Time for a NICE-r kind of education?
Teaching may be as much of an art as a science, but there’s stuff that we know works in education. Whilst context definitely matters there are things – like timely, formative feedback – that can be done well no matter where you are and what situation you’re in.
To my mind, we should have something like the NHS Evidence website for things relating to pedagogy. It could provide answers to questions like:
- Where’s the evidence for using tablet computers in education?
- Where can I find out more about different forms of assessment?
- Is there a sound research basis for giving homework?
The NHS Evidence website is provided by NICE – the National Institute for Clinical Excellence. We have nothing similar for education. Although health is as much of a political football as education, at least they’ve got a research basis.
If there’s no political will to separate politics and education, perhaps it’s time for a non-profit to do this kind of stuff? Or perhaps they are and they need more publicity?
