Teaching Matters Summit helps boost learning achievement for all students across Australia

In what was the first ever National Science of Learning Summit, the Teaching Matters program was filled with some of the brightest minds in education, who are world renowned in their field. Sixteen highly credible educational experts from around the country convened in Hobart on 2 April 2023, looking to share their wisdom and knowledge to help strengthen the education of young people nationwide as they led keynote presentations and panel discussions. Catholic Education Tasmania and Catholic Education Canberra and Goulburn worked collaboratively to bring the Summit to life, and through the tireless work of the Insight into Learning and Catalyst project teams, they were able to create a highly engaging Summit to help improve delegates' teaching and the learning achievement of all students.

Over 330 delegates from around the country were in Hobart to learn about the Science of Learning, as part of this three-day Summit promoting instructional leadership, high impact teaching practice, and a knowledge rich curriculum. Delegates interacted with presenters at a Gala Dinner which was headlined by a virtual presentation from Good to Great Schools Australia Co-Chair and Executive Director, Noel Pearson, and attended a ‘Breakfast with the Experts’ where each table had a Science of Learning expert discussing their views on education and answering any questions that were posed by fellow table members. 

Jennifer White, Project Lead: Insight into Learning at CET discussed how unique an opportunity it was for both CET and CECG to welcome passionate educators from across Australia to share research, new learning and build collective knowledge about the Science of Learning. Mrs White explained how beneficial shared knowledge and system-wide learning can be in delivering highly impactful teaching. “Our Summit was a tremendous opportunity for CET and CECG to showcase the benefits of professional collaboration, and to lead the way for the necessary innovation and change to drive exceptional education practice based on the principles of Science of Learning across the nation.”

Dr Gerard Gaskin, Executive Director of CET, presented the opening address alongside CECG Director Ross Fox. Dr Gaskin applauded the work that CECG had completed in the Science of Learning space and acknowledged their efforts as trailblazers in this area. He discussed, “The findings of the Science of Learning have caused a major shift in the way in which we do education at Catholic Education Tasmania, and credit to Ross [Fox] because we first saw this great work in Canberra last year.” Stated Dr Gaskin, “We were so thankful to work with CECG to be able to share this evidence-based research with other educators from around the country at the Teaching Matters Summit.”

The Summit provided attendees with an opportunity to network, hold discussions with education experts in what was a great chance to examine all things Science of Learning, and how best to utilise these practices in their classrooms. Attendees from Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia joined 203 Tasmanians who were fortunate to have such an Insight into Learning ful education Summit on their doorstep.

The Premier of Tasmania, Hon. Jeremy Rockliff, attended the Teaching Matters Summit on Day 3, and he commended Catholic Education Tasmania for leading the way in the Science of Learning. Premier Rockliff spoke of his disappointment in not being able to attend the Summit in its entirety but was thankful for the invitation and was looking forward to hearing more about how direct instruction and the Science of Reading will be applied throughout Catholic schools in Tasmania. “In the area of Literacy, the science is clear on how to teach children to read, to write and to spell. It is not a mystery. We know what works.” Stated Premier Rockliff, “I’m looking forward to collaborating with Catholic Education Tasmania on how we can extend such evidence-based practice to all schools throughout Tasmania.”

Following a successful Summit, the work in the Science of Learning field is nowhere near finished. Catholic Education Tasmania is looking forward to seeing how instructional leadership, high impact teaching practice and a knowledge rich curriculum will be implemented in classrooms across the country. CET’s Insight into Learning project is helping empower educators across the state, by equipping them with further insight into this evidence-based teaching and learning approach, helping their students grow in knowledge, wisdom, and service.

For all that missed out on learning more about the Science of Learning, is it anticipated that the Teaching Matters Summit will be back again in 2024. Jennifer White announced, “We look forward to welcoming educators across all education systems nationally and internationally at our Autumn Summit in 2024, once again in Hobart.”