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What counts as evidence in education?

Richard Andrews

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Contents

1 The importance of evidence

2 What’s available on TTRB?

3 Links to further sites and services

4 Its potential significance

5 Contact details

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The importance of evidence

For PGCE students and teachers, researchers and policy-makers……evidence to back up propositions, practice, policy• For trainee and practising teachers:

– What works, in what contexts?– What is the range and quality of evidence for PGCE assignments?– What will help in the progress toward a Masters in Teaching and

Learning, or one of the new subject-based Masters?• For researchers and policy-makers:

– What international comparative data and evidence is there?– What is worth trying out for future practice?

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What’s available on TTRB?

Recently posted material includes:• Peter Tymms on evidence-based education

– Discussions on a hierarchy of evidence: film and text of keynote– See http://www.ttrb.ac.uk/ViewArticle2.aspx?ContentId=14977

• ‘What counts as evidence in education?’– Article-length piece, originally written for undergraduate students at York,

but reviewed and commissioned by TTRB for teachers, researchers et al.– Discussion is invited– What counts as research, and what as resource?

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Links to further sites and services

Some examples of where to find good evidence:• The English teaching pages – the new MA in English Education, here at IOE, will recommend use of TTRB as a starting point for literature searches• Glossary

– English as an additional language • So it’s not just a case of what is on TTRB, but what it links to: • The Research Evidence in Education Library at

http://eppi.ioe.ac.uk/cms//Default.aspx?tabid=56• Futurelab’s literature reviews at

http://www.futurelab.org.uk/resources/publications-reports-articles/literature-reviews/

• The E-librarian service

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Its potential significance

In the hands of teachers, researchers – and policy-makers – it’s a powerful tool…• Existing policy and practice can be questioned, improved • Options can be looked at, reflected upon, applied• Gaps in research and resources identified• School students can look at it too…• New material added by its users

…and the TTRB site itself can be improved, via feedback to the Editorial and Commissioning Advisory Board!

Institute of EducationUniversity of London20 Bedford WayLondon WC1H 0AL

Tel +44 (0)20 7612 6000Fax +44 (0)20 7612 6126Email info@ioe.ac.ukWeb www.ioe.ac.uk

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Contact details

Professor Richard AndrewsTel: 0207 612 6524Email: r.andrews@ioe.ac.uk

Professor David LambertTel: 0207 911 5414Email: d.lambert@ioe.ac.uk

Institute of Education20 Bedford WayLondon WC1H 0AL