The NEKIA Knowledge Utilization The NEKIA Knowledge Utilization InitiativeInitiative

Board of Directors MeetingBoard of Directors Meeting

Monday April 11, 2005Monday April 11, 2005MontrealMontreal

AgendaAgenda

9:45- 10:15 9:45- 10:15 Presentation of discussion paper Presentation of discussion paper

10:15- 11:00 10:15- 11:00 Small group reactions to the Small group reactions to the discussion paper discussion paper

11:00- 11:15 11:00- 11:15 BreakBreak

11:15- 12:00 11:15- 12:00 Large group report out and Large group report out and discussion discussion

12:00- 12:30 12:00- 12:30 Next steps strategy --- consensus Next steps strategy --- consensus     

Key QuestionsKey Questions1.1.Consensus Vision?Consensus Vision? Is it important and beneficial for Is it important and beneficial for

NEKIA members to reach consensus on a specific vision of NEKIA members to reach consensus on a specific vision of knowledge utilization? Should we be promoting a particular knowledge utilization? Should we be promoting a particular vision or facilitating a public dialogue about the general vision or facilitating a public dialogue about the general notion of knowledge utilization? notion of knowledge utilization?

2. 2. Discussion Paper?Discussion Paper? To what degree does the discussion To what degree does the discussion paper represent a consensus view of NEKIA members paper represent a consensus view of NEKIA members about a practical and compelling vision of knowledge about a practical and compelling vision of knowledge utilization? Which elements are essential or core? Which are utilization? Which elements are essential or core? Which are confused or bothersome? What is missing?  What should be confused or bothersome? What is missing?  What should be changed to reach consensus?changed to reach consensus?

3. 3. What Next?What Next? What can and should we do next as a trade What can and should we do next as a trade association? Is this effort sufficiently compelling and association? Is this effort sufficiently compelling and important to continue work on this topic as a central important to continue work on this topic as a central organizing concept for the trade association? What do you organizing concept for the trade association? What do you think of the suggested next steps presented by NEKIA staff think of the suggested next steps presented by NEKIA staff in the last section of the paper?in the last section of the paper?

BackgroundBackground2003--- 2003--- Business DevelopmentBusiness Development, need for , need for a proactive vehiclea proactive vehicle

2004--- 2004--- Knowledge Utilization ActKnowledge Utilization Act, , creatingcreating a message and policy marker a message and policy marker

2005--- 2005--- Central organizing conceptCentral organizing concept for for trade association, creating a vision and trade association, creating a vision and long term strategy long term strategy

Original Goals of the InitiativeOriginal Goals of the Initiative 1.1. Policy---Promote policies focusing on knowledge Policy---Promote policies focusing on knowledge

utilization as a national priorityutilization as a national priority

2.2. Understanding --- Create greater visibility and Understanding --- Create greater visibility and understanding of knowledge utilization in understanding of knowledge utilization in educationeducation

3.3. Leaders ----Help position NEKIA members as key Leaders ----Help position NEKIA members as key leaders in the knowledge utilization field leaders in the knowledge utilization field

4.4. Support --- Generate support for knowledge Support --- Generate support for knowledge utilization among education policy makers, utilization among education policy makers, practitioners, etc practitioners, etc

Working DefinitionWorking Definition

Knowledge utilization refers to the Knowledge utilization refers to the systematic application of professional systematic application of professional wisdom and findings of high-quality wisdom and findings of high-quality research to improve educational outcomes research to improve educational outcomes for students…. for students….

It involves dynamic and structured It involves dynamic and structured interactions among key stakeholders, interactions among key stakeholders, including researchers, developers, including researchers, developers, disseminators, technical assistance disseminators, technical assistance providers, practitioners, and policymakers. providers, practitioners, and policymakers.     

12 Prinicples & Observations12 Prinicples & Observations Defining and describing education knowledge Defining and describing education knowledge

utilization...utilization...

1.1. Education knowledge can be legitimately developed in Education knowledge can be legitimately developed in many ways.many ways.

2.2. Education knowledge utilization is dynamic and Education knowledge utilization is dynamic and

transformationaltransformational – not linear and translational. – not linear and translational.

3.3. The topic of knowledge utilization is broad and The topic of knowledge utilization is broad and complex, and better ways of defining and describing it complex, and better ways of defining and describing it must be developed. must be developed.

Cont’dCont’d 12 Prinicples & Observations12 Prinicples & Observations

Designing a knowledge utilization system in Designing a knowledge utilization system in education...education...

