Hey everyone, welcome back for another deep dive.
It's great to be here.
Today we're gonna be looking at something
that I think a lot of people listening
have experienced firsthand.
And that is the difference between
what education researchers say should be happening
and then what is actually happening in classrooms.
Yeah, the theory versus practice problem.
Yeah, exactly.
Which is a big one.
It is a big one.
And to help us unpack this a little bit more,
we're gonna be looking at this great article
from hackscience.education.
Yes, a very insightful article.
Really gets into some of the nitty gritty this problem.
One of the things I find really fascinating about it
is that they talk about how education
is what they call a soft technology.
Oh, interesting, okay.
We've never heard of called that before.
It's not a term that's commonly used,
but when you think about it, it makes sense.
So you have things like agriculture and medicine
where you have researchers who are like scientists in a lab
coming up with new theories and new ideas,
developing new medicines, new ways to grow crops
and all that.
Exactly, and then you have the practitioners
who are actually out there in the field.
Putting it into practice.
Putting it into practice, exactly.
So like the farmers and the doctors.
Exactly, yeah.
And so education is kind of like that.
You have people who are studying education.
The scholars and researchers.
Yes, in universities and research institutions.
Yeah, have you ever noticed that sometimes
what you read in a textbook?
Oh, absolutely.
Doesn't really translate when you try to actually teach.
It's like night and day sometimes, right?
Yes.
And that's exactly what this article highlights
is like how different those two worlds can be.
So you have these scholars who are often,
like I said, university-based.
They're focused on research getting published.
And their success is measured by things like,
you know how many research grants they get?
How many peer-reviewed articles they publish?
Right.
Whereas teachers.
Yeah, completely different set of incentives.
Totally different world.
They're on the front lines working directly with students,
managing classroom dynamics.
Dealing with all the pressures from school boards and parents.
Yeah, it's like they're in completely different universes
sometimes.
It really is.
And so because of that, you have this disconnect
between what the research is suggesting
and what's actually feasible in a classroom.
So it's not that teachers aren't reading the research
necessarily.
It's that the research might not be speaking to their needs.
The actual challenges they're facing every single day.
Exactly.
And this disconnect, it really plays out
when we start talking about the relationship between theory
and practice.
OK, so how does the article sort of break that down?
Well, they talk about how educational scholars,
they're constantly working on generating and testing
these theories about how learning happens.
And they use a variety of research methods.
They're looking at both qualitative and quantitative data.
Now, for folks who haven't heard that term before,
qualitative data, it's essentially
like the why behind the what.
Exactly.
Like it's about understanding people's experiences
and perspectives.
It's the richness of the data.
Yeah, not just numbers.
Exactly.
And so you have this very rigorous process
with educational research, with peer reviews,
and scientific rigor, and all of that.
But then you have the very messy and unpredictable reality
of classrooms, where teachers are trying
to put these theories into practice.
Yeah, it's kind of like reading a cookbook
and seeing this beautiful picture of a cake.
And you're like, I could totally make that.
But then when you actually get in the kitchen,
you realize, oh, your oven runs hot.
And you substitute it almond flour for wheat flour.
And the end result is a little bit different.
It might not turn out exactly as planned.
Yeah.
And I feel like that's often the case
with educational research.
Absolutely.
It's like the ideal scenario that's
presented in the research paper often doesn't quite
match up with the realities of the classroom.
Yeah.
Have you ever experienced that yourself?
Oh, yeah, for sure.
I mean, I remember in my own learning,
I read this study about this incredible new teaching method.
OK.
And in theory, it sounded revolutionary.
Right.
But then when I actually tried to apply it in the classroom,
it was like, it wasn't quite as simple as it sounded.
Yeah.
It was a lot more complicated than they
made it seem in the research.
And I think that's a perfect example
of what this article is talking about,
this communication gap between researchers and teachers.
Absolutely.
And it outlines these barriers.
And it talks about things like physical separation,
different job expectations, like we were talking about.
Even the language that's used in research versus.
It's like they're speaking different languages sometimes.
Yeah.
It's a different dialects of education.
Exactly.
And so because of this lack of shared understanding,
what are some of the consequences?
Well, I mean, think about it.
