Simplifying the Science of Teaching: Developing how-to guides for effective foundational literacy and numeracy programs

• In Event: Publicizing public goods in education: New evidence and tools to improve the sector

Proposal

In the last decade, the education sector has increased efforts to improve foundational literacy and numeracy outcomes, including significant implementation programs at large or national scale. The Science of Teaching activity, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, was designed to contribute to improving the design and implementation of these large-scale programs. The activity is focused on the development, distribution and dissemination of public goods documents and research on various aspects of the work of foundational literacy and numeracy improvement. This presentation will provide an introduction to the products already developed as well as garner feedback from the broader sector related to what products and areas of knowledge about the science of teaching are most urgently needed.

Structured pedagogy programs in foundational literacy and numeracy have several key elements. These include student materials and structured guidance to teachers on how to teach them, teacher training that includes both initial introductions to the program and refresher trainings, and ongoing teacher support using coaching or communities of practice meetings. UNICEF argues that structured pedagogy refers to a systemic change in educational content and methods, delivered through comprehensive, coordinated programmes that focus on teaching and learning, with the objective of changing classroom practices to ensure that every child learns” (Chakera, Haffner, & Harrop, 2020) While these programs have been burgeoning in the sector, the evidence on how they should be designed, implemented and supported is less clear. We will present a set of resources designed for policymakers and donor partners on the various elements involved in designing and implementing a structured pedagogy program. A key message of the guides is to discuss these common elements with a focus on the ways in which local context needs to inform every step of the design as well as implementation. There are eight guides and a literature review, as follows:

1. Government leadership and teacher adoption
2. Designing an effective structured pedagogy program
3. Curriculum and scope and sequence
4. Materials Development
5. Teacher professional development: Training
6. Teacher professional development: Ongoing support
7. Data, accountability, systems
8. Ministry of Education systems

The presentation will also include an introduction to the other guides developed for the Science of Teaching activity. These will include a guide looking at practical guidance for language of instruction choices considering the political economy realities around language that many language complex countries find themselves in. Other topics potentially included in the guides are designing effective catch-up programs, teacher support, mathematics program design, implementing effective large scale teacher training, developing accountability in the system, integrating learning results and feedback, effective pre-service programs, and working effectively with families and communities. The final decisions on which guides will be developed is in progress and this presentation will share the guides that have been completed by the time of the CIES conference.
Finally, the presentation will include an interactive discussion of potential other topics and experts available for work to be done, both on the development of suggested guidance and what additional research the sector needs to undertake to more effectively be able to argue what works in foundational literacy and numeracy.

Authors

• Jessica Mejia, RTI International

• Benjamin Piper, RTI International

• Asyia Kazmi, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

• Wendi Ralaingita, RTI International

• Julianne Norman, RTI International