Topic Group A

ALM-22 The Synergy Between Research and Practice Session One In the field of adult mathematics education, the researcher is often a practitioner, perhaps more so than in other areas of educational research. –How do you view yourself? –How do you experience the synergy? Session Two How can ALM support and advance synergy in our work?

What is Topic Group A? Topic Group A was formed at ALM-4 to serve as a discussion group where researchers and practitioners could chat about the interplay of their roles and the co-dependency of their work.

Earlier Topics Adult Mathematics as Moorland Numeracy, Empowerment, Democracy Practice and Theory Always Connected Adult Mathematics Education draws from many disciplines: mathematics, education, sociology, psychology, biology,… Reseach in mathematics education can be categorized in several ways: workplace, family literacy, basic maths, financial literacy, … What are the national constraints on numeracy education – economic, demographic, assessment, instructor credentialing? How do we “get the message out?”

Some Key Points for Teacher  Researcher Collaboration (1) There should be a focus on important mathematics The work should be relevant to the teachers’ goals and concerns Everyone should get something out of it Must be curriculum based Should enlighten teachers and researchers about practical issues (Sriraman, B. and Torner, G., The 2011 Banff workshop on teachers as stakeholders in mathematics education, The Math Enthusiast, Vol. 11, No. 1, pp. 1-6)

Some Key Points for Teacher  Researcher Collaboration (2) Should add to the knowledge base about teacher and student learning Need to understand and match each other’s goals, motivations, and constraints Clear statement of what each will do, get and use the results (Sriraman, B. and Torner, G., The 2011 Banff workshop on teachers as stakeholders in mathematics education, The Math Enthusiast, Vol. 11, No. 1, pp. 1-6)

An ALM Contribution? Share formal qualifications frameworks Establish ways to formalise the informal Seek funding to run a global, coaching, mentoring and supervision network Facilitate Information and Knowledge exchange amongst the workforce in partnership with e- providers Establish research programmes focussing on professional development and its impact