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Fall 2004 Update

Priority 6

Priority 6
Linking Policy and Practice to Research Evidence

Further Action

Seven actions have been undertaken to help strengthen the use of research in the development and implementation of educational policies and practices.

6.1

The department's website is being linked to research organizations in Canada and beyond.

The department has identified and posted a list of relevant research links on the K-S4 website.

6.2

Partnership research is being supported among universities, school divisions and the department.

The creation of a Manitoba Education Research Network (MERN) has helped to support research partnerships among the faculties of education in the province, educators and Manitoba Education, Citizenship and Youth. The MERN website allows educational researchers to share interests.

6.3

Assistance to schools and divisions is being provided on research and evaluation techniques.

The department has held research forums on numeracy and early childhood development. It supported the Manitoba Association of School Superintendents (MASS) conference that focused on Aboriginal issues in education. Staff developed an evaluation guide for schools participating in department-funded research projects on class size and composition.

6.4

Evaluation of policies and practices is being improved.

The personalized rubrics pilot project and the Speech and Language and Psychology Outcomes projects have helped to enhance evaluation in special needs areas. The improvements to school and divisional planning is helping to create a more reflective planning environment.

6.5

The department is distributing research and information on promising programs and good practice to Manitoba schools and the public.

The department continues to provide consultative support to schools on a wide range of issues. The Education Manitoba Newsletter, published three times a year, is a new medium for disseminating information. The Instructional Resources Unit has prepared and distributed a bibliography on inclusive schools.

6.6

Schools and the public are being informed about successful initiatives in Manitoba and elsewhere on each priority.

To share information about successful practices in Manitoba and elsewhere, successful practitioners in the province are recruited to provide professional learning (e.g. workshops on categorical grants and for new administrators). Successful practices are also used as models in print and Internet publications.

Through MERN, research forums on �Families, Schools and Communities,� �School Planning and Reporting,� and �Improving Learning Outcomes� were held in Winnipeg , Dauphin and Brandon during the 2003-04 school year. The department also takes advantage of visiting scholars (e.g.; Linda Ellison, Tomasz Gluszynski) to offer informative presentations.

6.7

The department will support the development of networks of educators and others who want to work together on the six priority areas.

In its efforts to support networking around the six priorities, the department recognizes a key Manitoba advantage � Manitobans willingly and freely collaborate. The MERN website is one example of a linking activity. Others include the various department pilot projects in which school divisions are engaged and the support materials that invariably are developed with educational partners.

Further Action:

Over the next two years, the department will continue to support the work of MERN.

The department will also publish intermittent bulletins that feature Manitoba research and graduate student work.

MERN will offer research forums related to priorities 4, 5 and 6 during 2004/05.

The department will continue to explore opportunities to connect with external researchers and scholars.

The Aboriginal Education Directorate will develop an Aboriginal Research web page that will be linked to the K-S4 Agenda.

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