Teachers can access evidence-based strategies and practical guidance through educational blogs and books.
Clear communication between researchers and educators is crucial for implementing evidence-based practices in the classroom.
Google Scholar is a valuable resource for finding relevant academic studies and accessing full-text PDFs of articles.
Deep dives
Importance of Academic Research for Teachers
Academic research plays a crucial role in informing and supporting the decision-making process of classroom teachers. Many educators, like the host of the podcast, may not have formal training in academic research, making it challenging to navigate the vast amount of research available. The episode focuses on empowering teachers with tools to access and utilize research effectively, bridging the gap between research and classroom practice. The importance of clear and steady communication between researchers and educators is highlighted to ensure that evidence-based practices can be implemented in the classroom.
Sources for Accessing Academic Research
The podcast episode emphasizes various sources that provide accessible summaries of academic research for teachers. These sources include educational blogs, such as Learning Scientists and Retrieval Practice, which offer evidence-based strategies and practical guidance. Other valuable resources mentioned are books like 'The ABC of How We Learn' and 'Understanding How We Learn,' which provide comprehensive understandings of research-backed approaches. In addition, organizations like the Teaching and Learning Research Committee and the Institute of Education Sciences Reports offer platforms for connecting educators with researchers and providing synthesized reports to make research more accessible.
Understanding and Interpretation of Research Findings
The episode explores essential aspects to consider when using academic research to support instructional decisions. It emphasizes that research is an ongoing process, and findings can evolve over time due to new data and changing contexts. The significance of recognizing inherent biases and limitations within research is also highlighted. Additionally, the episode acknowledges the challenges of interpreting research for educators without formal methodological training. It suggests strategies such as reading abstracts, reviewing study selection criteria, and examining effect sizes to gain a better understanding of the research outcomes.
Using Google Scholar for Research
Google Scholar is a valuable resource for finding relevant studies. It provides personalized recommendations based on your interests and search history. By using specific search terms, such as 'concept mapping,' you can narrow down the results and explore studies within a certain time range. Google Scholar also allows you to access full-text PDFs of articles, making it a useful tool for those without access to a university library. Additionally, you can use the citation feature to discover other papers that have referenced a particular study, expanding your research further.
Tips for Reading Research Articles
When reading a research article, it's important to look for key sections like the method and discussion. The method section outlines the implementation and procedures of the study, providing insights into how you can apply the research findings in your own classroom. The discussion section summarizes the study's results and places them within the broader context of existing literature. Understanding the comparisons being made in the study and the materials used will help you assess the relevance of the findings to your own teaching practices. And don't hesitate to reach out to authors or explore additional resources for a deeper understanding of the research.
You want to know that your instructional decisions are supported by research, but you're not exactly sure where to find that research or how to read it correctly. In this episode, educational psychologist Kripa Sundar gives me a mini-course in how to dig up high-quality research, how to read and interpret it, and what we need to keep in mind about how academic research works.
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Thanks to simpleshow and ISTE for sponsoring this episode.
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