IOE in the news
A selection of news reports, comments and authored articles featuring the IOE over the last few months
IOE Director Chris Husbands asks what we need to learn from the tiger mothers, in a comment piece in The TES. He says schools need to marshal parental support for the things that make a difference. 27 January, 2012
Dr Rebecca Allen's research on school league tables is mentioned in the Financial Times. Thursday 27 January 2012.
Professor Carol Vincent discusses parental involvement in education ahead of her Professorial lecture on the Education News website. Thursday 27 January 2012.
Marie Lall writes about the recent dramatic changes in Burma and what lies behind them. She says: "The eye-watering speed of change has surprised even the most optimistic country specialists and Western nations are now seriously discussing the lifting of sanctions." BBC news Asia online 24 January, 2012
In a new blog post, Rebecca Allen points out some problems with the way the Government plans to report school GCSE attainment data . She writes: "Unfortunately there is a small problem with the way that attainment by groups is to be reported by the government. It has chosen to report average attainment across quite a large group of pupils (as many as 45% of pupils are in the middle band). Because the group of pupils is very large, reported average attainment across the group tells us (1) partly how well the school is doing, but importantly (2) partly the distribution of prior attainment for the pupils in the school within this group. In this sense it simply replicates the problems of reporting 'raw' GCSE attainment: more affluent schools will appear to do better than more deprived schools, at least in part because their prior ability distribution is more favourable." 22 January 2012
What is wrong with global inequality in higher education? asks Elaine Unterhalter in University World News, 22 January 2012
Holocaust Memorial Day: History teacher Tamsin Leyman tells The TES how a two-day course from the Holocaust Education Development Programme (now known as the IOE's Holocaust Education Programme) changed the way she teaches. TES 13 January
Welsh NQTs to be offered Master's: SecEd, 5 January 2012, reports on Professor Alma Harris's involvement in this new qualification
Demand for radical change to the role of TAs: Special Educational Needs magazine online reports on a new book by Peter Blatchford, Anthony Russell and Rob Webster, 4 January, 2012. "Schools and teachers are allowing teaching assistants (TAs) to become the primary educators of children with SEN to the detriment of these pupils, according to a new book by academics at the Institute of Education, London", the magazine reports.
'No evidence' for England's schools falling behind - says Dr John Jerrim, who challenges the government's argument that England's schools have been overtaken by other countries and that radical change is needed to help them to catch up.
Help is at hand for teachers struggling with technology says Professor Diana Laurillard who has worked on an interactive program for teachers that will help them to design and develop lessons plan using digital technologies.
Raphael Wilkins discusses: "How Can Research Aid School Development?" - in an interview with Education News. Kids aren't as corrupted as we think says David Buckingham in an interview about his book 'The Material Child: Growing Up in Consumer Culture' with Toronto's main paper 'The Globe and Mail'.
Marie Lall comments on BBC News online: Has a year of civilian rule changed Burma?
Richard Noss of the London Knowledge Lab writes online about Innovation Conversations on Technology.
HE institutions must think creatively about funding postgraduate provision, says Chris Husbands in a piece on the Guardian website today.
Digital worlds can help autistic children to develop social skills, according to new research by the London Knowledge Lab, funded by the ESRC.
Primary school pupils can do well at maths even if they do not know simple sums by heart, shows research by Richard Cowan, discussed today on the BBC Website.
Images of children at work during World War 11, from 'You can help your country: English Children's Work During the Second World War', by Berry Mayall and Virginia Morrow on today's Guardian website.
Time to tackle double standards in education. Sadly, higher education is not immune to the English vice of hypocrisy, says Peter Scott in The Guardian today.
Early years settings that employ an Early Years Professional make 'significant improvements' in the quality of learning for children from two-and-a-half to five according to new research from the the National Centre for Social Research at the IOE, in collaboration with Oxford University.
iPhone application for bat tracking developed by Dr. Brock Craft of London Knowledge Lab, Institute of Education and other academics in collaboration with the Bat Conservation Trust.
Ann Oakley, professor of sociology and social policy has produced a biography of Barbara Wootton, a forgotten pioneer and suffragette who went on to reject feminism. A feature in The Guardian (July 7, 2011), focuses on this new book, along with Oakley's own background and career.
You can help your country: English children's work during the Second World War - the recent IOE pubication by Berry Mayall and Virginia Morrow, gets a positive review in the TES, who call it a "scholarly, readable and moving book".
