Research on Instruction
Research-Based: What Does It Mean?

Educators have access to a quantity of information about classroom practices that can affect learning. Some of these interventions are based in methodical, scientific research studies, but some come from the realm of “Hey, we tried this”. Both can be valuable, but teachers must ask, “what, who, where, when, why, how, and what's the funding source?” to put the information into a meaningful context.

Both the No Child Left Behind Act and the 2004 reauthorization of IDEA recommend that practices considered for adoption in the classroom be based on peer-reviewed research studies. How can you tell if a journal article has been peer-reviewed or a conference presentation is research-based? What does “data-driven” really mean? Is there a way to separate information from opinion when considering teaching strategies? Follow this link to the Evaluate Information page.

Taking the research idea a step further, teachers can collect data in their classrooms that will enhance their teaching skills and improve their students' performance. Follow this link to the Collect Classroom Data page.

Research links:

What Works Clearinghouse
http://www.whatworks.ed.gov/
Site sponsored by the U.S. Dept. of Education provides an independent, reliable resource for scientific reports about effective classroom practices.

Institute for the Development of Educational Achievement
http://idea.uoregon.edu/
Organization at University of Oregon reviews current scientific research in assessment and teaching practices.

National Center for Dissemination of Disability Research (NCDDR)
http://www.ncddr.org/
NCDDR performs research, technical assistance and demonstration activities focusing on disability research funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR).

National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities (NICHCY)
http://www.nichcy.org/researchinfo.asp
The NICHCY website's Research page has links to their collection of articles on how to approach using research to support teaching students with disabilities.

Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)
http://www.cec.sped.org/
Look for links to CEC's online journals Exceptional Children and Teaching Exceptional Children -and other publications.

National Center on Education Outcomes (NCEO)
http://education.umn.edu/nceo/
NCEO builds assessments and accountability systems for all students and studies the participation and performance of students in state and national assessments and other educational reform efforts.

Educational Research Service (ERS)
http://www.ers.org/periodicals.php
ERS Spectrum is a quarterly journal with research studies by educators in school districts across the U.S., and reports produced outside the academic community that relate to school performance.

Project CENTRAL
http://reach.ucf.edu/~CENTRAL/
A project of the Florida Department of Education, Project CENTRAL (Coordinating Existing Networks to Reach All Learners) promotes Action Research in schools as a professional development method. There is a link to an Action Research online course.

Promising Practices Network
http://www.promisingpractices.net/
The RAND corporation, funded by several state-level foundations, maintains this website to showcase scientifically credible research and practices that will improve outcomes for children, youth, and families.