You could have these potentially really valuable research
findings that never make it into the classroom
because they're just not presented.
They're not accessible.
In a way that makes sense for teachers.
Yeah.
And then on the flip side, researchers
might be designing studies that are asking the wrong questions
because they're not getting input.
Exactly.
From the people who are in the classrooms.
So it's just this frustrating feedback loop.
It is.
And so the big question then is like, what does this all
mean for the learners?
How do we bridge this gap and make sure
that the best of educational research is actually
making its way into the classrooms?
Where it can benefit students.
Exactly.
And that's what we're going to talk about next.
Awesome.
I'm excited to dig into that.
Me too.
So stay tuned.
Yeah.
We'll be right back after a quick break.
OK.
So we've talked about this gap between research and practice.
But luckily, the article we were looking at from
hackscience.education doesn't just point out the problem.
Right.
It offers some solutions.
It does.
Which is what we're going to dig into now.
Yeah.
I think the key takeaway from the article
is that we need more communication and collaboration
between scholars and educators.
That seems pretty obvious, right?
It does seem obvious.
Like if you're not talking to each other.
Right.
How can you understand?
How can you possibly bridge that gap?
Yeah.
Like how can you build a bridge.
Right.
From two sides of a river.
Exactly.
If no one's talking to each other.
We line up with two bridges that don't meet in the middle.
Yes.
Exactly.
And what I found really interesting
is that they talk about this need for collaboration
as being crucial for developing what they call a 21st century
education paradigm.
Ooh, a 21st century education paradigm.
Yeah.
OK, so.
Sounds fancy.
It does sound fancy, but what does that actually mean?
Right.
So think about it.
The world has changed so much in recent decades.
It really has.
Technology has completely transformed everything.
Exactly.
Technology has transformed the way we access information,
the way we communicate.
The way we learn.
The way we learn everything.
Yeah.
But it feels like our education system is kind of lagging behind.
It's stuck in the past a little bit.
Yeah, we're still operating on this factory model of education.
The industrial model.
Where everyone's getting the same standardized instruction.
One size fits all.
Even though we know that's not how people learn.
Exactly.
People learn in different ways.
They have different needs, different interests.
Right.
So is this new paradigm?
Are we talking about moving away from that model?
I think that's exactly what it's calling for.
OK.
It's calling for a more personalized, student-centered
approach.
OK, so what would that look like?
Well, think about things like project-based learning.
OK.
Flexible learning environments.
Using technology to tailor instruction
to individual students' needs.
OK, I like where this is going.
Yeah.
But how do researchers and teachers actually work together?
Right.
To make that happen?
Well, there are some really exciting initiatives
already underway.
Oh, cool.
So for example, some universities
are partnering with local school districts
to conduct research directly in classrooms.
Oh, wow.
So bringing the lab to the classroom.
Exactly.
Bringing the research to where it's actually happening.
I love that.
And that allows researchers to see how their theories actually
play out in real-world settings.
In the messy reality.
In the messy reality of the classroom.
Yes.
And it gives teachers access to the latest research findings.
There's like a two-way street.
Exactly a two-way street.
I like it.
And then you also have professional development programs
that are specifically designed to bring scholars and educators
together.
OK.
And these programs provide opportunities
for them to learn from each other,
share their perspectives, and break down those silos
that we were talking about earlier.
I like it.
Those are some really cool examples.
But I guess the question I have now
is like, what can we as individuals
do to help bridge this gap?
That's a great question.
I think everyone has a role to play.
OK.
So for example, if you're a teacher,
actively seek out research that's
relevant to your teaching practice.
OK.
Don't be afraid to reach out to researchers
at your local university.
Yeah.
Ask questions.
Attend conferences.
Awesome.
And what about if you're a researcher listening?
If you're a researcher, think about collaborating
with local schools.
OK.
Get into those classrooms.
Observe teaching firsthand.
Talk to teachers about their real-world experiences.
Oh, cool.
And no matter who you are, advocate for policies
that support this kind of collaboration.
So we can all be like education activists.
Exactly.
In our own way.
And I think it's important to remember
that bridging this gap isn't just
about making education better.
It's about creating a better future for everyone.
Right.
Because a more effective and equitable education system
benefits all of us.
