In recent months there has been a real surge of interest in the ways that evidence and research can be used to help support and improve teaching and learning. The appetite for information and discussion about how evidence can help teachers has never been greater. But with so much information out there it can be difficult to know where to start, and finding the time to get to grips with any of it can be a daunting prospect.
Here are a few of things we have been enjoying in recent months:
Every Thursday evening at 8.30p.m (BST) on Twitter @UKEdResChat facilitate a weekly half hour discussion about education research - methods, ethics, impacts and more. Each week is led by a different host with recent discussions including:
- How can great assessment underpin great teaching? Hosted by Will Millard
- How can research help make classroom assessment manageable, meaningful and motivating? Hosted by Stuart Kime
- Should the values underpinning educational research be made explicit? If so, how? Hosted by Dr Rupert Higham
Great for: finding out about other resources and information recommended by teachers.
It’s a great place to start – even if you don’t feel confident enough to join in with the discussion at first.
Many people who are well known for their work in education have such interesting backgrounds and stories to tell, although many of us don’t get to hear them. In their podcast series EBE talk to people well known for their work in education to find out a bit more about them – what were they like at school? What did they do after school? How did they come to work in education?
Every podcast ends with the same question: ‘If you were in charge of the education system for a day, what one policy or structural change would you make?’
The series includes interviews with:
Sugata Mitra, Professor of Educational Technology at Newcastle University, Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), and Dame Alison Peacock, Teacher and Chief Executive of the Chartered College of Teaching.
Next in the series is a conversation with Daisy Christodoulou, Director of Education at No More Marking, and there’s an interview with Director of CEM Professor Rob Coe in the pipeline too.
Great for: listening to on the go. The podcasts are really insightful and easy to listen to – great for your commute or listening to with a cuppa!
The Chartered College of Teaching blog is a great source of information and insight from a range of practitioners. Articles include book reviews, member insights, research digests and reviews and there is also series of anonymous blog posts titled ‘Proud to Teach’ where teachers share their proudest moments.
Great for: a variety of different topics from a number of contributors. The ‘Proud to Teach’ posts are very accessible and personal – inspiring and bring some light relief!
Best Evidence in Brief is a fortnightly e-newsletter of education research from the Center for Research and Reform in Education at Johns Hopkins University.
Great for: searching for approaches with evidence of effectiveness. Information is accessible, helping you get to grips with meaty research, and giving an overview of long term studies.
