NLA Discussion: research to practice

[Casmith123 at aol.com]

As coordinator for NCSALL's dissemination efforts (based at World Education),
I want to thank Andres for his suggestions about how NCSALL could improve the
flow of information about its work.  It was a nice reminder of how important
these listservs have become in our work.

I also want to provide a brief update on another aspect of NCSALL's
dissemination initiative, something we're trying to build that goes beyond
paper or electronic publications.  The goal of the Practitioner Dissemination
and Research Network is really to connect academic researchers with
practitioner researchers, so that dissemination becomes more "live" and two-
way.  It is now operating in 9 states (Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, Virginia,
New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont and Maine) with 3-4 more
from the mid-Atlantic region to join this fall.  In each state, a practitioner
(called the Practitioner Leader) works to provide information about NCSALL's
work to fellow practitioners, to channel ideas about the research back to
NCSALL, and to promote practitioner research in which practitioners use or
apply research findings in their classrooms.  One of the first thing each
Practitioner Leader did last year was to run a focus group in his/her state,
asking practitioners to prioritize issues that should be researched in adult
literacy.  The results from those focus groups are now being compiled and will
soon be published as a NCSALL Report (available online and in hard copy for
$5).  We can certainly post a synopsis of the findings on this and other
listservs.  

Figuring out how to get such a practitioner research network up and viable is
not an easy  process, but with the help of the practitioners, we're moving
forward.   Our hope is that we can find a way for practitioners and
researchers working together, through their respective research efforts, to
improve the quality of practice in adult basic education.  If you'd like more
information about the PDRN, contact us at ncsall at worlded.org

Cristine Smith
NCSALL Coordinator at World Education
csmith at worlded.org