Formalise, Prioritise and Mobilise


Book Description

Professional learning networks (PLN) are considered to be an effective way to foster school improvement. In order to generate change PLNs require effective support from school leaders, but these leaders might best support PLNs is currently little understood. To address this, this book presents a case study of the leadership of one PLN in England.




The Networked School Leader


Book Description

Evidence-based and engaging, with key takeaways for practitioners in every chapter, this book addresses the existing knowledge gap about how school leaders can effectively develop, support, and sustain networks within and across schools. It is crucial reading for school leaders, system leaders and education researchers working close-to-practice.




The Teacher's Guide to Successful Professional Learning Networks: Overcoming Challenges and Improving Student Outcomes


Book Description

“The establishment of professional learning networks can be transformational for you personally and professionally. This book takes you step by step through the process of developing an effective Professional Learning Network (PLN) to create and realise a new status quo!” Catherine Carden, Canterbury Christ Church University, UK “The book impressively underscores the relevance and opportunities of Professional Learning Networks for innovation in school, while also addressing the challenges and pitfalls of successfully establishing, running and sustaining PLNs from the perspective of teachers.” Colin Cramer, University of Tuebingen, Germany “This book is a must read for practitioners, policy makers and researchers interested in Professional Learning Networks! [It] provides readers with concrete recipes with all the necessary ingredients, including leadership, trust and collaboration, to ensure PLN success.” Prof. Dr. Kim Schildkamp, University of Twente, the Netherlands The Teacher’s Guide to Successful Professional Learning Networks supports educators with practical guidelines developed from the authors’ practical and research-based experience in this area. Taking a step-by-step approach, the book guides readers through the different stages of inquiry and influencing factors involved with successfully running a PLN. The authors explore how teachers can participate in networks to achieve deep reflective inquiry and make positive changes in teaching and learning. The book: -Builds on international research into professional learning networks (PLNs) -Uses illustrative case studies from a range of contexts across the world -Provides step-by-step guidance to help readers establish sustainable PLNs Drawing from a diverse range of international contexts and with content stretching from early years to secondary, this book is essential reading for any educator looking to create, expand or enhance their Professional Learning Network. Cindy Poortman is Associate Professor at the University of Twente in the Netherlands. Her research and teaching focus is teacher and school leader professional development in PLNs. She has co-founded and is coordinating the PLN network within the International Congress for School Effectiveness and Improvement (ICSEI). Chris Brown is Professor and Director of Research at the Department of Education Studies at the University of Warwick, UK. He has co-edited two books on Professional Learning Networks, is co-editor of the Professional Learning Networks Book Series, and is co-founder and co-convener of the ICSEI Professional Learning Networks research network.




The Research-Informed Teaching Revolution - North America: A Handbook for the 21st Century Teacher


Book Description

We know that educators and education systems at large face countless decisions every day. We also know that grounding educational decisions in research can improve the likelihood of desirable teaching and learning outcomes, as well as reduce the likelihood of unintended consequences. Research is just one among many types of evidence used in educational decision-making, however. So being “evidence informed” is as much about engaging with research evidence as it is engaging with practice-based evidence (e.g., professional judgment) and data-based evidence (e.g., school performance data). How can educators become evidence-informed? In our view, the best approach is to learn from examples from experts of how research can be integrated with these other types of evidence, and so regularly inform our own everyday practice. With that in mind, this practical handbook offers 16 illuminating chapters that provide a wealth of advice and perspectives on the subject written by North American educators who are striving to realize the idea of research-informed practice. Key themes – reflective practitioners, networks and collaboration, trust -emerge to help teachers formalize, prioritize and mobilize the use of research-evidence in schools.




The role of evidence in developing effective educational inclusion


Book Description

There has been considerable interest internationally in how research can be effectively translated to have an impact on practice in schools. The application of evidence informed approaches in the field of education is contested and debated. Such debates are intensified in relation to the issue of how best to include children with diverse learning needs in the classroom. The role of knowledge, science and evidence in how we both conceptualize and best support children with special educational needs and other forms of diversity in the classroom, remains an open question in terms of booth policy and practice. Although there is a considerable and growing body of literature on evidence informed practice in education in general, there has been less attention paid to its implications for the domain of educational inclusion specifically. However, tensions between differing conceptualisations of difference and the role of categorisation present questions as yet not fully answered as to the ways in which evidence can and should articulate with practice in this specific domain. For example, issues of what is inclusion, the place of norms and values that define inclusion, how we conceptualize and think about difference, across culture, language and cognition, are raised when we think about the application of evidence to practice in the area of educational inclusion.




