Creating synergy: Collaborative research within a professional development school partnership

Abstract

Professional Development Schools involve developing a partnership that creates a community of learners. One outcome of this community is collaborative research in which both public school teachers and university faculty participate equally. When both groups are cooperatively involved in research, they realize significant gains. A collaborative research effort between a public school and a university that resulted in synergy is described. This article discusses the process of the collaboration from its incubation through the development of the study, and provides perspectives on the learning from the university faculty, the classroom teachers, and the preservice teacher. This collaboration between university faculty, classroom teachers, and preservice teachers resulted in translating research into practice to promote learning for all—students, teachers, and university faculty.