Visible Learning for Teachers

1. Teachers as evaluators: The core of effective teaching

Know thy impact.

Evaluating impact. The most critical role of teachers is to evaluate their impact on student learning. This requires a shift in mindset from focusing solely on teaching methods to continuously assessing the effectiveness of their practices. Teachers must:

• Gather evidence of student learning
• Analyze data to understand their impact
• Make informed decisions to adjust their teaching

Feedback loop. By adopting an evaluative stance, teachers create a feedback loop that allows them to:

• Identify what works and what doesn't
• Modify their approach based on student needs
• Continuously improve their practice

This approach empowers teachers to become active agents in their students' learning journey, rather than passive deliverers of content.

2. Mind frames: The foundation of impactful education

The major argument in this book underlying powerful impacts in our schools relates to how we think!

Eight mind frames. Hattie identifies eight critical mind frames that underpin effective teaching:

1. Belief in the impact of teaching on learning
2. Success and failure in student learning is about teacher actions
3. Focus on talking about learning, not just teaching
4. Assessment as feedback about teacher impact
5. Engage in dialogue, not monologue
6. Embrace challenge and never retreat to "doing your best"
7. Build positive relationships in classrooms and staffrooms
8. Inform all about the language of learning

Transformative thinking. These mind frames represent a fundamental shift in how teachers approach their role. By adopting these ways of thinking, educators can:

• Take responsibility for student outcomes
• Foster a growth mindset in themselves and their students
• Create a culture of continuous improvement in their classrooms and schools

3. Visible learning: Making student progress transparent

Visible teaching and learning occurs when learning is the explicit and transparent goal, when it is appropriately challenging, and when the teacher and the student both (in their various ways) seek to ascertain whether and to what degree the challenging goal is attained.

Transparency in learning. Visible learning involves making the learning process explicit and observable for both teachers and students. This includes:

• Clear learning intentions and success criteria
• Regular feedback on progress
• Opportunities for self-assessment and peer assessment

Student empowerment. By making learning visible:

• Students become active participants in their own learning journey
• They develop metacognitive skills and self-regulation
• They can better understand their progress and next steps

This approach fosters a shared understanding of the learning process between teachers and students, leading to more effective and targeted instruction.

4. Feedback: The key to continuous improvement

Feedback aims to reduces the gap between where the student 'is' and where he or she is 'meant to be' – that is, between prior or current achievement and the success criteria.

Effective feedback. High-quality feedback is:

• Timely
• Specific
• Actionable
• Related to learning goals

Three levels of feedback:

1. Task level: Addressing specific aspects of the work
2. Process level: Focusing on strategies used to complete the task
3. Self-regulation level: Encouraging self-evaluation and reflection

Impact on learning. When used effectively, feedback:

• Guides students towards their learning goals
• Helps teachers adjust their instruction
• Promotes a growth mindset and resilience in learners

5. Challenge and commitment: Driving student growth

Creating lessons in which students are committed to learning is less critical than ensuring that the task is challenging – that is, commitment comes second.

Optimal challenge. Teachers should aim to provide tasks that are:

• Slightly above students' current ability level
• Achievable with effort and support
• Aligned with clear learning goals

Building commitment. To foster student engagement:

• Make learning intentions explicit
• Connect tasks to real-world applications
• Celebrate progress and effort

By balancing challenge and support, teachers can create an environment where students are motivated to push their boundaries and take ownership of their learning.

6. Teacher-student relationships: The catalyst for learning

Students can see it. The Measures of Effective Teaching Project (Gates Foundation, 2010) has estimated the value-added component of 3,000 teachers and at the same time asked students of these teachers to complete surveys of their experiences in these classes.

Building trust. Strong teacher-student relationships are characterized by:

• Mutual respect
• Open communication
• High expectations
• Emotional support

Impact on learning. Positive relationships contribute to:

• Increased student motivation
• Higher levels of engagement
• Greater academic achievement
• Improved classroom behavior

Teachers who foster strong connections with their students create a safe and supportive learning environment where students feel valued and empowered to take risks in their learning.

7. Evidence-based practices: The path to educational excellence

The major message in this book is that enhancing teacher quality is one of the keys – and the way in which to achieve this is through ensuring that every teacher in the school has the mind frame that leads to the greatest positive effect on student learning and achievement.

Data-driven decision making. Evidence-based practices involve:

• Collecting and analyzing student performance data
• Using research-based instructional strategies
• Continuously evaluating the effectiveness of teaching methods

Implementing change. To adopt evidence-based practices:

1. Identify areas for improvement based on data
2. Research and select appropriate interventions
3. Implement strategies with fidelity
4. Monitor progress and adjust as needed

By grounding their practice in evidence, teachers can make informed decisions that lead to better outcomes for their students.

8. Collaborative learning: Harnessing the power of peers

Peers can influence learning by helping, tutoring, providing friendship, giving feedback, and making class and school a place to which students want to come each day.

Benefits of peer learning:

• Increased engagement and motivation
• Enhanced understanding through explaining to others
• Development of social and communication skills
• Exposure to diverse perspectives

Implementing collaborative learning:

• Design structured group activities
• Teach students how to work effectively in teams
• Provide opportunities for peer feedback and assessment
• Foster a classroom culture that values cooperation

By leveraging the power of peer interactions, teachers can create a dynamic learning environment that supports both academic and social-emotional growth.

9. Assessment as learning: Empowering students

The fundamental premise is that all students should be educated in ways that develop their capability to assess their own learning.

Developing assessment capability. Teachers should:

• Teach students how to evaluate their own work
• Provide opportunities for self and peer assessment
• Help students set personal learning goals
• Encourage reflection on learning progress

Benefits of assessment-capable learners:

• Increased motivation and engagement
• Better understanding of learning objectives
• Improved ability to identify areas for improvement
• Greater ownership of the learning process

By developing students' assessment capabilities, teachers empower them to become active participants in their own learning journey and lifelong learners.

10. Adaptive expertise: The hallmark of great teachers

Adaptive experts know when students are not learning, know where to go next, can adapt resources and strategies to help students to meet worthwhile learning intentions, and can recreate or alter the classroom climate to attain these learning goals.

Characteristics of adaptive experts:

• Flexible and innovative in their approach
• Continuously expanding their knowledge and skills
• Able to diagnose and respond to individual student needs
• Skilled at creating supportive learning environments

Developing adaptive expertise:

• Engage in ongoing professional development
• Reflect on and analyze teaching practices
• Collaborate with colleagues to share insights and strategies
• Stay current with educational research and best practices

By cultivating adaptive expertise, teachers can effectively respond to the diverse and evolving needs of their students, ensuring that all learners have the opportunity to succeed.

Last updated: April 21, 2025