Research-practice Partnerships for School Improvement: The Learning Schools Model

This book provides a theoretical and practical account of a successful design-based research-practice partnership, the Learning Schools Model. The Model has built school capability and improved valued student outcomes for primarily indigenous and ethnic minority students for over 15 years and across five countries.

Associate Professor Mei Kuin, Lai is an Associate Director at the Woolf Fisher Research Centre, The University of Auckland. Her research focuses on research-practice partnerships to improve valued student outcomes, in particular, how collaborative analysis of data in professional learning communities and networks contribute to these improvements. She was the joint-recipient of the University of Auckland’s Research Excellence Award (2015), awarded for research of demonstrable quality and impact, for her work in co-designing and co-testing the Learning Schools Model. She has published in journals like Teaching and Teacher Education and Reading Research Quarterly, where her first authored article was selected for inclusion in the International Literacy Association’s edited book, Theoretical models and processes of reading (6th Edition). She consults nationally and internationally, and has led or co-led large-scale and regional projects in New Zealand.

Stuart McNaughton (ONZM) is a Professor of Education at the University of Auckland and the former Director of the Woolf Fisher Research Centre. He is also New Zealand’s Chief Education Scientific Advisor. He has published extensively on children’s literacy and language development, the design of effective educational programmes for culturally and linguistically diverse populations, and cultural processes in development. He is a recipient of research prizes, consults on curricula and educational interventions nationally and internationally, and has a position as Distinguished Overseas Professor at East China Normal University (Shanghai). He is a member of the International Reading Hall of Fame for sustained contribution to literacy research, literacy leadership and the preparation of leaders in the literacy field through teaching. He was the joint-recipient of the University of Auckland’s Research Excellence Award (2015) for his work in co-designing and co-testing the Learning Schools Model. His publications have featured in journals such as Reading Research Quarterly (RRQ).

Associate Professor Rebecca Jesson is Associate Head of School (Research) at the Faculty of Education and Social Work, and an Associate Director at the Woolf Fisher Research Centre, The University of Auckland. Rebecca’s research interests centre on the literacy learning, and on developing effective instruction for all students that leads to advanced literacy skills. Most recently this focus has extended to investigating teaching and learning processes in Pacific Nations and within digital interventions in New Zealand. Rebecca has led or co-led large Learning Schools Model projects reaching over 200 schools across three Pacific nations and in New Zealand. She was the joint-recipient of the University of Auckland’s Research Excellence Award (2015) for her work in co-designing and co-testing the Learning Schools Model. She has published in journals like Teaching and Teacher Education.

Dr Aaron Wilson is Associate Dean (Research) at the Faculty of Education and Social Work, and an Associate Director of the Woolf Fisher Research Centre, The University of Auckland. He researches and writes mainly about literacy, particularly disciplinary and adolescent literacy, as well as about teacher professional learning and development. He was the joint-recipient of the University of Auckland’s Research Excellence Award (2015) for his work in co-designing and co-testing the Learning Schools Model. He presents and consults both locally and internationally, working with practitioners, policy-makers and researchers including the NZ Ministry of Education, and has led or co-led high profile large-scale projects. He is currently a department head for the literacy leadership department of the Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy. He has published in journals such as Reading Research Quarterly (RRQ).