Lawrence Stenhouse: Education Pioneer

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Questions and Answers

What was the name of the project Stenhouse directed in 1967?

  • Centre for Applied Research in Education (CARE)
  • Race Relations Research Project
  • Teacher as Researcher Project
  • Humanities Curriculum Project (correct)

What was the main focus of Stenhouse's second major research project?

  • Teacher as researcher development.
  • Improving literacy skills in secondary education.
  • Teaching controversial issues to secondary students.
  • Problems and effects of teaching about race relations. (correct)

Why does the author suggest Stenhouse's words are still valuable today?

  • He was a prolific writer and published extensively.
  • He provided clear and concise guidelines for teaching practice.
  • He introduced the most effective methods for conducting teacher research.
  • His ideas were ahead of his time and still offer relevant insights. (correct)

In what year did Lawrence Stenhouse pass away?

<p>1982 (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following educational systems was NOT present during Stenhouse's most influential period?

<p>National Testing (A), National Curriculum (B), Academies (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to the author, what was the main reason for replacing Stenhouse's term 'curriculum study' with 'evidence-informed practice' or 'teacher research'?

<p>To reflect current educational language and practices. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role did teachers play in Stenhouse's 'Race Relations Research Project'?

<p>They were considered 'internal researchers' conducting their own research. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the author's main point in this article?

<p>To advocate for the recognition and application of Stenhouse's ideas. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Stenhouse suggest about the relationship between research and a teacher's judgment?

<p>Research should be supplementary and enriching to a teacher's judgment. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Stenhouse identify as the main barriers for teachers assuming the role of researchers?

<p>Psychological and social factors. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of research dissemination does Stenhouse find most necessary?

<p>Local cooperatives and papers. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How should findings from evidence-informed practice be presented, according to Stenhouse?

<p>In a way that invites verification from teachers. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What attitude does Stenhouse encourage teachers to adopt towards their own practice?

<p>Acknowledgment of potential imperfections in their practice. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Stenhouse mean by stating the research community should be intelligent rather than definitive?

<p>Research findings should encourage critical engagement and further investigation. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the key takeaway from Stenhouse's perspective on teaching and research?

<p>Professional growth comes from testing and reflecting on practices. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to Stenhouse, what role does the Chartered College play in current educational research?

<p>It provides significant support for teacher researchers. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Stenhouse suggest about the social climate for teacher researchers?

<p>It is often unwelcoming and insufficiently supportive. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does Stenhouse propose teachers view success in relation to their teaching practices?

<p>Success should align with realistic aspirations and continuous effort. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What did Lawrence Stenhouse identify as a central dilemma in education?

<p>The gap between aspiration and reality in educational practices. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does Stenhouse view the pursuit of perfection in teaching?

<p>It is an unrealistic expectation in the context of education. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Stenhouse believe is necessary for the improvement of teaching?

<p>A research and development approach to one’s own teaching. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why does Stenhouse argue that teaching should be considered an art?

<p>Due to the creative and skilled expression involved in conveying knowledge. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Stenhouse imply about the relationship between theory and practice?

<p>Practice should inform and refine theoretical ideas. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of 'good teaching' according to Stenhouse?

<p>It is focused on continual improvement rather than mastery. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role does anxiety play in Stenhouse's concept of teacher research?

<p>It is a motivator for systematic enquiry into teaching practices. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Stenhouse say about communication among teachers?

<p>Communication is essential for a collaborative learning environment. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does Stenhouse describe the existing understanding of classroom dynamics?

<p>It is too complex to be understood fully. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the nature of teacher research in Stenhouse's view?

<p>It requires ongoing critical inquiry into one’s own teaching. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Stenhouse argue about the nature of educational policies?

<p>Educational policies often fail to align with classroom realities. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Stenhouse imply by saying teachers should not aim for 'mastery'?

<p>Mastery implies comfort and the loss of aspiration. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes teaching from an applied science according to Stenhouse?

<p>Teaching is subjective and cannot yield general laws. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Lawrence Stenhouse

A influential educationalist known for his insights on teaching and research.

Teacher as Researcher

A concept developed by Stenhouse where teachers conduct research in their own classrooms.

Humanities Curriculum Project

A project directed by Stenhouse to teach controversial issues to secondary pupils.

CARE (Centre for Applied Research in Education)

A research center led by Stenhouse that focused on educational research and practice.

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Curriculum Study

An approach to designing education curricula focused on understanding and analyzing content.

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Evidence-Informed Practice

Using research and data to guide teaching methods and decisions.

