Building Capacity for Quality Teaching in Australian Schools

Evaluating the impact of COVID-19

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Funded by the Paul Ramsay Foundation ($17.1 million) and partnering with the NSW Department of Education, this initiative seeks to build teachers’ capacity to improve the quality of teaching and student outcomes by scaling up the empirically tested Quality Teaching Rounds approach to teacher development.

The fundamental aim is to build capacity for quality teaching across the entire workforce of Australian teachers, including teachers in settings that have traditionally faced barriers to accessing professional development (PD). To date, more than 1,200 schools have engaged with QTR as the project expands into new jurisdictions.

The initiative involves three key aspects:

  1. Research

The program of research consists of five phases. These include:

2018 - Developmental evaluations of a Training protocol for QTR Advisers and of digital delivery of QTR.

2019 - 2020 - A large-scale randomised controlled trial that explores the effects of teachers’ participation in QTR on teaching practice, teacher wellbeing and morale and student outcomes (in Reading, Maths and Science and feelings of efficacy) relative to a form of peer observation and other forms of professional development happening in schools. Schools participating in this study receive funded places at QTR and peer observation workshops and funding for teacher release to participate in QTR per observation.

2019 - 2023 - A longitudinal study of the implementation and effects of QTR for teachers and schools in a range of contexts.

2021 - A randomised controlled trial of the effects of QTR Digital on teaching practice, teacher wellbeing and morale and student outcomes relative to other forms of professional development in small schools and schools in rural and remote areas. Schools participating in this study receive funded places at the QTR Digital workshops and funding for teacher release to participate in QTR Digital.

2021 - Independent replication trials examining the implementation of QTR in new jurisdictions (Queensland and Victoria). Schools participating in these trials receive funded places at the QTR workshops and funding toward teacher release to participate in QTR. Currently recruiting primary schools in Queensland.

  1. Scaling

    QTR PD workshops are being held regularly face-to-face and online to improve access for teachers to this high impact PD.

    If interested in attending one of our QTR PD workshops, please click here for further information.

  2. Establishment of a Quality Teaching Academy

Launched in October 2020, the Quality Teaching Academy seeks to empower teachers to enrich student learning.

It provides evidence-backed professional development, advocates for the profession, and supports a community of teachers through a shared vision of quality teaching for every student, every day.

Publications:

Improving student outcomes through professional development: Protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial of quality teaching rounds.

Effects of professional development on the quality of teaching: Results from a randomised controlled trial of Quality Teaching Rounds.

Rejuvenating experienced teachers through Quality Teaching Rounds professional development

Beyond content-focused professional development: powerful professional learning through genuine learning communities across grades and subjects