Setting up and implementing a research project: tales from the RECME Project and discussion

Els De GeestResearch Project DirectorNCETM

Intentions of this session

By using tales of the RECME Project identifying similarities and differences in setting up and implementing research projects

Finding out the role of certain elements of the research structure for setting up and implementing a research project

Discussions

to find similarities and differences with your research projects

to identify tricky and energising bits

to share ideas to deal with these

The Researching Effective CPD in Mathematics Education Project (RECME)

RECME is about

Finding out interrelated factors of effective CPD in mathematics education in England

Co-constructing meaning with mathematics educators (teachers, advisors, academics, …)

RECME - why and how did it come about? What triggered its existence?

The Adrian Smith report and the setting up of NCETM

What is the CPD landscape?

What is effective CPD in mathematics education?

What makes CPD effective in mathematics education?

Report creates awareness, political will and money

Identifying lack of knowledge - first step of phrasing research questions

RECME - phase 1: coming up with plans

The Research Advisory Group

Defining the project

Putting together a research proposal that has:

• the big research questions

• how to go about it - what needs to be done

• the timeline

• costings

• in this case - not the research instruments

What do we know already?Joining expertise

What are we going to do about it?

Writing a proposal with research questions, timeline, course of action and cost implications

Discussion 1

Finding similarities and differences with your research project

How did/does your project come about? What triggered its existence?

How did your plans develop?

Any similarities? Differences?

Phase 1:

•Report creates awareness, political will and money•Identifying lack of knowledge - first step of phrasing research questions•What do we know already?•Joining expertise•What are we going to do about it?•Writing a proposal with research questions, timeline, course of action and cost implications

RECME - phase 2: action to decidewhat to implement and how

Appointment of Director and researchers

Literature review commissioned

Finding out the landscape through online survey

Putting together the ‘sample’ of CPD initiatives we would like to take part: cross-section of landscape and further criteria from literature review

Who is going to do what?

What do we know already from existing literature (research, policy, reports)?

First steps to find where we can look and co-constructing meaning on what is CPD

Careful consideration of where we will look taking on board 9 criteria

RECME - phase 3: doing the research

Identified need for a phase 3a, 3b and 3c

Phase 3a:

• refining the research questions

• How can we find answers to these questions: developing research probes/instruments

• First visits to explore this and work with mathematics educator-researchers

Phase 3b:

• Fine-tuning the research questions

• Fine-tuning the research probes/instruments

• Second visits to explore and work with mathematics educator-researchers

Adjusting plans

Refining questions and probes

Sounding out

Fine-tuning questions and probes

Trialing

RECME - phase 3: doing the researchPhase 3c:

• Collecting the data

• Ongoing evaluation

• Adjusting research design

• Developing analysis strategies

• Ongoing dissemination

• Co-constructing meaning

• Implementing rest of research proposal

Collecting dataEvaluationAdjusting research proposal and designDeveloping strategies for analysisCo-constructing meaningDissemination: planning and doingFollowing research proposal

RECME - phase 4: analysis, dissemination, case research, what next

• Analysing research data and getting feedback from mathematics educator-researchers

• Dissemination plans to professional and research audience and policy makers

• In-depth case research through ESRC doctoral studentships

• Planning for what next

Following research proposalAnalysingCo-constructing meaningDissemination: doing and planningWhat next? planning

Discussion 2

Finding similarities and differences with your research project

Any similarities? Differences?

Any similarities? Differences?

Phase 2: Phase 3: Phase 4:

Who is going to do what? Adjusting plans Following research proposal

What do we know already from existing research?

Refining questions and probes Analysing

Where can we look? Sounding out and trialing Co-constructing meaning

Co-constructing meaning Collecting data Dissemination: doing and planning

Where will we look? Evaluation What next? planning

Following research proposal Developing strategies for analysis

Dissemination: planning and doing

Following research proposal

Co-constructing meaning

Tricky and energising bits of setting up and implementing RECME: Els’ perspective

Tricky bits - but not therefore negative experiences:

• Juggling workloads with other commitments - doing our best

• What are our research questions?

• Developing research instruments - how can we find answers to our questions

• Losing the plot

• Planning for dissemination - the time factor

What energises me:

• Beliefs and resulting commitment

• Curiosity

• Working and making sense with others

• Making sense of complexity

• Wow, isn’t this interesting?!

Discussion 3

What have been, or do you foresee to be, the tricky bits?

How do you deal with them?

What elements of the research structure help you?

Looking back at the intentions of this session

By using tales of the RECME Project identifying similarities and differences in setting up and implementing research projects

Finding out the role of certain aspects of research structures/elements for setting up and implementing a research project

Discussions

to find similarities and differences with your research projects

to identify the easy and tricky bits

to share ideas to deal with these

Thank you for your participation. You can find details and progress about RECME on the portal (under research). Contributions and questions are very very welcome.