Research Ed initiated an evidence-based teaching revolution through viral tweets.
Research Ed faced resistance but persisted in promoting evidence-based teaching practices.
Questioning traditional teaching practices and prioritizing evidence-driven methods can improve student learning.
Deep dives
The Birth of Research Ed and Evidence-Informed Teaching
Research Ed, an initiative started by Tom Bennett, revolutionized the education sector by promoting evidence-informed teaching practices, beginning with one viral tweet that sparked a nationwide movement. The initiative aimed to challenge traditional and sometimes ineffective teaching methods by inviting speakers like Paul Kirschner and Barb Oakley to share research-backed insights. The core mission of Research Ed is to empower teachers with knowledge and tools to enhance classroom practices and prioritize evidence over outdated educational trends.
Navigating Pushback and Changing Educational Culture
Despite its success, Research Ed faced significant pushback from individuals deeply invested in traditional teaching approaches or commercial interests. However, Tom Bennett's unwavering commitment to evidence-based teaching propelled Research Ed forward, fostering a community of educators dedicated to improving education through research-backed practices. By challenging entrenched beliefs and advocating for evidence-based strategies, Research Ed strives to elevate the teaching profession and enhance student learning outcomes.
Empowering Teachers to Navigate Educational Trends
In a landscape where educational trends often diverge from research-backed practices, teachers are encouraged to question mainstream approaches and seek evidence to support instructional methods. By promoting skeptical inquiry and advocating for evidence in professional development, teachers can navigate conflicting educational trends and prioritize effective teaching strategies that align with research-based principles. Ensuring educators have the tools to discern evidence-backed practices can lead to improved teaching outcomes and student success.
Questioning the Value of Traditional Teaching Practices
Traditional teaching practices like marking students' work may not have a substantial impact on learning. The speaker advocates for questioning such practices and seeking evidence-based methods for providing feedback. Collaborative professional communities, like reading groups, are suggested to challenge and improve educational practices.
Critique of Group Work in Classroom Environments
The speaker expresses skepticism towards the effectiveness of group work in educational settings. Emphasizing the unequal distribution of work and distractions caused by group settings, the speaker argues for individual-focused teaching methods to enhance student learning and concentration. The preference for structured roles and columns over group work is highlighted for better classroom management.
Join math professor, Anna Stokke, in conversation with Tom Bennett. He is a teacher, author and founder of the grass roots, non-profit organization ResearchED. Tom has a captivating sense of humour, making this a great listen. They discuss many things in this episode, such as education research, group work, cell phones in schools and evidence-informed teaching. But the conversation begins with the story of ResearchED, which has started an evidence revolution in education. It all started with one tweet – as Tom Bennett calls it “The Tweet that Roared.” Anyone interested in education will enjoy this episode!
