Professor John Hattie Pressing Education’s Fast Forward

Professor John Hattie

“What a kid needs is not more… he needs different,” says Dr. John Hattie. At the time, Hattie was talking about student retention, but his words make sense in many areas of education, including education technology.

Professor John Hattie has been Director of Research at the Melbourne Graduate School of Education, Australia, Professor of Education, University of Auckland, New Zealand, and in 2011 Queens Birthday Honors appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit. He is an education researcher, who has a way of talking to all educators, and the statistics don’t get in the way. For those, who like numbers, he always gives a reference point that makes sense. You’ll begin to understand research if you haven’t, by listening to John Hattie. His style has been referred to as “down to earth”, but I’d prefer to say it’s the common sense we’re looking for in education leadership.

Peter Kent

Peter Kent, education technology author, and Promethean colleague covering Australia, New Zealand, and more, tracked down Professor Hattie for a unique and exclusive interview (video below), where Kent asked Hattie to share how to Fast Forward education. Hattie outlines three major things.

1. Teachers need to know what students already know, and because they’re all different, realize that’s very different for each.
2. Students need to know clearly, and up front what success looks like in the lessons they are about to do, without waiting until the end to find out.
3. Closing the gap between where students are and what success looks like is the most powerful way we can fast forward learning.
   Educators succeed “When kids see themselves as their own teachers.” ~John Hattie

Please listen to Peter Kent’s Thought Leadership in Education video interview with Professor John Hattie—Pressing the Fast Forward Button.

For more on John Hattie, I recommend his books, two of which are the Visible Learning series, especially Visible Learning for Teachers: Maximizing Impact on Learning (12/17/11). Online versions are available at Amazon and other places. They’re worth the download.

For more on the Education Fast Forward movement, click EFF: http://www.prometheanplanet.com/en-us/professional-development/best-practice/education-fast-forward/.