10-second review: Researchers in education need to present their findings to teachers in entertaining and informative ways.
Title: “Professional Resources.” RJ Draper and D Fisher. Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy (JAAL) (September 2008), 88-92. A publication of the International Reading Association (IRA).
Summary: The authors say that the TV program Mythbusters (Discovery Channel), researches “myths” (common beliefs) and concludes either to “bust” or confirm them, reject the “myths” as untrue or accept their truth. The program is quite entertaining. Education researchers complain that teachers do not read their findings and results that also essentially “bust” (reject) or confirm educational theories and “myths.” Why not present their findings and results in a more entertaining and informative way?
Comment: Good thought. I can think of at least two reasons researchers in education do not present their findings and results in entertaining ways:
1. They are locked into the jargon of research.
2. Their findings and results are not clear-cut as are the myths in Mythbusters. Most of educational research “suggests” results and cannot be as definitive as the “myths” that are “busted” or confirmed in the TV show. Still, a more entertaining presentation of results and findings should be considered. Any ideas out there? RayS.
The purpose of this blog is to present articles of interest from professional education journals to teachers of English at all levels.
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"Education researchers complain that teachers do not read their findings and results..." Hmmmm.... maybe that's a myth worth reviewing?
ReplyDeleteOr how about the myth that challenges in education can be overcome if we just apply a little more research?
What I'd love to see is a solid, critical study of how research, funding and policy have interacted (or conflicted) over the past 30 years. Where have there been sustained, real-world positive results? And why?
Just my 2 cents.
:)