Bev Webber

We’ve taken a longer time than usual to prepare this issue of set: Research Information for Teachers because we have been working on updating its look so that the articles are more accessible and readable. We hope you think it has been worth the effort. Key information now appears at the beginning of each article for readers who like to do a quick skim over a cup of tea or those who like to get an overview before they do a “deep” read.

Male teachers, school fires, science education, raising possibilities for Māori students, John Hattie on teacher effectiveness—these are all part of the rich smorgasbord of articles in this issue of set: Research Information for Teachers. There are plenty of research “calories” here.

We are at the end of another year and this brings the final issue of set: Research Information for Teachers for 2009.

There is a rich variety of topics in this issue of set: Research Information for Teachers, with research reported from junior primary to senior secondary, and with themes intersecting these sectors: the use of ICT, literacy learning, and student engagement. These themes are particularly topical in the current educational environment.

One of the features of set: Research Information for Teachers is the broad range of topics it covers. In the last issue we were able to highlight junior primary in a number of articles. This time we go to the other end of the spectrum and focus on senior secondary. In between is a rich smorgasbord of recent research on literacy teaching and learning, collaborative approaches to professional development in the visual arts, and assessment in social studies.