Research Networks
Introduction
The networks featured below incorporate both university researchers and educational practitioners - and sometimes others - working over time in a common area and often on joint research projects.
The networks may be national or international; externally or internally funded. They provide the members, and those outside the university, with a forum through which to share and debate ideas, findings, and plans.
Current Networks
- CamSTAR: network of schools project (CamSTAR)
- Leadership for Learning: the Cambridge Network (LfL)
- Research Into Teaching with Whole class Interactive Technologies (RITWIT)
- Schools-University Partnership for Educational Research (SUPER)
CamSTAR: network of schools project
CamSTAR is a network of researching schools across six counties in the South East/Eastern region that have grown organically as researching teachers have moved and introduced new schools to the network. The schools come together to hold conferences to disseminate their research to each other, and to informally cooperate with each other to support research in their schools.
In recent years there have been additional conferences focussing on popular strands of research: these have included ‘conditions for excellence’ (2010-2011) and ‘dialogic teaching’ (2008-9).
The Faculty research project is interested in the nature of support for teacher researchers, the legitimisation of professional knowledge and the enhancement of professionalism through research, and the nature of supporting organisational factors. The project is led by Sue Brindley.
Leadership for Learning: the Cambridge Network
Leadership for Learning: the Cambridge Network is a group of academics and practitioners connected through our interest in and experience of leadership issues in education. Learning, leadership and their interrelationship are our central concern, and we seek to understand and promote leadership in education that supports learning.
The LfL network was established in 2001 to promote a discourse through partnerships with schools, local authorities, national policy makers and academics. As a network it is the people who make the connections, who exchange ideas through research and evaluation projects, courses and seminars, conferences and publication, linked to scholarly engagement with international researchers, and to the interface with policy makers.
Please visit our sites www.educ.cam.ac.uk/centres/lfl/ and www.leadershipforlearning.org.uk to access papers and resources, join our mailing list, find out more about our aims, values and projects as well as details of forthcoming seminars.
Contact: Leadership for Learning administrator: lfl@educ.cam.ac.uk
Research Into Teaching with Whole class Interactive Technologies (RITWIT) Network
The RITWIT network arose from the 1st international conference on Research Into Teaching with Whole class Interactive Technologies held at University of Cambridge in June 2009 (http://www.educ.cam.ac.uk/events/conferences/ritwit/) and attended by over 80 delegates from 14 countries. This vibrant international research network builds on the considerable body of work unveiled there but aims to move it forward in new directions. It examines all facets of the pedagogy associated with the use of interactive digital technologies in schools. These include, for example, interactive whiteboards, visualisers and handheld devices used in whole class teaching contexts.
Our members include university researchers and teacher educators, practitioners at all levels, educational technology consultants, commercial enterprises, government and other organisations concerned with technology use in schools. We welcome new members from anywhere in the world and invite you to join in the discussions and contribute to the research and development of the thinking.
To join us or to access more information about our aims, debates and research findings, and links to related networks, mailing lists, websites, reports and publications, please click on this link to our ning.
Contact: Dr Sara Hennessy (sch30@cam.ac.uk)
SUPER
The 'Schools-University Partnership for Educational Research' (SUPER) aims to create useful educational research within a schools-university partnership. It also aims to research the development of research within the partnership. The partnership is a between eight secondary schools and the Faculty of Education and has been in existence for ten years. Currently the partnership is engaging in a joint research project on pupil engagement, is studying the process of joint enquiry and is running a Masters course for the schools involved. The SUPER page on the Faculty of Education website (www.educ.cam.ac.uk/research/projects/super/) documents the research, the publications, the schools, the people, the history and current activities.