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Newsletter ExtraJuly 2020
LSRN 2020/21Revised arrangementsThe pandemic has made face-to-face meetings impossible, but has also revealed the possibilities of virtual events. LSRN convenors and organisers of #researchmeets have found a rapid uptake of places for their virtual events, which are intrinsically open to people in any part of the country (or world). In recognition of this, LSRN is revising arrangements nationally in the coming academic year.
A National Planning Group, comprising convenors who are planning events during the year, chaired by Jo Fletcher-Saxon of Greater Manchester LSRN, will coordinate the programme of activity. The previous NPG – Norman Crowther, Kelly Kettlewell, Andrew Morris and Anne Thompson, will act as an Advisory group to ensure continuity and adherence to the LSRN’s values and purposes.
We hope this will result in a rich programme of activity over the year and the continuation of LSRN
in the new circumstances. We’ll review how the arrangements are working in Spring 2021.
LSRN West MidlandsCraig Tucker, of Halesowen College, is relinquishing his role as convenor of LSRN West Midlands. We are pleased that Kerry Scattergood, of Solihull College, has stepped forward to take his place.
LSRN is grateful to Craig for his work over the past few years and, in particular, for the interactive map he constructed of people engaging with sector research. You can see who is active near you and also place yourself on the map at the Networking the Networks site (scroll down, once on the site).
Virtual #ResearchmeetKerry Scattergood, the new West Midland convenor, organised a series of online meetings. She writes:
The LSRN newsletter is appearing more frequently during this exceptional period as a channel for all interested in research and use of evidence in the FE & Skills sector.
Send in information about research that you’d like to share, and we’ll relay it every few weeks. [email protected] and [email protected] The next issue will be early in September.
The #FEVirtualResearchmeet event, having been a sell-out in less than 24 hours, was a successful and exciting event. Taking place over three Monday mornings, delegates listened to three keynotes on the themes of ‘why’, ‘how’ and ‘share’ around research: by Matt O’Leary, Sam Broadhead and Sam Jones. They then went into dialogue spaces to hear about and discuss practitioner research. The last day was particularly exciting, as we launched a writing project – inviting all delegates to write for a publication on their experiences of the impact on teaching, learning and assessment for FE teachers in Covid-times, and/or the impact on FE practitioner research in Covid-times. The intention is to capture the very individual experiences of FE teachers in their own unique settings, so folk don’t try to ‘talk for us’ in the future.
The format was so successful, not just in the running of the event, but in bringing the #FEResearchmeet movement to colleagues who wouldn’t normally have the opportunity to access it. We’re looking forward to running a further series in January.
ResearchFutures Forum on LearningTools Competition
COVID-19 has sparked a global education crisis, and highlighted the need for continued innovation in how technology can support effective learning.
To support that continued innovation and experimentation, Schmidt Futures is helping to launch a new Tools Competition, with up to $1 million in awards, to bolster the development and deployment of technologies that can improve educational outcomes during the pandemic and into the future. Participants should focus on
students in grades K-12, especially historically marginalized populations.
The competition will be open to ideas from both established platforms and emerging talent in the field from around the globe. Whether you are a student with a new idea, researcher with a project you have been trying to get off the ground, or a large scale platform rapidly growing in your region, we welcome your idea.
The Tools Competition will go live on July 21st with leadership from Columbia University and The Learning Agency. Click here for details.
PublicationsFE Research PodcastNew initiative
LSRN convenor for Greater Manchester, Jo Fletcher-Saxon of Ashton Sixth Form College, along with Alistair Smith from Lincoln College now run a podcast, interviewing teachers, lecturers and academics about their research. The podcast is called #FEresearchpodcast and can be found on Apple Itunes, Spotify, Stitcher and Podbean. One of the latest episodes is an interview with Dr David Powell from the University of Huddersfield about research opportunities and challenges within further education and it is a fantastic listen. https://open.spotify.com/show/14l5c3vDckBxNtwmtkep8u
Article on employer engagementEducation and EmployersArticle on employer engagement
In the driving seat’, or reluctant passengers? Employer engagement in qualifications development: some evidence from two recent 14–
19 qualification reforms in England. By Prue Huddleston & Andrea Laczik – 2018
This article examines employer engagement in two reforms; Diplomas (2005–2010) and 16–19 Study Programmes (2011 onwards). It reflects on the extent to which employers are able to fulfil policy expectations and what lessons could be learnt from previous attempts to engage them in qualification design and delivery.
The article concludes that employer engagement within the 14–19 curriculum continues to be encouraged. The level of employer engagement, however, must be carefully matched to the expertise, experience, capacity and motivation of employers. It is argued that lessons should be learnt from previous experiences of qualifications development to avoid employers abandoning the journey completely
https://educationandemployers.cmail19.com/t/t-l-pjittjl-fdtdjykjh-d/
Education and EmployersStudy of teenage attitudes to work
The Indicators of successful transitions: Teenage attitudes and experiences related to the world of work. By Anthony Mann, Elnaz T. Kashefpakdel and Jordan Rehill – 2017
The study identifies attitudes and experiences which schools can influence in order to better prepare their young people for adult working life. All the schools surveyed felt the questionnaire and scoring system enabled staff to identify and prioritise young people requiring greater support. The indicators were found to be particularly useful for those in year 11 but had more limited use amongst the year 9 respondents in this sample. Practitioners highlighted that this may be due to the patterned nature of careers guidance provision
in UK schools - many careers programmes begin in earnest as students begin year 11.
See: https://educationandemployers.cmail19.com/t/t-l-pjittjl-fdtdjykjh-t/
Evidence-based Education Report on teacher effectiveness
EBE is a relatively new organisation with Prof. Rob Coe, formerly of the Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring at Durham University, as Director of Research & Development and prominent champions of evidence-use, such as Dylan Wiliam and John Hattie, on its advisory board.
It has recently published a major review of existing research studies and frameworks that are relevant to the components and routes to improvement of teacher effectiveness. Its aim is to help teachers make better decisions about what they can best do to improve their effectiveness.
See: https://www.greatteaching.com/
Information about LSRN contacts on the next page.
LSRN informationLSRN regional and local area contacts
South West vacancy
Bristol area Amy Woodrow [email protected]
South West Wales Bryony Evett [email protected]
South East Wales Jodie [email protected]
Kent James Snyder [email protected]
London Sai Loo [email protected]
and Rania [email protected]
NE London & Essex Philip Lawrence [email protected]
Beds, Bucks and Herts Sam Jones [email protected]
East Anglia Ian [email protected]
East Midlands vacancy
West Midlands Craig Tucker [email protected]
Greater Manchester area Jo Fletcher-Saxon [email protected]
Yorkshire & Humberside Rachel Terry [email protected]
Lancashire, Cumbria and Peter Shukie Merseyside [email protected]
North East vacancy
LSRN website
Interactive map of people interested in FE research