Center for Research
College of Education
The University of Texas at Arlington 

The Center for Research has established a range of research initiatives for both students and faculty. These initiatives draw on the expertise of those on the education faculty and those from the public schools. These initiatives have resulted in a series of activities including the establishment of the (a) Teacher Researcher Academy (TRA) masters degree program for elementary and secondary teachers, (2) Research Round Tables for faculty and students, (3) Annual College of Education Research Day for student research presentations, and (4) School Improvement Project involving graduates of the TRA as they mentor teachers at their schools.  The aims of the Center are to support these activities by (1) bringing together public school educators and faculty to foster collaborative inquiry in schools through systematic investigations, (2) fostering research which contributes to the existing body of knowledge in a discipline and examines social and psychological events to provide solutions to issues and problems which leads to greater understanding and improved practice resulting in student learning; (3) extending the intellectual tools of pedagogical analysis to improve the processes of schooling; and (4) disseminating research findings through discussion papers, journal writing, and conference presentations. The Center is committed to promoting best practices through teacher research (TRA) which is rooted in practical problem solving in schools using inquiry strategies, cohort-participative learning, and sharing ideas with colleagues. Teachers conducting research put their own practice under critical scrutiny and in doing so they take ownership in what is learned which contributes to making changes in their classrooms and in their schools. By learning qualitative and quantitative research

methodologies, teachers are engaged in a major form of professional development which is central to improving schools.  Over the past two years, 20 teachers have graduated from the Teacher Researcher Academy masters program, and all of them have (a) written an article which will appear in the College of Education Teacher Researcher Journal. (b) presented their research at the SOE Research Day held the first week of May, and (c) submitted proposals to American Education Research Association ( AERA ) (4 accepted for 2002).  More faculty presented on a variety of research topics at AERA as well in 2002 than in any time in our history.  To highlight  faculty research activities, the Leading Edge will be published twice during the academic year. Research Round Table discussions held on Wednesdays have been successful with 18 faculty and student research studies being presented In addition, 175 undergraduate and graduate students participated in the COEd Research Day. Finally, the School Improvement project will commence this fall in which graduates of the TRA will mentor five of their colleagues. The goal of the School Improvement project is to effect change at the school level using classroom research.

Judy Reinhartz, Ph.D.
Professor
Director, Center for Research