Student Teacher Educational Research (STER): An Innovation in Irish Teacher Education.

Abstract

This paper introduces an innovative project in teacher education, designed to enhance student teachers’ engagement with educational research methods by creating in a peer-learning network. The Student Teacher Educational Research (STER) project was established by the author in partnership with a group of student volunteers in 2017. The project focused on creating new forums for student teacher research dissemination that encouraged and promoted collaboration amongst student teachers during initial teacher education. Responding to Irish Higher Education policy (2016), the project positioned student teachers as partners and co-creators in the management of STER and created a peer-learning network which enhanced the learning and engagement of all participants. STER was piloted with a cohort of student teachers in one Faculty of Education in Ireland. All participants were undertaking a research project as part of their programme of study. This research presents the findings of the evaluation of that pilot year, incorporating qualitative and quantitative data from twenty-seven students. The learning derived from participation in STER will be outlined, with a particular emphasis on how peer-learning and research dissemination can be supported in ITE. Giving student teachers an opportunity to share their research in student-led learning community motivated them to engage with educational research outside of lectures and participants gained a greater appreciation for the potential of educational research to influence practice.