Translated byMirjam Neelen & Paul A. Kirschner

This article was originally published in Dutch by Tim Surma, Paul Kirschner, and Daniel Muijs on the ExCEL website on 30 August 2020.

ExCEL is the Centre of Expertise for Effective Learning of Thomas More Hogeschool België, which helps to build good quality education. ExCEL conducts research in schools into what works in terms of didactics, learning strategies, curriculum and teaching materials, translates findings from the best international scientific research into feasible and concrete applications for the classroom. Last but not least, it offers tailor-made professionalization programs for schools, based on what (evidence on) works.

“In the corridors of the secondary school where I work as a teacher, it was never completely quiet during breaks. During the morning break, I saw colleagues explaining the subject matter to small groups of students. Sometimes this even happened just five minutes after class to…