Why is Educational Research Important ?

Objectives Explain the difference in Evaluation and Research. Explain the difference in Evaluation and Research. Identify the individuals or groups that should care about Educational research. Identify the individuals or groups that should care about Educational research. Explain why Educational Research is important. Explain why Educational Research is important. Explain why Research may be more important to CTE than Academic Education. Explain why Research may be more important to CTE than Academic Education. Explain why it is important to be good consumers of research. Explain why it is important to be good consumers of research. Explain how to locate sources of good research. Explain how to locate sources of good research. List 5 good sources of research for Career and Technical Education. List 5 good sources of research for Career and Technical Education.

Objective 1: Difference in Research & Evaluation/ Assessments Research Research Can be Basic, Applied, or Action but is most likely Action (conducted by educators in the field) and maybe Applied Can be Basic, Applied, or Action but is most likely Action (conducted by educators in the field) and maybe Applied In general research is inferential in nature In general research is inferential in nature Often times the conclusions are further removed from opportunities for applications Often times the conclusions are further removed from opportunities for applications Evaluation/Assessment Evaluation/Assessment evaluation is the systematic assessment of the worth or merit of some object evaluation is the systematic assessment of the worth or merit of some object evaluation is the systematic acquisition and assessment of information to provide useful feedback about some object evaluation is the systematic acquisition and assessment of information to provide useful feedback about some object Question is how well did we (our students) do? Question is how well did we (our students) do? Results used in justification of actions, for accountability Results used in justification of actions, for accountability

Objective 2: Who Cares About Educational Research? Since there is public money involves, the PUBLIC at large is interested Since there is public money involves, the PUBLIC at large is interested Since time, money, and reputation is involved EDUCATORS themselves are interested Since time, money, and reputation is involved EDUCATORS themselves are interested Since PARENTS pay taxes and spend some time involved with schools and they have children they are very interested. Since PARENTS pay taxes and spend some time involved with schools and they have children they are very interested. Society in general cares to some degree for reasons of self preservation. Society in general cares to some degree for reasons of self preservation.

Objective 3: Why Educational Research is Important? Accountability -- Education is a public trust, therefore it has a responsibility to be wise in it’s decision making. Accountability -- Education is a public trust, therefore it has a responsibility to be wise in it’s decision making. Accountability There are three main reasons Research is important….. There are three main reasons Research is important….. Money – Time – Outcomes (status) Money – Time – Outcomes (status) Education spends a lot of money. Education spends a lot of money. Programs, personnel, eq, books, software, facilities Programs, personnel, eq, books, software, facilities What is the cost of a bad decision? What is the cost of a bad decision? Even if it was not money what would it be? Even if it was not money what would it be? Time – Time spent in activities that are not productive. Time – Time spent in activities that are not productive. Loss or gains in student learning -- After all that is why we exist Loss or gains in student learning -- After all that is why we exist

Issues Related to Accountability? First we have to admit there are problems in Education before we can solve the problem. First we have to admit there are problems in Education before we can solve the problem. When there is a problem what do we do? When there is a problem what do we do? Propose solutions Propose solutions Test solutions Test solutions Testing involves measuring outcomes Testing involves measuring outcomes This leads to interpretation of results This leads to interpretation of results Testing involves reporting Testing involves reporting Results become the rationale for change Results become the rationale for change

Why is Accountability So Hard in Public Agencies We are slow to admit any degree of failure. We are slow to admit any degree of failure. Fear of loss of public trust Fear of loss of public trust Loss of funds Loss of funds Loss of jobs Loss of jobs Fear of loss of control Fear of loss of control Education is who we are and what we do. Education is who we are and what we do. It means answering to people. It means answering to people. We can never be perfect, so why try? We can never be perfect, so why try? This gets to the gut issues of life, money, success of our children, the hope of the future, etc… This gets to the gut issues of life, money, success of our children, the hope of the future, etc…