4.4. A more effective knowledge utilization system can be leveraged A more effective knowledge utilization system can be leveraged from our existing education research and technical assistance from our existing education research and technical assistance infrastructure. infrastructure.

5.5. A new knowledge utilization system must have “sub-systems” for A new knowledge utilization system must have “sub-systems” for different levels: classroom, school, district, state, and federal. different levels: classroom, school, district, state, and federal.

6.6. An effective knowledge utilization system requires an education An effective knowledge utilization system requires an education research community oriented toward replication, clinical practice, research community oriented toward replication, clinical practice, and consensus. and consensus.

7.7. Knowledge use in medicine may provide a model for practitioners Knowledge use in medicine may provide a model for practitioners and policymakers in education. and policymakers in education.

Cont’dCont’d 12 Prinicples & Observations12 Prinicples & Observations

Preparing and organizing educators to utilize Preparing and organizing educators to utilize education knowledge...education knowledge...

8.8. The application of knowledge to increase student achievement The application of knowledge to increase student achievement will only be successful if practitioners have the ability to interpret will only be successful if practitioners have the ability to interpret the findings from research and adapt them in a way that makes the findings from research and adapt them in a way that makes sense in their own contexts. sense in their own contexts.

9.9. Teachers and school administrators can be organized as Teachers and school administrators can be organized as evidence-based “communities of knowledge” to facilitate the evidence-based “communities of knowledge” to facilitate the development and application of education knowledge.development and application of education knowledge.

10.10. For knowledge to inform educational practice systemically, an For knowledge to inform educational practice systemically, an

intermediary between researchers and practitioners is needed to intermediary between researchers and practitioners is needed to facilitate the change process. facilitate the change process.

Cont’dCont’d 12 Prinicples & Observations12 Prinicples & Observations

Implementing federal and state policies to support Implementing federal and state policies to support knowledge utilization...knowledge utilization...

11. More incentives are needed to help stimulate demand among 11. More incentives are needed to help stimulate demand among teachers and administrators for education knowledge. teachers and administrators for education knowledge.

12. Changes in policy and practice in education are triggered in many 12. Changes in policy and practice in education are triggered in many different ways including through mandates, incentives, and training. different ways including through mandates, incentives, and training.

Linear Model of Knowledge Linear Model of Knowledge UtilizationUtilization

External ResearchExternal Research

KnowledgeKnowledge

Policies, Programs, PracticesPolicies, Programs, Practices

School/Classroom ImplementationSchool/Classroom Implementation

Increased Student AchievementIncreased Student Achievement

Towards a More Dynamic Model…Towards a More Dynamic Model…

Using Communities of Knowledge Using Communities of Knowledge

Role of IntermediariesRole of IntermediariesHelp the site and policy levels with the Help the site and policy levels with the “input” functions of communities of “input” functions of communities of knowledge. knowledge.

Support the implementation of policies, Support the implementation of policies, programs, and practices developed or programs, and practices developed or identified by a community of knowledgeidentified by a community of knowledge

Help the site and policy levels with the Help the site and policy levels with the “output” functions of communities of “output” functions of communities of knowledge. knowledge.

Concluding ThoughtsConcluding Thoughts

Communities of knowledge and the dynamic Communities of knowledge and the dynamic model of knowledge utilization are far from new. model of knowledge utilization are far from new.

Many of the active elements of a dynamic model Many of the active elements of a dynamic model exist but they are not systematically connected in exist but they are not systematically connected in terms of infrastructure terms of infrastructure

Implementing the dynamic model of knowledge Implementing the dynamic model of knowledge utilization on a wide scale will not be easy. utilization on a wide scale will not be easy.

Key QuestionsKey Questions1.1.Consensus Vision?Consensus Vision? Is it important and beneficial for Is it important and beneficial for

NEKIA members to reach consensus on a specific vision of NEKIA members to reach consensus on a specific vision of knowledge utilization? Should we be promoting a particular knowledge utilization? Should we be promoting a particular vision or facilitating a public dialogue about the general vision or facilitating a public dialogue about the general notion of knowledge utilization? notion of knowledge utilization?

2. 2. Discussion Paper?Discussion Paper? To what degree does the discussion To what degree does the discussion paper represent a consensus view of NEKIA members paper represent a consensus view of NEKIA members about a practical and compelling vision of knowledge about a practical and compelling vision of knowledge utilization? Which elements are essential or core? Which are utilization? Which elements are essential or core? Which are confused or bothersome? What is missing?  What should be confused or bothersome? What is missing?  What should be changed to reach consensus?changed to reach consensus?

