Explicit teaching as the destination

I wonder if we sometimes treat explicit teaching as the destination, when it is actually the launchpad.

Explicit teaching matters. It builds knowledge, clarity and confidence but the deeper question is: what can students do with what they know? This links to my earlier post in relation to the use of AI in education a couple of weeks ago.

Drawing on Fullan’s work on deep learning, the shift is from coverage to transfer. From “I taught it” to “they can use it”.

Students may be able to explain a concept, complete a familiar task or perform well on a test. But when the context changes, the learning does not always travel with them.

That is the gap.

Deep learning asks us to design for application. Rich tasks. Real problems. Collaboration. Critical thinking. Creation. Not as the activity at the end, but as part of the learning design itself.

This has implications for leadership.

School leaders who move beyond managing curriculum coverage, and begin leading for transfer, create the conditions for more meaningful improvement.

Not just students knowing more. Students being able to do more with what they know.

Where do you see the biggest challenge in moving from explicit teaching to applied learning? 🗣️