Issues The following are issues reflect concern in the area of accountability The following are issues reflect concern in the area of accountability Charter schools Charter schools Taxes Taxes Illiteracy Illiteracy Vouchers Vouchers Private schools Private schools Consolidations Consolidations The addition or cutting of programs The addition or cutting of programs Standards based ED Standards based ED NCLB NCLB School control School control Parent involvement Parent involvement Teacher certification Teacher certification

Objective 4: Why is Research & Evaluation Important to CTE? Large expenditures in CTE Large expenditures in CTE Any CTE program cost more than most any academic program Any CTE program cost more than most any academic program Change is harder for costly programs Change is harder for costly programs We need more evidence to justify change We need more evidence to justify change Goal of CTE is employment Goal of CTE is employment Puts people to work Puts people to work Goal of employment is to keep the population working, to keep paying taxes Goal of employment is to keep the population working, to keep paying taxes Funding is different – more subject to public opinion Funding is different – more subject to public opinion

Objective 5: Why it is important to be good consumers of research? To interpret research and reports associated with our programs. To interpret research and reports associated with our programs. To be more effective teachers To be more effective teachers To be more effective administrators To be more effective administrators To be able to establish a benchmarks To be able to establish a benchmarks

Objective 6: Locating Sources Of Good Research If I ask you to find me some research on a topic where would you go to get some? If I ask you to find me some research on a topic where would you go to get some? Library – First order sources Library – First order sources Journals devoted to research in a field of study Journals devoted to research in a field of study Books written by experts Books written by experts Proceedings of conferences of learned forums Proceedings of conferences of learned forums ERIC and other data bases help in finding ERIC and other data bases help in finding Professional organizations Professional organizations Some Websites, if connected to a professional organization, etc.. Some Websites, if connected to a professional organization, etc.. Some Clearinghouses, depending on who is sponsoring Some Clearinghouses, depending on who is sponsoring Some Published Reports, government or private Some Published Reports, government or private Private Private Foundations/Non-profits Foundations/Non-profits Commercial Commercial

What Are Some Less Desirable Sources Of Research? Magazines, Maybe….only because they are second or third conveyors of the knowledge, but they can be very good for taking results to the public. Magazines, Maybe….only because they are second or third conveyors of the knowledge, but they can be very good for taking results to the public. Newspapers, Maybe Newspapers, Maybe Bias groups / groups that might have a vested interest in the outcomes, because of economic benefits. They usually pay for the research. Bias groups / groups that might have a vested interest in the outcomes, because of economic benefits. They usually pay for the research. People with a know history of bias / People with agendas… they want their point of view to be dominate. People with a know history of bias / People with agendas… they want their point of view to be dominate.

Some Terms That Imply Quality Juried Juried Scholarly Scholarly Learned forums Learned forums Peer reviewed Peer reviewed Blind review, Double blind review Blind review, Double blind review Empirically based Empirically based

Objective 7: Sources of Research CTE Journal of Vocational Education Research Journal of Vocational Education Research Journal of Agricultural Education (JAE) Journal of Agricultural Education (JAE) Journals in the Field of Education Journals in the Field of Education Proceeding of conferences http ://aaae.okstate.edu/proceedings.html Proceeding of conferences http ://aaae.okstate.edu/proceedings.html http ://aaae.okstate.edu/proceedings.html http ://aaae.okstate.edu/proceedings.html USOE (also the old NCRVE ) USOE (also the old NCRVE )NCRVE

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Accountability Definition – Definition – The state of being accountable, liable, or answerable. The state of being accountable, liable, or answerable. Education. a policy of holding schools and teachers accountable for students' academic progress by linking such progress with funding for salaries, maintenance, etc. Education. a policy of holding schools and teachers accountable for students' academic progress by linking such progress with funding for salaries, maintenance, etc. ability ability ability ability

Accountability in Education and In Arkansas Arkansas Department of Education Arkansas Department of Education Implementing Accountability in Public Education Implementing Accountability in Public Education The National Office for Research on Measurement and Evaluation Systems The National Office for Research on Measurement and Evaluation Systems