Re: Gap Between Research and Practice in the ECE Classroom

From: Nina Sazer O'Donnell
Email: nina.sazerodonnell@gmail.com
Date: February 14, 2006

Comments

Hi Jenn:

I'm not sure I can adequately answer your huge question, but we know that there has always been and continues to be a huge gap between research and practice. In our research to figure out how to address the gap, it was noted over and over by most experts in the field.

One of the ways we've addressed this gap in our Mind in the Making Learning Modules for Early Childhood Teachers is to present the research using adult learning principles. We actually use the twelve learning modules as a facilitated learning process rather than didactic teaching, so that learners (early childhood teachers) experience the learning process in much the same ways that young children do. Although evaluations are just beginning in several field test states, this approach seems to help bridge the gap.

Since the research clearly shows that the best teachers are learners, helping teachers to learn experientially demonstrates that application of research in a very different way than typical classroom learning.