Getting Evidence into Education


Book Description

Worldwide, there has been considerable progress in the quality of research evidence generated for use in education, but not the equivalent growth in knowledge of how best to get this evidence into actual use. Yet with far-reaching implications, all of education is damaged when persuasive but poor-quality evidence has widespread influence, or good research lies unused. Focused on the work of the Durham University Evidence Centre for Education, Getting Evidence into Education addresses this problem, examining what can be done to improve the take-up of suitable research evidence and inform the public service of education. Containing a variety of case studies, from evidence-based policies for early childhood education in Brazil, to the use of evidence on contextualized admissions to Scottish universities, the volume explores a variety of different ways to approach the problem, addressing the questions: What is the existing evidence on different approaches to getting research evidence into use? What are the factors which influence the uptake of high-quality research evidence by policy or practice? Which are the most effective pathways for evidence-into-use in particular contexts? Considering both the practical and ethical implications, the book builds towards key recommendations for the research community, practitioner bodies and policy-makers and advisors, directing them on how to communicate better with each other for the benefit of everyone.




The Relational Leader


Book Description

Highlighting leadership from a social and relational perspective, this book has a particular emphasis on the innovative role that social networks play in systems change. The social systems engaged in this volume cut across a wide array of stakeholder groups, ranging from student learners, pre-service/in-service teachers, administrators, community leaders, and out to organizations and communities that reflect well beyond the education sector, showcasing diverse perspectives from multiple areas and international settings. Bringing together 32 distinguished scholars from Australia, Canada, Germany, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Taiwan, the UK and the USA, this book explores the use of social networks in education across different contexts and settings, connecting it with leadership practice that works at these settings for change. The contributors also examine online and virtual social behaviors and their connections to face to face networks. Ultimately, the volume showcases that leadership is social influence through examining a variety of social systems through social relationships. In addition to the breadth of studies connecting innovative leadership research to practice in this volume, the contributors also explore a new area of social networks and leadership by examining online and virtual social behaviors and their connections to face to face networks. Ultimately, the selected chapters in this volume make the point that “leadership is social influence” through examining a variety of social systems through social relationships.




The Research-informed Teaching Revolution: A handbook for the 21st century teacher


Book Description

Research informed teaching is big news! There has been a bottom up revolution encouraging teachers' use of research. But at the same time there is a gap between what teachers do and what research suggests might provide effective ways to support student learning. It's not that a wealth of educational research doesn't exist, but what teachers, school and school system leaders need is an understanding of how to embed this research within everyday practice. Drawing on the wisdom of those at the top of their game, this book intends to provide just that: a practical handbook for teachers and leaders that can help make the research use revolution a reality. With contributions from leading 'do-ers' in the field of knowledge mobilisation including: Daniel Muijs (Ofsted); Cat Scutt (Chartered College of Teaching); Jonathan Sharples (EEF); Julie Nelson (NfER); Adam Boxer (teacher and blogger); Gary Jones (blogger); David Weston (Teacher Development Trust) and Caroline Creaby (Sandingham Research School), the book provides a wealth of insight. This knowledge is then further distilled into useable guidance and best practice principles that can be readily implemented at classroom, school and teaching school alliance level.




Educational Research and Innovation Who Really Cares about Using Education Research in Policy and Practice? Developing a Culture of Research Engagement


Book Description

In today's dynamic and rapidly evolving world, evidence-informed decision-making has emerged as a cornerstone in guiding effective education policy and practice. In particular, creating a culture of research engagement is often highlighted as a key ingredient to strengthening the impact of research. However, it is not always clear how that works in practice.




Professional Learning Networks in Design-Based Research Interventions


Book Description

Mei Kuin Lai and Stuart McNaughton provide a theoretical and practical account of how PLNs focused on collaborative analysis of data can be integrated into design-based research interventions to improve practice and student learning outcomes.