Funder: National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics
The stimulation and support of teacher networks
is a relatively recent but growing aspect of professional development in
education. Growing efforts are now
being made to support teachers' engagement with ëlearning networks' of professional
peers - both in
networks external to schools, and communities inside schools. Since
the launch of its Funding programme in 2006, the National
Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics (NCETM) has
supported and stimulated a wide range of teacher networks - be it through the
formation of professional learning communities, or the support of Collaborative
investigations and action research projects. While the nature and form of these
Networks is varied (both in terms of the number of teachers and/or the number
of schools involved) all have a common focus on ëMathematical Knowledge' - i.e.
knowledge of specific mathematics content; mathematics-specific pedagogy; and
knowledge of how to embed these in teaching practice.
This research project will focus
on assessing the effectiveness and impact of the teacher/school networks that
have been stimulated and supported by the NCETM since 2006. As such it will
address the following specific research questions:
? What types of teacher/school
networks have been established with the support of NCETM?
? How have these networks been
established and sustained?
? What outcomes (for teachers,
schools and students) can be associated with these networks?
? What factors can be associated
with the sustainability and success of the networks?
? How can similar networks be
established and sustained in the future?
Given the scope of these issues
we have assembled an expert team of four research staff from the Knowledge Lab
to conduct the research, with specific expertise in the areas of mathematics
education, education evaluation and research, teacher professional development
and teacher/school collaboration. It is proposed that the investigation will take
place through five sequential phases of research activity:
? A desk-based analysis of existing
data and evidence relating to the nature and scope of NCETM network activity;
? An extensive online survey of
teachers involved in the various NCETM networks;
? An online survey of all NCETM
network leads;
? Follow-up telephone interviews
with a representative sample of NCETM network leads;
? Case study ëvisits' to eight
NCETM networks.
These research activities will
result in substantial sets of quantitative and qualitative data, that will form
the basis for the two main project outcomes:
? A detailed research report
written for the NCETM and associated policy/professional audiences. This report
will feature a thorough analysis of the survey and interview data, as well as
detailed ëcase study' reports of eight successful Networks and projects. It is
intended that the report will provide a comprehensive quantitative analysis of
the factors associated with the sustainability and success of the various NCETM
Networks† - thereby identifying
relative ëconditions for success' at the level of the individual teacher;
whole-school and network.
? The collection of text/video
content to be used in the production of series of ëHow To' guides for teachers
and other professionals to be hosted on the NCETM portal. This material will be
produced to provide practitioner-friendly advice, guidance, advice and
inspiration for the setting up of future networks by teachers/schools.
Project Team