Teacher education must step up to the new era says Chris Husbands in a comment piece in the TES. He argues that classroom competence is just the first stage of the journey to professional excellence, and that the future lies in a research-based learning system that will both nurture and sustain.
Teens think 9/11 attacks were revenge for Iraq according to new research from the IOE, featured in The Mirror today. Professor Chris Husbands said : "9/11 is a critical event in contemporary history and the consequences of the attacks will reverberate around the world for many years to come."This programme will help prevent the development of stereotypes, prejudices and confusion."
Teachers 'expect less' from black, middle-class pupils – The Guardian discusses new IOE research which found that teachers expect black middle-class pupils and their parents to be far less interested in education than their white middle-class counterparts.
Children have an innate capacity to absorb new material into their games, explains a feature in the TES which discusses recent research by London University's Institute of Education, Sheffield University, the University of East London and the British Library on playground games.
Teachers Training Workshop Launched in Karachi The Trust for Advancement of Knowledge and Education (TAKE) launched its first series of training workshops for teachers in collaboration with the Institute of Education (IOE), University of London this week. The workshops focus on introducing internationally recognised courses for local teachers.
Pedagogy puts children centre stage in the care system Using everyday activities to build trust with children in care is a European approach being piloted here. Shaping Futures, in Stafford, is one of 30 residential homes in the £1.5m study, led by the Thomas Coram Research Unit of the Institute of Education (IOE) and commissioned by the then Department for Children, Schools and Families. The Guadian, Wednesday 23 March.
Teachers are not the only fruit of the IOE's diverse, evolving mission explains new IOE director Chris Husbands, in an interview with THE. "We're 40 per cent research, 30 per cent teaching, and just under 30 per cent consultancy," he said. Professor Husbands goes on to say that Browne Review has also opened up opportunities, such as the scope to develop new forms of undergraduate provision.
Education research and education policy UK government departments have been major commissioners of education research – last year, to the tune of £27.7 million. IOE director Geoff Whitty reflects on the rollercoaster relationship between policy and research in this blog for Social Science Space.
Teachers improve educational outcomes for care leavers. Few children in care go on to university. But what really makes a difference? This Education Guardian feature on a project based at the IOE's Thomas Coram Research Unit looks at young people who are succeeding against the odds. Guardian 23 November
IOE authors win Society for Educational Studies book prizes: Ken Spours and Ann Hodgson (along with co-authors Richard Pring, Geoff Hayward, Jill Johnson, Ewart Keep, Alis Oancea, Gareth Rees, and Stephanie Wilde) were awarded second prize for the publication 'Education for All: the future of education and training for 14-19 year olds', published by Routledge'. The book asks: what counts as an educated 19 year old today?
Lorna Unwin (along with Alan Felstead, Alison Fuller, Nick Jewson) were 'Highly recommended' for their book 'Improving Working as Learning', also published by Routledge.
Pushy parents turn schools into 'exam factories' IOE academics interviewed staff and students from 68 independent schools about the curriculum for 13- to 19-year-olds. Their report for the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference says teachers are being put under "considerable pressure" by families to deliver top exam grades to boost children's chances getting into the best universities. Daily Telegraph, 28 September.
Music must take centre stage in primaries or we risk striking a bum note for society As the Government announces a review of school music, Professor Sue Hallam explains why it is so important for young children. "In this period of austerity, the Government would be well advised to target available resources at early years and primary education with specialist teachers either supporting class teachers or delivering the music curriculum directly," she writes. TES, 24 September
Dylan Wiliam's six secrets of a happy classroom, 'The Classroom Experiment' BBC2, Thursday, 23 September
Dylan Wiliam's school experiment to be aired in BBC2's School Season, TES, 27 August
School lotteries "fail to cut social segregation". Report on research study by Rebecca Allen from the IOE and colleagues from Bristol University presented at the British Educational Research Association conference. Telegraph, 3 September
Social class affects white pupils' exam results more than those of ethnic minorities says study led by Ramesh Kapadia, presented at British Educational Research Association conference. Guardian, 3 September
When pupil assessment becomes a market Chris Husbands asks whether exam boards should be reformed. TES 27 August
Pupils do better at school if teachers are not fixated on test results. The Guardian reports on Chris Watkins study showing that exam performance improves if students concentrate on learning rather than grades. Guardian 13 August.
Swedish style free schools could increase social divide . The Guardian interviews Susanne Wiborg about her research. Guardian 21 July
Musical youth . Education Guardian reports on Joshua Black, a musically talented visually impaired boy who is featured in an IOE book, Focus on Music 2. Guardian 18 May