Informing teaching: navigating and translating education best practice

Key messages:

1. The ability to distinguish between what is robust research, and what is not, is a vital skill.
2. Research literacy skills and knowledge help teachers and school leaders make judgements about research quality.
3. Resources are provided to assist teachers and school leaders make good judgements about robust research.

Introduction/why read:

At a time when people have greater access to information than ever before, the ability to distinguish between robust research and less reliable information is a vital skill for teachers and school leaders. Research literacy supports evidence-informed practice and helps education professionals make decisions that maximise student learning.

This Spotlight focuses on how to engage with research and think critically about information. It provides guidance for interrogating research papers, scholarly publications and other sources to ensure decisions are supported by strong evidence.

By exploring key questions about quality, reliability, sampling, significance and implementation, this resource supports teachers and school leaders to better