(Contact: Robin Millar)
A Research Network funded by the ESRC as part of the Teaching and Learning Research Programme from January 2000-June 2003.
Network Partnership:
Co-ordinator: Professor Robin Millar, University of York
Professor John Leach, University of Leeds
Professor Jonathan Osborne, King's College London
Professor Mary Ratcliffe, University of Southampton
The central aim of this Research Network is to improve the interface between science education researchers and teachers, by developing and evaluating several examples of evidence-based practice in science education. Working in collaboration with practising teachers in primary and secondary schools, the aim of the Network is to improve our understanding of the ways in which practitioners draw upon evidence in taking actions and making decisions and to encourage the use of teaching approaches which are thoughtfully informed by evidence from research.
Between January 2000 and June 2003 the Network undertook four inter-related projects. Two focused on the learning of science content. Project 1 looked at how diagnostic assessment can be used by teachers to provide reliable evidence about their pupils' understandings. Project 2 worked with teacher groups to devise and evaluate short teaching packages, based on existing research evidence, to teach some key ideas in science more effectively. Project 3 developed and evaluated materials to improve pupils’ learning ‘about science’, such as their understanding of the scientific approach to enquiry, and of ideas like risk that often feature in media reports about science. This is widely seen as crucial for better public understanding of science.
Finally, Project 4 drew on the experience of the first three in exploring with teachers and other practitioners the factors which facilitate or inhibit the use of research evidence in their work.
Since July 2003, the work of the EPSE Network has continued, with an emphasis on dissemination of materials and findings, and through new R&D projects which build on the initial four studies.
Publications
Publications, including conference proceedings and reports, relating to the work of the Evidence-based Practice in Science Education Research Network are available for downloading using Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Samples of teaching material produced by the EPSE project can be downloaded from the project pages. Click on the link for the project in which you are interested.
Items will be added to this site throughout the project.
January 2003