Bridging the Research to Practice Gap
Convener
Hannah Scherer, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State Univ
Researchers are currently developing new knowledge about how students think and learn, evaluating the effectiveness of instructional strategies, and studying many other topics that can strengthen our teaching. But how do we learn about these new findings? How do we learn to adapt them to our own instructional context? How can researchers make these findings more accessible to instructors? Drawing from successful models and theories used in other disciplines, participants in this workshop will engage in idea sharing and strategizing around how to strengthen connections between Earth education research and teaching.
Goals
-
Identify barriers to the flow of information from research publications to the classroom.
-
Identify existing opportunities and strategies that promote the use of education research findings in everyday instruction.
-
Develop new strategies and models that promote the use of education research findings in everyday instruction by addressing barriers.
Program Timeline
Research to Practice Gap Presentation (PowerPoint 2007 (.pptx) 4.4MB Jul17 17)
1:30 - 2:00 Orientation and grounding for the session
- Who are we? – Introduce leader
- Why are we here? – Overview of workshop goals/ motivations
- What do we hope to accomplish today? – Tangible ideas/ strategies
- Who is here today? – Participant intros
2:00 – 2:30 Brainstorming Round 1
- Participants describe challenges/ barriers to learning about and implementing research findings (strategies, models, etc.)
2:30 – 2:45 Short presentation/ discussion of other models/ theories
- Cooperative Extension (agricultural research to farmers); traditionally used a diffusion of innovation model, moving toward more collaborative models
- Medicine (biomedical research to doctors); seeing more translational research models that involve patients and communities in developing and disseminating health interventions; theory of planned behavior
2:45 – 3:30 Brainstorming Round 2
- Participants identify or develop strategies to address the challenges identified in Round 1
3:30 – 3:45 Wrap-up, next steps, and heads-up about 4:30 pm session (community forum)
3:45 – 3:55 Workshop Evaluation
4:00 Adjourn