Bridging gaps. In cultures. In my ideas.

(brainstorming. getting closer to what I want to examine… see v.1 and v.2 for context)

Bridging theory and practice.

There is a lot of theory around education, around the best way(s) to teach children.

Often theory is presented to teachers as an end-product, in the form of curricular reforms or technological reforms that are expected, at times mandated, to be used in the classroom.

Researchers question – why aren’t our findings being transferred into practice?

Teachers question – why are we being asked to do something new, something else again?

Policy makers question – why are teachers being so difficult?

How can we change these questions?

How can we bridge the gaps?

I believe it comes down to

competing value systems between the different stakeholders that create

• difficult relationships
• fragmented culture
• unstable ground

The feedback I received from my doctoral seminar group and from Chris is helping me to bridge the gaps in my ideas. Interestingly, as I do that I’m also discovering that my ideas are about bridging gaps.

Time to read, think, write.

I’ll keep you posted.