The ITEST Participatory Research Experience: Findings and Lessons Learned
Type: Brief Paper Topic: Evaluation & Research
Room: 14
Wed, Mar. 2 4:00 PM-5:00 PM
Authors:
Leslie Goodyear, Education Development Center, USA
Abstract:
As the technical assistance provider and research partner to the ITEST Projects, the National ITEST Learning Resource Center at EDC collaborates with the ITEST Projects to achieve program goals, weave together promising practices, and leverage their combined achievements into new knowledge. The ITEST LRC is tasked with development of an ITEST Program research agenda that brings together the learning from all of the ITEST projects. The paper describes the Negotiated Centralized Research Framework (an adaptation of Lawrenz and Huffman, 2003). The framework guides the development of overarching questions addressing important issues such as: How can teachers incorporate IT-rich STEM content and self-directed, exploratory learning approaches into their STEM classes? How does this initiative support the development of IT skills that will help students and teachers function in a technologically rich society? The ITEST participatory research agenda leverages data collected in ITEST projects as part of their evaluation efforts.