Research
Learn more about the research behind small group learning.
Why small group learning?
2020 was a difficult year for everyone, particularly students and teachers who made sure that quality learning continued despite seven weeks of remote learning and other disruptions.
We know that the learning of some students was impacted by these disruptions.
Small group teaching, delivered by professional educators, is very effective in boosting students’ learning and helping them to quickly get back on track.
- What should small group tuition look like? Understand optimal group sizes, accounting for differing levels of ability, lesson lengths, lesson frequency, timetabling and modes of delivery.
- What subject areas have been the focus of previous research? Learn more about subject areas studied in existing small group learning research.
- Who should deliver small group tuition? Understand who is most successful in delivering small group learning in a school context.
- Which students might benefit from small group tuition? Learn more about the types of students who benefit most from small group learning.
- Case studies will give you examples of successful small group learning programs.
Further reading
- References – access a full reference list to learn more about the effectiveness of this type of tuition.
- Learn more about activities best placed to provide useful evidence of student achievement at the department's Evidence of learning page.
- Read the Grattan Institute's COVID catch-up article and accompanying recommendations to help students disadvantaged most by the COVID period.