3. 3. What Next?What Next? What can and should we do next as a trade What can and should we do next as a trade association? Is this effort sufficiently compelling and association? Is this effort sufficiently compelling and important to continue work on this topic as a central important to continue work on this topic as a central organizing concept for the trade association? What do you organizing concept for the trade association? What do you think of the suggested next steps presented by NEKIA staff think of the suggested next steps presented by NEKIA staff in the last section of the paper?in the last section of the paper?

Small Group DiscussionSmall Group Discussion1.1. Consensus Vision?Consensus Vision? Is it important and Is it important and

beneficial for NEKIA members to reach consensus beneficial for NEKIA members to reach consensus on a specific vision of knowledge utilization? on a specific vision of knowledge utilization? Should we be promoting a particular vision or Should we be promoting a particular vision or facilitating a public dialogue about the general facilitating a public dialogue about the general notion of knowledge utilization? notion of knowledge utilization?

1.1. Discussion Paper?Discussion Paper? To what degree does the To what degree does the discussion paper represent a consensus view of discussion paper represent a consensus view of NEKIA members about a practical and compelling NEKIA members about a practical and compelling vision of knowledge utilization? Which elements vision of knowledge utilization? Which elements are essential or core? Which are confused or are essential or core? Which are confused or bothersome? What is missing?  What should be bothersome? What is missing?  What should be changed to reach consensus?changed to reach consensus?

Large Group Discussion---Large Group Discussion---What Next?What Next?

What can and should we do next as a trade What can and should we do next as a trade association? association?

Is this effort sufficiently compelling and important to Is this effort sufficiently compelling and important to continue work on this topic as a central continue work on this topic as a central organizing concept for the trade association? organizing concept for the trade association?

What do you think of the suggested next steps What do you think of the suggested next steps presented by NEKIA staff in the last section of the presented by NEKIA staff in the last section of the paper?paper?

Suggested Next StepsSuggested Next StepsImmediate step without additional Immediate step without additional funding funding – ““Consensus” Position PaperConsensus” Position Paper

On-going and longer term On-going and longer term developmental steps not developmental steps not necessitating major funding (at least necessitating major funding (at least for now) ---for now) ---– Promotion and Sharing Promotion and Sharing – Organization Organization – Legislation Legislation – Collaboration Collaboration

Cont’dCont’d Suggested Next Steps Suggested Next StepsThree year initiative contingent upon Three year initiative contingent upon major fundingmajor funding – Launch a long term comprehensive Knowledge Utilization Launch a long term comprehensive Knowledge Utilization

Research and Development program funded through grants Research and Development program funded through grants from philanthropic sources and/or federal programs. from philanthropic sources and/or federal programs.

– Further develop and pilot test a vision of knowledge Further develop and pilot test a vision of knowledge utilization. utilization.

– The precise elements of the program should be a function The precise elements of the program should be a function of our consensus vision (should we establish one) and be of our consensus vision (should we establish one) and be adapted to funding requirements.adapted to funding requirements.

Ten sample ideas for long term programTen sample ideas for long term program

1.1. Thorough literature review Thorough literature review 2.2. A survey of knowledge utilization activities around the country A survey of knowledge utilization activities around the country

identifying promising models identifying promising models 3.3. A major invitational conference on knowledge utilization focusing on A major invitational conference on knowledge utilization focusing on

“essential elements” with companion white papers and the publication “essential elements” with companion white papers and the publication of a full report on the proceedings. of a full report on the proceedings.

4.4. A series on policy briefs on knowledge utilization focusing on A series on policy briefs on knowledge utilization focusing on “essential elements”.“essential elements”.

5.5. A tool kit for establishing a knowledge utilization system within a A tool kit for establishing a knowledge utilization system within a school and pilot testing kit in selected sites.school and pilot testing kit in selected sites.

6.6. Re-inventing the National Diffusion Network Re-inventing the National Diffusion Network 7.7. Given its magnitude, we propose that this effort be housed within a Given its magnitude, we propose that this effort be housed within a

member member 8.8. A voluntary set of KU standards and develop a fee-based knowledge A voluntary set of KU standards and develop a fee-based knowledge

utilization accreditation programutilization accreditation program9.9. A marketing program for NEKIA members’ knowledge utilization A marketing program for NEKIA members’ knowledge utilization

activities through an overhauled NEKIA web site activities through an overhauled NEKIA web site 10.10. House the program in a member organization which would work on House the program in a member organization which would work on

behalf of all participating NEKIA members. behalf of all participating NEKIA members.