessments. AI-detection software is still sold by some tech companies, such as Pangra...

School news / First Nations teacher ed hub celebrates first major milestone

A First Nations Training and Teacher Education Hub program is creating new pathways for experienced Aboriginal educators in remote communities to gain university qualifications while remaining on Country.

School news / ‘Incredible honour’: bizarre sculpture for children’s author a fitting tree-beaut

It could be a scene from one of Andy Griffiths’ bestselling children’s books: the author gazing at ever-smaller versions of himself standing in the palm of his hand, while another Andy looks down from the branches of a tree.

School news / Smartphone ownership at 12 linked to increased risk of eating disorders: new research

Children who own smartphones by age 12 may be more likely to report eating disorder symptoms like binge-eating and tying self-worth to weight, new research suggests.

School news / Australia’s tutoring boom is accelerating, and the search data shows where

Google Trends data shows Australian searches for tutoring have roughly doubled since 2016, rose again in 2026, and are concentrated in New South Wales – in an industry that still has no entry requirements.

School news / Beware claims of edtech ‘sweet spot’, there’s compromised data at play: expert

Does the evidence show there is a ‘sweet spot’ when it comes to using technology in the classroom? Quite possibly not, a leading educational neuroscientist has warned.

School news / Hillcrest lessons: hopes jumping castle tragedy inquest can deliver reform

It’s been almost five years since Georgie Burt lost her son Zane Mellor in the Hillcrest Primary School jumping tragedy.

School news / Academics behind new AERO critique say it’s no targeted take down

The two academics behind the newly-established Australian Centre for the Public Understanding of Education (ACPUE) have said the Centre does not aim to ‘defeat’ AERO – despite suggestions to the contrary – but rather seeks to critique the evidence...

School news / Teach ethics as a standalone subject: research shows it works

Dedicated ethics classes should be a core feature of Australian schooling, a researcher has posed, with a sweeping study finding they produce students with improved moral reasoning and a desire to do the right thing.

School news / The AI robot helping to prepare teachers to handle heated parent conversations

Current research shows that aggressive, entitled, and abusive behaviour from a minority of parents is a growing and significant source of stress, burnout, and staff departures among Australian teachers and principals.

Comments