Research that improves/informs educational practice: A Case of Kwame Nkrumah University in Zambia.

International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI) | Volume VII, Issue XI, November 2020 | ISSN 2321–2705

Research that improves/informs educational practice: A Case of Kwame Nkrumah University in Zambia.

 Jive Lubbungu, Dr. Annie Penda
Kwame Nkrumah University, Zambia.

Abstract:
Killion (2007) submits that research is helpful to teacher leaders and coaches for them to fully understand what they experience in their work, to make decisions, and to improve practice. Hemsley-Brown and Sharp (2004) add that there is need to create a culture in public sector which supports and values research. This study focuses on determing the extent to which research has improved/informed proffessional practice at Kwame Nkrumah University, in Zambia. Kwame Nkrumah University was opened in 1967 as a teacher training College until 2013 when it started transforming into a fully fledged university. The study conducted at this University was qualitative which involved 20 lecturers out of a population of 80 lecturers at the time of the study. Data collection instruments used was face-to face interviews. The study revealed that Kwame Nkrumah University has capacity to promote research among lecturers. It further revealed that there is capacity to improve professinal practice. It was also revealed that 10 to 20 lectures (25%) were actively inlvoved in research. The study further indicated that research has a lot of awards to lecturers and the institution alike. However, there were a number of challenges such as inadequate time for research due to teaching workloads, and lack of literature for local research. The study recommends increased funding to research activities and reduced teaching workloads to enable more lecturers get involved in research.

Keywords: Research, Professional Practice, Capacity, Challenges and Opportunities

Introduction

Teaching is aprocess of impacting knowledge and skills into learners. Teaching and learning is a core bussiness in education. There are a lot of challenges that are encountered by educators in the teaching fratenity which require solutions. Reseach is one of the solutions to various challellenges which professionals are being faced with. In this vein, research is understood as a process of gatthering information with a view of finding solutions to various challenges. The main focus of this study was on how the use of research could improve professional practice at Kwame Nkrumah University.
To address this study, the following objectives were considered:

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