Education Research Reading Room ERRR #096. Jennifer Buckingham on Literacy Instruction & Policy in the UK, Ireland & Aus
Nov 7, 2024
Jennifer Buckingham, Executive Director of the Centre of Educational Studies and Evaluation, bridges research and practice to combat illiteracy. She discusses the stark differences in literacy instruction and policies across the UK, Ireland, and Australia. Key topics include how these frameworks impact international assessments like PISA and PIRLS and the role of cultural context in shaping educational outcomes. Buckingham also emphasizes the necessity of evidence-based practices, effective teacher training, and systemic assessments to support struggling students.
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Ireland's Undiscussed Success
- Ireland's consistent high performance in PISA and PIRLS sparked Jennifer Buckingham's research interest.
- She noticed a lack of discussion about Ireland's success compared to other high-performing countries.
Limitations of PISA and PIRLS Rankings
- PISA and PIRLS rankings provide limited information, focusing on relative positions rather than absolute progress.
- Tracking scores over time reveals more about a country's performance trajectory, like Australia's decline since 2000.
Conduct Independent Research
- Avoid curated government-organized tours for objective insights into education systems.
- Independent research with school visits and teacher interviews provides a more authentic view.