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Question: How can teachers become involved in neuro research? #edneuro
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Andy Tolmie answered on 19 Apr 2015:
Many of the centres and groups involved in educational neuroscience research run activities that are designed to build relationship with teachers who are interested in that work. For instance, the centre I’m part of, the Centre for Educational Neuroscience in London (http://www.educationalneuroscience.org.uk/), runs weekly seminars aimed at an audience of researchers, students and teachers, and we have an upcoming workshop for teachers and other education professionals on 9th May. We also run a masters programme as a joint enterprise between Birkbeck and UCL Institute of Education. There is also an organization called Learnus (http://www.learnus.co.uk/) who exist to promote connections between teachers and researchers, and run frequent twilight workshops in different locations to bring people together. The Wellcome Trust’s Education and Learning Team (http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/Education-resources/Education-and-learning/The-team/index.htm) run similar types of event, and have an email network that helps promote communication. There are lots of ways of getting connected! The best way to become involved is to pick up some of these links, and use them as an opportunity to talk to researchers about your interests in the area – many of us are looking to develop strong partnerships with schools to take joint research forward, so you’re guaranteed a receptive audience!
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Paul Howard-Jones answered on 20 Apr 2015:
As Andy suggests, you might look at the projects that the EEF-Wellcome are currently funding (http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/News/Media-office/Press-releases/2014/WTP057594.htm)
and see if your school can get involved. There is also a rapidly growing MSc in Neuroscience and Education at the Graduate School of Education, University of Bristol (http://www.bristol.ac.uk/education/students/masters/neuroscience/). You might also think about doing a masters at your local university (if this is not Bristol or London) and using this to explore a number of accessible texts and ideas on neuroscience and education, e.g.http://www.amazon.co.uk/Introducing-Neuroeducational-Research-Neuroscience-Education/dp/0415472016
and getting involved in classroom-based research that draws on ideas from neuroscience but….it is a good idea to make sure you’re in contact (e.g. through following a professional course) with those who can guide you. There’s a lot of neuromyth out there and it can be difficult to sort out what can and can’t be trusted (though as a rule of thumb, always ask where is this published? What are the qualifications/background of those who are promoting this idea?)
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Alice Jones answered on 27 Apr 2015:
Andy and Paul have very sensible suggestions, and I’d definitely advise getting in touch with an organisation like Learnus, or having a look at what the Wellcome Trust have on.
It’s also sometimes useful to get in touch with people directly. If you’re really interested in someone’s research, then it’s not unreasonable to get in touch. If they can’t help, then they might know someone who can.
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Lia - WellcomeTrust commented on :
As Paul mentioned the Wellcome Trust and Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) have just funded 6 trials which will all be looking to recruit schools to take part over the next few years. You can find out more about the projects here – https://educationendowmentfoundation.org.uk/projects/projects-a-z/neuroscience-projects/
I know the Teensleep project is looking for secondary schools in the UK. For more information contact: christopher-james.harvey@ndcn.ox.ac.uk