CIS Pedagogy Project Report

The Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) was contracted by the Council of International Schools (CIS) to undertake research investigating how their schools make decisions on pedagogical approaches and to develop a toolkit (published as the ‘Pedagogy Playbook’) to support schools in making those decisions. The project started in May 2022 with initial research conducted by the Klingenstein Center, Columbia University and completed in August 2024 by ACER. In this study, leaders, teachers, parents and students from more than 140 CIS member schools reflected on what matters when it comes to teaching and learning. They shared their priorities and decisionmaking processes as well as the values and priorities that underpin and drive the decisions they make day-to-day. Nine priorities emerged: academic outcomes; accountability, evaluation & accreditation; curriculum & learning programmes; developing global citizens; learning resources; partnerships with parents; research-informed innovation; student needs & voices; and teacher knowledge. skills & engagement. Their insights informed the development of Pedagogy Playbook, designed for learning leaders who are ready to recommit to their priorities for learning in their schools through action planning for the future. This digital toolkit is available to guide pedagogical choices and decision-making in international schools and includes an accompanying professional learning package to support its use.