After listening to several presentations from my colleagues on some of the most influential educational researchers in the field of education/literacy, I got to thinking about how much our field has been shaped by the important research that has been done before us; allowing us as practitioners to rely not only on our instincts, but also on what research has proven to be effective. With so many new challenges on the horizon, and a global market that is ever changing with advancements in technology, I wonder what new research we need to develop and take part in to ensure that new methods we use in the future and proven effective as well.
While I was thinking about this research, I came across a popular article titled The 30 Most Innovative People Alive in Education Today (http://www.topeducationdegrees.org/30-most-innovative-people-in-education-alive-today/). The article discusses individuals whose impact is currently shaping the national dialogue and research around everything from teacher recrutitment and retention, to using technology to enhance classroom practice, to teacher compensation and the future of unions. While I find myself applauding some of the folks on this list (I've always been a huge fan of Linda Darling Hammond), others on the list raise an eyebrow to many of us in the field. More well designed and carefully planned research, emerging in the field, needs to be done to prove that many radical philosophies and approaches currently shaping the conversation are indeed helpful, and not harmful, to the success of our students in the long run.
Colleauges, what do you think? Which of these current innovators do you think will have the most positive impact in our field? Who do you want to learn more about?
I'd like to learn more about Conrad Wolfram and how he got started with the inspiring and empowering TED talks, as well as Sebastian Thrun and his brilliant idea to bring free courses to all through his Udacity site. Here's to more reading on our favorite researchers!
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