The importance of teacher knowledge

What makes a great teacher?

It’s about much more than subject expertise. Great teaching relies on understanding how students learn, what motivates them and how to create classrooms where every learner can thrive.

The new Teacher Knowledge Survey highlights striking differences between countries in teachers’ general pedagogical knowledge - the skills that help teachers explain concepts clearly, anticipate misconceptions and engage students to support learning effectively. In this episode of Top Class, OECD Editor Duncan Crawford speaks with Linda Darling-Hammond, Chief Knowledge Officer at the Learning Policy Institute, and Heewoon Bae, OECD policy analyst, about the survey’s findings and what policymakers can do to strengthen teacher knowledge and improve outcomes for students.