The Role of Research

at Inspired Teaching

At Center for Inspired Teaching, we believe that accomplished educators engage constantly in self-reflection and self-assessment. Since its inception in 1995, Inspired Teaching has demonstrated its commitment to self-assessment by employing a full-time researcher to design and implement rigorous program evaluation.  Our approach goes beyond participant self-reporting to include classroom-based research methods such as classroom observations, statistically-validated beliefs and attitude surveys, and ethnographic techniques.

We use the data we collect in classroom-based research in three ways.

• First, we use participant feedback and program outcomes to evaluate our own successes and areas for improvement.
• Second, we share data with partner schools and teachers to help them inform their own thinking about teaching and learning.
• Third, we use our research to help us in our efforts to share the successes of Inspired Teachers with outside audiences and to influence public thinking on the role of the teacher and the nature of effective teacher education.

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