The critical reading of research involves: (1) comprehension, (2) evaluation, and (3) application. A study examined six recently published textbooks to determine to what extent they attempt to help students learn to apply educational research; these texts were specifically designed for "consumers" of research (i.e., critical readers of…

What it means to use research is a potentially contentious topic. With the emphasis on constructivist approaches in teacher education programs, the traditional explanations involving generalizability are inadequate in that there is no consideration of what the user brings to the use. Discussion of the various ways in which use can be framed leads…

Six lectures are presented in this report of the Symposium on Research and Reform in Teacher Education. The lectures are entitled (a) "Teacher Education--Research and Change"; (b) "Theories of Learning and Teacher Education"; (c) "Is Teacher Training Really Any Use?"; (d) "From Studying Education to Teaching a Class: Problems of Transition"; (e)…

The technique of causal modeling as applied to theoretical constructs in teacher education is demonstrated. The abstract principles of causality are explained, and are applied to various educational research needs. An example is made using data collected from a sample of 44 secondary level students who participated in a one semester student…

This paper describes "currere", a method of critical reflection upon educational experience devised by William Pinar and Madeleine Grumet. In teacher education, this autobiographical method is employed to reveal how the classroom situation is determined by the kinds of questions asked of it. The methodology is related to dominant themes…

The paper presents summaries of round table discussions in which 24 special educators from 21 nations considered the following four topics: the delivery of special education to exceptional youth; the selection, preparation, and improvement of personnel involved in educating exceptional youth; the improvement and facilitation of research activities…

During the past 10 years, a partnership between researchers and practitioners in educational research has developed in Oregon. In 1965 the Teacher Standards and Practices Commission was established. Since then, the commission has carried out research and influenced the development of various aspects of teacher education, certification, and related…

This paper describes a review and synthesis of research on algebra. The purpose was to identify findings that may prove useful to teachers, supervisors, and administrators. Over 300 studies were identified and categorized in terms of classroom instructional practices, cognitive factors, attitudes and affective factors, problem solving, calculators…

The limited impact of educational research on actual classroom practice is considered. It is pointed out that results of research are generally published in "prestige" journals rather than in publications teachers are likely to read. Further, it is stated that research projects are almost always generated by administrators or program directors and…

This paper discusses several interrelated processes aimed at helping teachers to use an experimental approach to improve their teaching. In making a diagnosis, the teacher generates a hypothesis about the relationship between his/her potential behavior and its effect upon the students. Following the formulation of such a hypothesis, the teacher…

In order for education to evolve from a craft to a profession, a spirit of inquiry must be infused into the beliefs and activities of education faculty members and practicing teachers. For faculty members in professional schools, the responsibilities of teaching, research, and service should be integrated activities for which inquiry serves as the…

A description is given of the West Virginia Microcomputer Educational Network in the context of excellence in education and how it enables educators in schools, colleges/universities, and the State Department of Education to access and input to an information base of research findings, successful practices, and operational programs related to…

The California Commission for Teacher Preparation and Licensing, responsible for teacher certification and approval of programs of teacher education, is conducting a major research effort to identify teaching behaviors that are related to student learning of reading and mathematics in the elementary grades: The Beginning Teacher Evaluation Study.…

A study examined the extent to which teachers maintained that educational research provided them with practical suggestions for improving instruction. In addition, the study sought to determine why educational research may not influence classroom teaching. A total of 159 elementary and secondary school teachers from 5 districts in the Southwest…

Interactive Research and Development on Teaching (IR&DT) is an alternative Research and Development (R&D) strategy that probes the questions, problems, and concerns of classroom teachers in a nonlinear manner. Each of the primary functions of traditional R&D--research, development, dissemination, and implementation--are performed…