Connecting Research-to-Practice and Practice-Led Research A Presentation from the Ontario Education Research Panel (OERP)

The Panel’s Mission: to harness, encourage, promote and disseminate the many good examples of research-to-practice already being developed in boards, schools and classrooms to build capacity for education research by creating and strengthening relationships among existing organizations and individuals to address priority research needs

Our vision for the future… Researchers, faculties and professional organizations –provide open access to research work –develop research ‘news’ capacity –share information about research with partners to create linkages School Boards –publicly share research priorities –provide ‘research links’ –include research in internal and external communications Ministries –share research priorities and projects publicly –make research and evaluation reports public –develop research capacity in priority areas

How we are turning our vision into action… Consultation with education partners OERP/AERO proposal for web-based collaboration and networking Literature review of school-university collaborative research Presentations at regional, provincial and international conferences Collaboration with Ministry to plan OERS 2009

What we are learning… Many existing partnerships. Many independent yet similar projects. Huge opportunity for increased collaboration and sharing Finding out what’s going on increases synergy Leadership needed around key issues (e.g. poverty, aboriginal education) Result = enhanced learning and teaching in Ontario