Action Research and Policy

This article examines the relationship between action research and policy and the kind of confidence teachers, policy makers and other potential users may have in such research. Many published teacher action research accounts are criticised on the grounds that they do not fully meet the conventional standards for reporting social scientific research, and by implication are held to be less trustworthy. Action research is nevertheless often seen by some academics and policy makers as a potential method for developing theory, disseminating good practice, or raising standards. Through a discussion of three major approaches to action research—seen variously as professional learning, practical philosophy and critical social science—it is argued that judgements about confidence depend upon understanding the various kinds of knowledge claim that can be made by action researchers, and appropriate judgements concerning the strength of evidence or reasons.     

The Science Career Ladder at the New York Hall of Science

The Science Career Ladder at the New York Hall of Science is a program that engages young people in a hierarchy of paid and unpaid experiences in the museum, designed to cultivate their interest in science and in pursuing science professions. Its double objective is to create a cadre of eloquent, well-informed Explainers for the Hall's visitors, and to encourage underrepresented young people into science careers. This article will briefly present the history of the Science Career Ladder, describe how it currently operates, and address the challenges for sustaining the Career Ladder during a period of rapid growth.     

Justifying Conceptual Development Claims: response to van Haaften

This paper is a response to van Haaften's attempt to build 'a natural bridge from "is" to "ought"' and in doing so to provide a general account of how, in developmental theory, a claim that 'a later stage in conceptual development is somehow better or more adequate than preceding ones' can itself be justified. The account by van Haaften violates the 'seems justified/is justified' distinction and embroils him in a problematic form of relativism. This paper offers an alternative account of such claims in terms of stage-independent criteria of adequacy.     

Interactive Teaching

This paper argues for interaction in lectures, interaction which allows learners time to reflect and discuss. This proposition has a staff development dimension both for lecturers in engineering who do not have (or do not value) the skill of interactive lecturing and for those who do, and who wish to find out more. Examples of these techniques are provided in this paper, in the context of construction management. Our intention is to provide practical help for those seeking innovative methods of teaching. We also hope to advance current debates on whether or not interactive lectures are appropriate for engineering subjects in general and for management subjects in particular. The staff developer in this case has observed an apprehension among staff that interactive teaching is more time consuming: does it take longer to plan (than lectures)? Initially, it may do, as the lecturer develops a repertoire of techniques. In this paper, we try to reduce that time by giving an exemplar, saving others from ‘reinventing the wheel’. However, since adapting teaching is a complex process, we show the process of developing a teaching method to suit educational objectives. Finally, we conclude with ‘hints and tips’, based on the literature, for interactive teaching.