For many teachers, educational research was key in our university years but feels very disconnected from every day teaching. However, thinking about educational practitioner research is critical for effective teaching and school improvement. Not only should teachers stay up to date with current educational research, but also we should take on the role of researchers in our own practice. This blog gives you ten tips for staying current with research and become a researcher in our own classroom.
Yesterday I attended the Inaugural AIS Education Research Symposium. The conference was open to school based education researchers and practitioners. The focus was learning about current education research and findings, examining best practice in educational research and hearing from schools that are currently engaging in research projects. Throughout the day I was inspired and challenged by the role of research in education. So below are ten tips to help you become engaged and current in educational research.
Conducing Classroom Research
- Question: Pose questions that are of practical significance and are worth knowing. Question why one child is flourishing and why another is not. Query the teaching strategies you are using. Interrogate your practice to determine if it is teacher or student centred?
- Collect Data: Survey your students to gain insight into their opinions on learning. This can be informal using tools such as Kahoot, Plickers or Straw Poll. Or it may be a more extensive using tools such as Google Forms or Survey Monkey.
- Quantitative and Qualitative: Ask questions of your students that provide quantitative data for identifying patterns in opinion or achievement. Then ask questions that provide qualitative data in order to delve deeper.
- Test Data: Look at the data you already have available to you. This may include NAPLAN results, PAT or Torch tests, South Australian Spelling scores, cross grade assessments, reading levels or weekly Spelling or Maths tests. What is this data telling you about the learning taking place in your class?
- Feedback: Ask for feedback from your colleagues and students. Begin with open ended questions such as ‘What are my strengths and weaknesses?’ or ‘What do I do that helps you learn?’ Invite colleagues into your classroom in order to receive feedback and observe expert teachers in action.
Staying Current With Research
- Blogs: Follow blogs that focus on education. Some examples include ACEL e-Publications, Happy School, SmartBlog on Leadership, Andrew Douch: Evolution Education or even my blog Think Teach Learn. Most blogs allow you to subscribe so that you can receive an email notification when new content is published.
- AIS Research: The Association of Independent Schools (AIS) website has a page entitled Latest Research. The articles published on this page are high quality evidence from research findings to inform educational practice.
- Collaborate: In staff meetings make it a priority to explore educational research collaboratively. Open your staff meetings by reading a research article and discussing as a team. Or ask staff members to present to their team after attending professional development.
- Expertise: Choose an area of educational practice and endeavour to become an expert. Areas of expertise may include gifted education, spelling, leadership, wellbeing, positive psychology, ICT, co-teaching or visible thinking. Search out other experts who are passionate in this field. Become well informed on the research and endeavour to develop this as an area of expertise.
- Read: To quote Michael Hyatt ‘leaders read and readers lead’. Check out my ‘Books Recently Read’ read for inspiration. Find the professional reading shelf in your school library. Download books from Audible so you can listen to them on your commute to work. Reading is a wonderful way to be come informed on best practice in education.
Question for you: How do you stay current with educational research?
