Event reports
According to Hattie, it is rather the teacher's performance, than the size of the class and the duration of education, which is decisive for pupils' success. Therefore, Hattie puts the teacher in the centre of his thoughts. "Not one single teacher has to change, but teachers as a group", Hattie says. His research proves the positive effect that can be achieved when for example one tries to "see more through the eyes of a pupil". This could be facilitated by having discussions. "I know it is difficult, because than the teacher has to be quiet", said Hattie. But teachers must listen in order to understand at what stage each individual is in his or her development. Only this way it is possible to differentiate and adjust to the content of teaching, such as setting new goals for example. "Pupils want to be challenged. Similar as reaching the next level in a computer game, kids also want to be successful in something at school", Hattie said. Apart from more exchange in the classrooms, Hattie also calls for a more intensive exchange of experiences with colleagues. "We need the efficiency of all teachers collectively", Hattie stressed.
He also emphasizes the special relationship between pupils and teachers. "We go to school to learn what we did not know before. In this context, trust plays a very important role." The teacher should be aware of his influence on the pupil and, if applicable, should adjust. The credibility of the teacher in the pupils eyes is a success criteria that should not be underestimated.
In front of about 300 listeners and about as many who watched the speech online via livestream Hattie was welcomed by the General Secretary of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, Michael Thielen, who emphasized the relevance of Hatties research results: "Nobody in the debate on education can ignore it", Thielen said.