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Explore why educational research is crucial yet has limited impact due to hierarchical systems, male/female differences, policy influence, and the complex nature of learning. Discover the reasons for dissatisfaction with traditional systems, the impact of policies on standards, and the hierarchy within education systems.
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Why educational research is so Important and why it is having so little impactPeter Tymms www.cemcentre.org
Outline • The potential of research • Changing policies • Structures • Hierarchical nature of our system • Learning progress over the years • Male/female differences • Conclusions - throughout
Research potential • Understanding • Underlying causes • Theory • Prediction • But: • Interaction • Complexity • Nevertheless …..
Can you date this? “Learning, alas will someday be smothered by … examination, competition, the calculation and publication of results.”
J.E.C. Welldon 8 9 5 1
Reasons • Dissatisfaction with the old system • Forgetting the lessons of history • New evidence and new theories • New technology • New politicians
Impact of Policies on Standards • Primary schools • Hundreds of millions £ • Impact on reading • Tiny • Impact on maths • Modest • Secondary • ….
Summary • Massive efforts to raise standards • More students staying on • More gaining qualifications • Levels of basic skills have remained fairly constant • Higher grades are easier to obtain
Hierarchy within Education Countries Schools Clusters Classes Pupils
Which matters most? • Country • Cluster • School • Teacher • Pupil
Which matters most? • Country ? • Cluster • School • Teacher • Pupil Proximate variables dominate
Learning – growth pattern Level Time
With more detail Reading Age
In Summary • There are patterns to learning • General growth curve • Learning follows teaching • Specific patterns by • SES • Subject matter • Delays can be problematic • Forcing the pace can be counterproductive • Little and often is best
Sex Differences • Gender differences in school performance • How big are they? • By subject • By ages? • Choice
Age 3-18 • Official data • A level • GCSE • End of KS3 & KS2 • CEM projects • ALIS • YELLIS • MidYIS • PIPS • ASPECTS
Summary • Attainment • Male Female But • Mathematics spread: Male > Female • Language based areas: Female > Male • Choices • heavily gender based
Why do we see differences? • Nature • Nurture • Or the two together