"That won’t work with my students" – the role of evidence in changing practice

Research in primary and secondary education occurs mostly in universities, far removed physically and culturally from the regular classroom and practicing teachers. This is not the case in higher education where pedagogic research into undergraduate education is carried in the same institutions as the teaching occurs. Yet academics are often reluctant to accept research evidence related to their own teaching, preferring to rely on personal experience, opinion or prejudices. Some key findings from the literature will be reviewed and reasons for the relative lack of impact on teaching practices will be discussed.