Background and Philosophy:
Research to Practice has been developed to reduce the gap between educational research and the practice of teachers in classrooms. At present it has been developed with a focus on the area of literacy and English for primary and secondary school. It has been developed to address all subject areas, as all subject areas are mandated to report on literacy. Research to Practice has more than ten years experience in schools and universities.
Online:
Research to Pracice offers a free service to all teachers:
- reviews of current publications (leading educational journals, books and educational policy)
- reviews of relevant past publications
- literacy reviews that provide a comprehensive analysis of current research
School in-service
Research to Practice brings up to date and practical information relating to pedagogy, policy and educational theories to your school and in a form that suits your needs.
In line with current research, Research to Practice offers on-going in-service at schools in relation to literacy and English. At this time the service is only offered to Metropolitan Melbourne, the Eastern suburbs of Melbourne, and suburbs along Peninsula Link.
Research to Practice combines an online professional development resource with a face-to-face in-service program that aligns with current research on the best ways to implement change within schools: ongoing, specialised, and at teachers' workplace (schools). Therefore, all professional development is developed in consultation with the school and we come to you! No more having to leave work for classes and travelling hours to attend seminars.
In between in-service sessions, staff have access to online professional development modules so that they can continue to develop their knowledge in their time and in areas of indidual interest.
We also understand the need to keep a record of professional development, so we provide certificates to all staff members, which include:
- the hours completed (during in-service program as well as time completing online professional development modules)
- the specific links to the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers.
Example Program: 30 minute long sessions
Session 1: What is literacy?
Purpose: to allow participants to consider their conceptions of literacy and how these relate to current accepted conceptions.
Content: this session examines the different views presented in the research community about what constitutes literacy.
Session 2: Detailed examination of literacy
Purpose: to present to participants details of the conception of literacy that they generally align with to allow them to add complexity to their understanding; enhancing and strengthening their views.
Content: this session will break down the different aspects of a particular concept of literacy. It will examine the features of this view as well as the limitations, or arguments against the view. There is a focus on new conceptions of literacy in relation to technology.
Session 3: Literacy and the Australian Curriculum
Purpose: to ensure that participants understand the concept of literacy in the Australian Curriculum.
Content: this session examines the wording of the literacy documents in the Australian Curriculum, answering the questions:
- what does it say?
- what does it mean?
Session 4: Literacy and students (part 1)
Purpose: to encourage teachers to no longer see literacy as an abstract idea, but to consider it in terms of their students.
Content: this session introduces the participants to the social factors of literacy - what does literacy look like in the classroom?
Session 5: Literacy and students (part 2)
Purpose: to empower participants with the knowledge to assess their students' literacy background and incorporate this into the teachers' understanding of their students and individual needs.
Content: this session examines the different theories in relation to students' backgrounds and what they bring into the classroom, in terms of literacy understanding and knowledge. In particular, it will examine the theory of discourses.
Session 6: Literacy and students (part 3)
Purpose: to provide participants with practical approaches to address students' literacy backgrounds.
Content: this session builds on the theoritical knowledge from Session 5. In doing so, it presents practical approaches to addressing students' needs that are based in research but tested in practice.
Session 7: Literacy and differing year levels
Purpose: to present to participants the literacy requirements/level of students throughout their schooling.
Content: this session breaks down the literacy needs of students, depending on their year level, as the needs of a Year 7 student differ dramatically to a Year 10 student's, and a student in VCE.
Comments