Professor plays fundamental role in release of AERA Handbook

October 17, 2001
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  • umichnews@umich.edu

EDITORS: A photo of Prof. Richardson is available upon request.

ANN ARBOR—University of Michigan education Prof. Virginia Richardson, as vice president of the American Education Research Association‘s Division on Teaching and Teaching Education, edited AERA’s fourth edition “Handbook of Research on Teaching,” which was recently released.

“Ultimately, educational research informs practice—policy, school administration, teaching, instruction and parenting,” says Richardson. “Above all, educational research speaks to student learning and student development in the important aspects of human life, including the cognitive, moral, physical, emotional, artistic and social.

“The ideas, information and questions in this Handbook will guide our educational practice and continuing research in the 21st century.”

At 1,296 pages, the AERA Handbook reflects current and competing schools of thought, and explores the potential impact such work can have on fields beyond research on teaching. As a resource for students and scholars, the Handbook presents the robust field of research on teaching characterized by evolving research methodologies and strong, diverse conceptual frameworks: more foundational chapters appear; several chapters are devoted to equity and multicultural topics; and research extends beyond the United States.

Eight sections, with 51 chapters by 85 contributors, focus on foundations, methodology, subject matter, the learner, policy, teachers and teaching, social and cultural contexts and the role of the teacher, and instruction. Various chapters address fields beyond research on teaching.

AERA represents more than 23,000 educators who conduct research and evaluation in education.

To read the Handbook’s preface and chapter titles, visit AERA’s Web site at www.aera.net. The site includes author information and a downloadable order form. For information on U-M’s School of Education, visit Web site at www.soe.umich.edu/

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