It benefits society as a whole.
Yeah.
And it all starts with recognizing
the value that both researchers and teachers bring
to the table.
Exactly.
And creating those opportunities for them to work together.
Awesome.
Love it.
Yeah.
So instead of seeing research and practice as separate spheres,
we need to see them as interconnected.
Right.
It's a feedback loop.
Yeah.
Research informs practice, informs research.
OK.
So we've talked about communication collaboration.
Yeah.
Is that all there is to it?
I don't think so.
OK.
I think there's another piece.
OK.
That we need to consider.
What's that?
And the article touches on this too.
OK.
And that is the language barrier.
Oh, yeah.
That often exists.
Between research and practice.
Exactly.
Yeah.
Because sometimes I feel like I need a dictionary.
Right.
To read a research paper.
The jargon can be really intimidating.
Yes.
And teachers are already so busy.
They don't have time to be deciphering academic jargon.
So we need to make research more accessible.
Yeah.
More understandable for educators.
How do we do that?
Well, I think it starts with encouraging researchers
to write in a way that is clear, concise, and relevant
to classroom practice.
And maybe we even need translators.
Ooh.
I like that idea, translators.
Yeah.
People who can bridge the gap.
Bridge the gap between the language of research
and the language of the classroom.
Educational diplomats.
I love it.
Yeah.
So to our listener, what role do you see yourself playing
in bridging this gap?
Yeah.
Are you the teacher who reaches out to a researcher?
Are you the researcher who partners with a local school?
Are you the advocate who pushes for policy change?
Or maybe you're the educational diplomat
who helps translate research into practice.
The possibilities are endless.
I love it.
And I think no matter where you fit in, your voice matters.
Because ultimately, the future of education
depends on all of us working together.
I love that.
Me too.
It feels like this is something much bigger
than just a few tweaks here and there.
Right.
It's not just about individual actions.
It's about changing the whole system.
Yeah, we need a complete mindset shift
when it comes to how we view the relationship
between research and practice.
We have to stop seeing them as separate things.
Right.
Because they're not.
They're interconnected.
Yeah.
It's like a two-way street.
Exactly a two-way street.
Where research is informing practice.
And practice is informing research.
OK.
So what would that actually look like?
Well, it would require changes in how we fund research,
how we train teachers, how we structure
our whole education system.
The whole thing.
It's like we need a cultural revolution in education.
Yeah, I think that's a good way to put it.
Where collaboration and communication are valued.
And it all comes back to that idea of education
as a soft technology.
There's no easy answer.
No silver bullet.
No silver bullet, exactly.
But if we can get researchers and educators
talking to each other.
Working together.
Yeah.
Then we can at least start.
To move in the right direction.
Yeah, to create an education system.
That's more responsive.
To the needs of students and teachers.
Exactly.
OK, so imagine a future.
Yeah.
Where research is actually informing practice.
And practice is shaping the research agenda.
Where teachers have a voice.
Yeah.
In the research process.
And researchers are getting feedback.
Real-time feedback from the classroom.
I like that.
Yeah, me too.
That's a future worth striving for.
It is.
OK, so as we wrap up this deep dive.
Yeah.
What are some key takeaways for our listener?
Well, I think the biggest one is just
to remember that.
That gap we talked about.
Yeah, that gap between research and practice.
That's real.
It's real.
And it's significant.
Yeah, and it shows up in all sorts of ways.
Yeah, from the language barrier.
To the challenges of actually applying research findings.
In real classrooms.
Yeah.
With real students.
And that's why communication and collaboration
are so important.
Absolutely.
Like we talked about the possibility
of a 21st century education paradigm.
Yeah, a new way of thinking about education.
That's more personalized and student-centered.
Exactly.
And that means we all have a role to play.
We do.
Whether you're a student.
A teacher, a parent, or a researcher.
Or just someone who cares about education.
Your voice matters.
So ask yourself, what can you do?
To help bridge this gap.
Even small actions can make a difference.
They can.
Because we're all in this together.
We are.
Well, that's it for our deep dive today.
Thanks for joining us.
We hope you learned something new.
And we hope you'll join us again next time.
For another deep dive into the world of education.
See you.
Hey.