what we've been waiting for

...Maximising the impact of practitioner research: A handbook of practical advice by Mary Hamilton, Paul Davies, and Kathryn James is ready for download.

Here is what they found:
"Well-supported and resourced practitioner research is best placed to develop practice because it encourages critical and reflective inquiry. It throws light on, explores and challenges accepted practices and wisdom from the inside as well as the outside. It provides the opportunity to recognise and use practitioners’ knowledge, and to identify and promote innovative practices, which mushroom constantly in so many places."

Exactly.

There is much wisdom in this book. It is a great resource for all those contemplating research in practice or working in research in practice and for all of us who wonder what exactly research in practice is and whether or not that is what we are doing in our programs on a daily basis.

"This handbook attempts to provide useful, practical and realistic advice for those who manage practitioner-research programmes whilst also acknowledging that this is a contested area with competing views about what practitioner research is, how it should be done, who should do it and what the point of it all is."

A manual that acknowledges the grey areas and does not idealize the conditions and contexts in which literacy is practised and researched...thanks Mary, Paul and Kathryn!

across the pond

Are you curious about what's happening in adult literacy research in practice in the British Isles? Do you have some funding for travel? Consider the annual conference of Research and Practice in Adult Literacy (RaPAL)!

This year's conference will be held at the National University of Ireland in Galway, Ireland, from June 19 - 21.


The theme is "Inclusion and Engagement in Adult Literacy, Numeracy and ESOL". Workshops will focus on the following areas:

• Approaches to teaching and learning that include a range of learners with different interests, aspirations and needs.
• Engaging with new technologies.
• Literacy, language and numeracy practices and engagement in communities
• Policy and practice: the challenges and opportunities for engagement and inclusive learning.
• Inclusive practices in research in literacy, numeracy and ESOL.

If you want to offer an interactive workshop, take part in a panel discussion or present a poster, please send a proposal by March 14 to: kieran.rapal@cgvec.ie.

And if you will miss the event, you can read about it in a future issue of the RaPAL Bulletin.