Cochrane’s Taxonomy

I cannot stand educators who present the latest trends and fashions in teaching as “research”.

Recently I was treated to an uninspiring INSET session where I lectured at length about how terrible things were in the school and about how bad our teaching was. I was shown the “Growth Mindset” (take a shot) for about the third time, and also shown a tragically bad piece of analytical work to prove the point. How the point was meant to be proved from poorly gathered data, from a short term snap shot and a tiny sample size I will never know.

But complaining is for the staff room, and you have come here (if at all) for some advice or simply something new to look at, that is not touting the benefits of a Growth Mindset (take a shot).

Taxonomy is the branch of logic that deals with categorisation. What you do with those categories is up to you, but I recommend using it to quantify your teaching practice. By that I mean giving yourself the ability to set tangible goals, rather than aiming at the nebulous concept of installing a Growth Mindset (take a shot) in your students.

My taxonomy is meant to give you a tool which you can use straight away.

My taxonomy is meant to describe your great teaching, rather than tell you you’ve been doing it wrong.

My taxonomy is meant to make your life easier.

Welcome to Cochrane’s Taxonomy.

(Also, I have this idea about skills which might be important.)

Happy teaching!

Thought for the day: A broad mind lacks focus.