The quest for better strategies in educating students continues. Many of the past methods have given way to newer modes of thinking as research uncovers what actually works and what does not. For example, an educator named John Hattie analyzed the effects of factors in student achievement. His quantitative analysis led to a ranking that helps others plan their approaches more effectively. The findings were published in the book entitled Visible Learning in 2009. The list of John Hattie Effect size has been updated since then after more factors were studied. Below are some of the biggest predictors according to that study:

Collective Teacher Efficacy

If a program wants to improve the outcomes for students, then the best value for money would be an investment on the teachers. Collective teacher efficacy was found to be the most influential factor across the board. If those who are teaching have mastered their lessons and are able to communicate well, then the achievement of the whole class can be lifted up. This makes sense since the instructor is the source of knowledge and the orchestrator of what happens in the classroom. Students who are lucky enough to land in a great teacher’s class are bound to learn more and enjoy the subject better than average.

Self-reported Grades

Another statistically significant factor is the self-reported grades of the students. Not surprisingly, this is around the same level of the teacher’s estimate of achievement. This shows that the people in the classroom on both sides of the divide do have a firm grasp on how things are going. The high rank of self-reported grades in this list shows how aware the children are at assessing their own performance based on what they see and feel. They are usually not far off when predicting their grades. As for teachers, this shows that they have an accurate knowledge of their students.

Conceptual Change Programs

This refers to different approaches when it comes to information found in textbooks. If a book were simply to introduce concepts in science, then learning might be stuck at a superficial level. If a book added a discussion of common misconceptions along with the concepts, then a deeper understanding can be reached. The boundaries are explored and existing knowledge is challenged. If the same strategy is applied when teaching other subjects, then similar improvements might be gained.

The John Hattie Effect Size is a tool for establishing priorities.