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Legacy of Ideas

The influential concepts left behind by an individual after their career.

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Educational Era of the 1970s

A period characterized by the absence of a national curriculum and standardized testing in the UK.

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Gap between aspiration and reality

The discrepancy between educational goals and actual practices.

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Teacher research

Systematic investigation by teachers into their own teaching methods and effectiveness.

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Teaching as an art

Teaching involves creativity and personal expression, not just techniques.

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Research and development approach

A method of teaching improvement through continuous inquiry and testing of ideas.

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Critical enquiry

A reflective process where teachers analyze their own practices to improve.

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Education's ambitious nature

Education aims for high standards and ideals, often unattainable.

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Separation of theory and practice

The divide where educational theories don't translate well into classroom practice.

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Communication among teachers

Essential sharing of methods, results, and insights across classrooms.

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Sceptical temper of mind

Maintaining a questioning attitude towards one's own and others’ beliefs and practices.

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Improvement through inquiry

Continuous improvement driven by systematic questioning and investigation.

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Teachers' weaknesses

Acknowledgement that teachers, like all humans, have shortcomings.

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Classroom variables

Factors in a classroom that affect learning outcomes, such as the teacher's influence.

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Educational ideals

The high standards and goals that education strives to achieve.

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Ongoing process of enquiry

The continuous cycle of questioning, researching, and adapting teaching practices.

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Community of critical discourse

A group engaged in discussion aimed at deeper understanding and knowledge sharing.

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Local cooperatives in research

Smaller, community-focused groups that conduct and share research findings.

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Intelligent research findings

Research results presented to invite verification rather than absolute acceptance.

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Supplementing teacher judgment

Research should enhance, not replace, a teacher's own decision-making capabilities.

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Barriers to teacher research

Challenges educators face in becoming researchers of their own practices, often psychological and social.

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Psychological barriers

Internal challenges, such as fear or anxiety, that hinder teachers from reflecting on their practices.

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Social climate for teachers

The prevailing attitudes and levels of support in educational settings affecting teachers' willingness to research.

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Commitment versus aspiration

Stenhouse suggests that pursuing meaningful goals is more important than achieving perfection.

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Verification procedure

A method teachers use to assess and validate research findings in their own context.

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Educational research importance

The value of research in informing teaching practices and improving education.

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Study Notes

Lawrence Stenhouse: A Guiding Spirit in Education

  • Stenhouse, a founding father of the Chartered College of Teaching, is a highly influential educationist whose work remains relevant today, despite his death over 30 years ago.
  • His insights and challenges are valuable for teacher-researchers today.

Stenhouse's Life and Work

  • Stenhouse was a Scottish secondary school teacher of English and history.
  • He directed the Humanities Curriculum Project, focusing on controversial issues.
  • He later moved to the University of East Anglia to direct CARE (Centre for Applied Research in Education), conducting research on race relations.
  • He explicitly framed teachers as 'internal researchers' in his projects with university researchers acting as 'external researchers,' developing the concept of 'teacher as researcher.'
  • He played a crucial role in developing research-oriented master's courses for teachers.
  • He died in 1982, but his ideas endure.

Key Ideas from Stenhouse

  • Gap between aspiration and reality: Stenhouse recognized the inherent gap between educational intentions and actual practice as a universal human experience, not just a problem in schools.
  • Teaching as an art, not a science: Teaching is an art, requiring skill and expression of meaning for learners to understand what is being learned. Research is integral to good teaching, challenging the idea that research is solely focused on scientific laws.
  • Teacher research as a continuous process: Teacher research should be a sustained, ongoing inquiry into teaching practice, not just a one-off project. This pursuit is driven by a desire for improvement and should be done collaboratively with other teachers. It should also involve a critical and questioning stance that acknowledges uncertainties and revises hypotheses, rather than accepting received answers blindly.
  • Importance of communication: Stenhouse emphasized the need for teachers to communicate their research findings with each other to build a shared knowledge base and common vocabulary.

Contemporary Relevance

  • Stenhouse's work is still relevant today despite significant changes in education systems.
  • He identified key factors in teacher research such as time constraints, access to expertise, and the lack of support.

Stenhouse Today

  • Stenhouse's work emphasizes the importance of teacher research in improving teaching and learning for teachers, supported by a critical mind and collective effort.
  • Educational improvement should be based on an ongoing cycle of testing and refining hypotheses in practice.
  • His theory encourages a community of teachers working together to foster ongoing professional development.

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