Core knowledge workshops

The core knowledge workshops are designed to be facilitated by a school-based leader.

The workshops provide detailed information about the evidence base, how explicit teaching works, why it is a priority, and the factors that enable effective explicit teaching.

• Core knowledge workshop 1: What is explicit teaching? –presentation (PPTX 7.6 MB)
• Core knowledge workshop 1: What is explicit teaching? –facilitator guide (DOCX 397 KB)
• Core knowledge workshop 2: How learning happens – presentation (PPTX 5.2 MB)
• Core knowledge workshop 2: How learning happens – facilitator guide (DOCX 3.2 MB)
• Core knowledge workshop 3: Planning for learning – presentation (PPTX 3.2 MB)
• Core knowledge workshop 3: Planning for learning –facilitator guide (DOCX 3.2 MB)

Strategy learning modules

The strategy learning modules are designed to be facilitated by a school-based leader.

The strategy learning modules explain each strategy, show how it can be applied through different techniques and offer professional learning support for a whole-school approach to explicit teaching.

• Checking for understanding – strategy learning module (PPTX 10.2 MB)
• Chunking and sequencing – strategy learning module (PPTX 9.8 MB)
• Connecting learning – strategy learning module (PPTX 14 MB)
• Gradual release of responsibility – strategy learning module (PPTX 11.9 MB)
• Sharing learning intentions and success criteria – strategy learning module (PPTX 12 MB)
• Using effective feedback – strategy learning module (PPTX 10.5 MB)
• Using effective questioning – strategy learning module (PPTX 14.2 MB)
  

Technique guides

The technique guides are printable and designed for immediate use by teachers.

They show how a strategy can be applied as part of an explicit teaching practice.

Checking for understanding

• Student response systems – technique guide (PDF 367 KB)
• Responsive teaching – technique guide (PDF 358 KB)

Chunking and sequencing learning

• Breaking down content and concepts – technique guide (PDF 749 KB)
• Unit planning – technique guide (PDF 852 KB)

Connecting learning

• Activating prior knowledge – technique guide (PDF 157.8 KB)
• Making meaningful connections through discussions – technique guide (PDF 200 KB)
• Using review for learning – technique guide (PDF 467.7 KB)

Gradual release of responsibility

• Modelling (I do, we do, you do) – technique guide (PDF 727 KB)
• Scaffolding (we do, you do) – technique guide (PDF 172.5 KB)
• Independent practice – technique guide (PDF 185.5 KB)

Sharing learning intentions and sharing success criteria

• Planning syllabus aligned learning intentions and success criteria – technique guide (PDF 674.6 KB)
• Sharing learning intentions and success criteria – technique guide (PDF 660 KB)
• Developmental rubrics – technique guide (PDF 681.5 KB).

Using effective feedback

• Teacher feedback – technique guide (PDF 681.8 KB)
• Peer and self-feedback – technique guide (PDF 685.5 KB).

Using effective questioning

• Using questioning to build complexity – technique guide (PDF 682.3 KB)
• Planning for effective questioning – technique guide (PDF 635.1 KB)

Strategy animation

How learning happens (4:10) – This animation explains how we process, remember and retrieve information through cognitive models.

Snapshots of practice

• Checking for understanding – response systems (6:35) – This video highlights various checking for understanding techniques used in both primary and secondary school settings.
• Using effective feedback (6:36) – This video shows how teachers use feedback techniques, responding to student needs in real time while learning takes place.

Research

Find resources related to explicit teaching research and evidence.

Australian Education Research Education (AERO)

AERO is funded by the Commonwealth and state and territory governments to form Australia’s independent education evidence body. AERO’s vision is for ‘Australia to achieve excellence and equity in educational outcomes for all children and young people through effective use of evidence'.

• AERO Explicit instruction
• AERO Teaching for how students learn: A model of learning and teaching
• AERO Teach explicitly

Centre for Education Statistics and Evaluation (CESE)

CESE is the department’s agency dedicated to identifying what works best. They promote evidence-informed decision-making so every student learns, grows and belongs in an equitable and outstanding education system.

• CESE (2025) What Works Best: Evidence guide for excellent schools
• CESE (2025) Explicit teaching practical guide (PDF 1.8 MB)
• CESE (2025) Explicit teaching illustration of practice: Doonside Technology High (PDF 2.5 MB)
• CESE (2017) Cognitive load theory: research that teachers really need to understand
• CESE (2018) Cognitive load theory in practice: examples for the classroom

For a deeper dive into the evidence behind explicit teaching, the latest CESE research and how CESE's Tell Them From Me can provide insights into explicit teaching in your school see:

• CESE (2024) CESE's Explicit teaching: Driving learning and engagement summary
• CESE (2026) Explicit teaching drives student motivation, engagement, and achievement in NSW public schools – a What Works Best research update