Viviane M. J. Robinson – författare

How can educational research make a greater impact on educational practice? "Problem-Based Methodology: Research for the Improvement of Practice" explains why educational research has contributed so little to the understanding and resolution of educational problems, and how, with a different methodology, its contribution could be significantly greater. The book offers an alternative problem-based methodology (PBM) which is better matched than either empiricist, critical or interpretive approaches to the generic features of educational problems, to the way practitioners seek to resolve those problems, and to the normative requirements of any practical activity. In addition, PBM incorporates a politics of inquiry which shows how researchers and practitioners can reach warranted agreements about the nature of problems and solutions, through dialogue that is simultaneously critical and collaborative. Two original school-based studies illustrate this new approach to educational and social research.

"I plan to use this book with district administrators, building administrators, and building staff. All would find it an excellent tool for bringing about change in their organizations. It is infinitely readable, meaningful, and very useful."-Linda L. Elman, Ph.D., DirectorResearch & Evaluation, Central Kitsap School District, Silverdale, WA "The material on the research process and the examples are terrific. Steps are clearly spelled out and practical suggestions hit the major problems teachers encounter in attempting research for the first time." -Mildred Murray-Ward, Assistant Provost for Assessment, Professor of Education California Lutheran University"(With) more schools...operating as ′learning communities,′ this is an excellent tool for schools conducting action research in their own settings. Practitioner Research for Educators is easy to read, has lots of practical advice and examples, and should appeal to the seasoned as well as the novice researcher." -Roxana M. Della Vecchia, Professor & Assistant Dean College of Education, Towson UniversityLearn to conduct research rather than just consume research! Each school and classroom is different. Therefore educators must learn, through their own inquiry, how to adjust their practices in ways that will improve teaching and learning. Practitioner Research for Educators explains how the popular technique of practitioner inquiry can be used by teachers, principals, and other school leaders to solve instructional problems and improve student achievement. Viviane Robinson and Mei Kuin Lai include step-by-step instructions, ready-to-use tools, and examples of successful practitioner research projects. Practical yet rigorous, this collaborative process is ideal for use in professional learning communities. Focusing on the pragmatic aspects of embedding research into everyday practice, the authors demonstrate how to: Develop an important, yet manageable research question Select research methods appropriate to the question Plan and conduct a research project that is both practical and rigorous Use inquiry to reveal, critique, and revise taken-for-granted assumptions about how to teach Use evidence to check the accuracy of claims about "what works" Communicate the results of the research to a range of professional audiencesAppropriate for novice and experienced educators alike, this indispensable book provides a functional framework for developing a culture of inquiry among teachers based on high-quality information, mutually supportive critique, and a sustained focus on school improvement. While the primary audiences for this book are teachers, principals, and other school leaders, this valuable resource is equally useful for teacher educators and pre-service teachers.

Too much change, not enough improvement

 

Planned changes often fail because those designing them underestimate the complexity of implementation.

 

Reduce Change to Increase Improvement provides a practical structure for helping system and school leaders increase improvement while reducing ineffective change and innovation. By drilling down to the beliefs and values that inform the actual practice of change leaders, Robinson identifies the mindset, processes, and actual behaviors that contribute to successful reform efforts and, importantly, provide school leaders with concrete tools that enable them to be more effective.

 

The structures described in the book are illustrated by numerous examples, cases, and conversation extracts and center on four phases of engagement:

Agreeing about the problem to be solved Revealing the beliefs that sustain the current practices Evaluating the relative merit of the existing practices and proposed theory Implementing and monitoring the new theory of action

“Finally, a serious, evidence-proven book about educational change that takes a different tact – beginning with the impact on the learner. Reduce Change to Increase Improvement is a treasure-trove of concrete information for educational leaders. Robinson, always cautious about “change for change sake”, brilliantly delineates each step of the way for leaders using authentically-documented conversations and practical discussion-starters that guide us through this collective inquiry approach towards student improvement. All leaders need this concise, clearly-stated text to guide their intentional improvement practices.

—Dr. Lyn Sharratt, International Consultant and Author

OISE, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada