In recent years, St Clare’s implemented visible learning and explicit teaching as a major teaching focus – and our students are reaping the rewards. 

Visible learning is based on one premise that learning is the explicit goal: with feedback given and sought and with active, passionate, engaging people; including teachers, students, peers and families participating in the act of learning. Teachers at St Clare’s are required to give regular feedback throughout their Explicit Instruction lessons. Effective feedback is feedback that students can understand and use to make progress in their learning. A prerequisite for giving effective feedback is having clear, concise and transparent learning intentions and success criteria. 

This method of teaching is based on the research of Professor John Hattie, who found teachers need to assist students to become their own teachers to achieve at higher levels. His research also finds the student brings to school factors that influence achievement as well as a set of thoughts and attitudes that can have a marked effect on the outcomes of schooling. 

The child, the home, the school, the teacher, the curriculum and the approaches to teaching all have a contribution. We as a school have been implementing visible learning for the past few years and this has shown definite rewards for our students and their learning. Students are now seeking ways to improve their learning and asking for feedback.  

As a response to our focus on Visible Learning, staff developed a Highly Effective Learners focus for St Clare’s School which is displayed in all classrooms.