Why Should Schools Encourage Students and Teachers to Engage in Research?
In order for Qatar society, its industry, its citizens and its students to be able to compete successfully in the global context of the 21st century, there is a need to develop an environment in which research skills are actively promoted, developed, and celebrated. The development of research skills needs to be a central objective within the education system.

Her Highness has said, "Research is integral to all our lives. We may not all consider ourselves researchers yet when we select a business to provide a service we gather and disseminate information in order to do so. When we select a university, school or career path we study the options carefully and closely. Research is the key to effective decision making."

The mission statement of the recently established Qatar National Research Fund states "Research-based education will place students in a discovery-oriented environment, expose them to the cutting edges of knowledge, and give them intellectual and problem-solving skills that will prepare them for leadership roles in business, government, the arts, and other sectors of life in Qatar."

How Does the Research Skills Development Project Support the Educational Reform?
The Research Skills initiative builds upon some important curriculum developments that have taken place in recent years.

• The Early Years Foundation Curriculum (KG-Grade 2) and the Early Years Good Practice Guide encourage the development of young children’s enquiry and investigation skills as a way of enabling them to ask questions, and to explore situations through practical first hand experiences and structured play in order to make sense of the world around them.
• These early experiences are further developed in the Curriculum Standards (KG-Grade 12), where students are encouraged to conduct systematic investigations; make predictions; identify patterns from data and observations; and consider whether evidence supports a conclusion, prediction, or hypothesis. Students are also expected to utilize a variety of methods, including ICT, to communicate their results. These enquiry activities take place within subject areas and across subject areas.

What Are the Major Strategic Initiatives Or Goals Of The Research Skills Development Project?
The Research Skills Development Project aims to enhance the critical thinking, problem solving, and investigative skills of students as well as improve teachers’ skills and competencies in guiding student research and conducting their own professional research. The project has five strategic initiatives:

1. Maximize the development of critical thinking, problem solving, and research skills of students within the context of the Curriculum Standards in the Independent Schools
2. Increase the opportunities for students to learn about and engage in research outside the classroom (e.g., after school clubs, research centres, inter-school projects, international links) so that they appreciate the opportunities, pleasures and benefits that result from doing research
3. Develop teachers who have the knowledge, skills, and disposition to engage in research to improve their teaching practices and their school communities
4. Build community support for research in the Independent Schools
5. Provide forums for disseminating, sharing, celebrating and rewarding student and teacher research

What is Being Done to Achieve Those Goals?

Professional Development for Teachers
The Education Institute has made a concentrated effort to provide Advanced Curriculum Training for teachers. This training focuses on strategies for developing skills that are essential to doing research – critical thinking, problem solving, and enquiry.

Over 200 teachers have participated in these workshops since they began in October. Teachers have tried the new teaching strategies in their classrooms and received feedback from master trainers and colleagues through cluster meetings.

A second phase of the Advanced Curriculum Training is being conducted this spring. Teachers who successfully complete this training will be recognized for their achievements.

Increased Opportunities for Student Research
Under the leadership of Dr. Mary Kellett, consultant from Open University in the UK, and Dr. Gene Jongsma, consultant with the Education Institute, a small dedicated group of teachers have created a training course for students – Developing Young Researchers.

This hands-on training program consists of a series of 12 lessons that guide students in learning about the different types of research, how to frame a research question, how to collect and analyze data, and how to report research. As part of the course, students complete an independent research project.

The Developing Young Researchers course is being piloted this spring in six schools: Al Bayan Secondary, Al Ieman Secondary, Amna Bint Wahab Secondary, Omar Bin Khatab Preparatory, Qatar Preparatory, and Umm Al-Qura Model School.

These schools have started after-school research clubs and elective courses on research to give students opportunities to develop their research skills beyond the regular classroom.

Some of the students in these research clubs are collaborating with UK students who are also involved in research clubs to conduct collaborative projects. Plans are being explored for a possible Qatar – UK exchange for some of the students participating in the research clubs.

Teachers and Administrators Engaged in Action Research
One of the goals of the Research Skills Development Project is to train and encourage teachers to become more reflective practitioners. By conducting action research projects, teachers explore topics of interest in their schools in an effort to improve their teaching and enhance the professional climate of their school.

Teachers at selected Target Schools have received customized training in Action Research and been mentored on starting their own projects. Teachers attending the Advanced Curriculum Training workshops have also received introductory training in Action Research and are completing projects as part of their course requirements.

As a result of the training and incentives, well over 100 teachers are conducting action research projects this school year. The projects cover all diciplines – English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Arabic, and Islamic Studies. Many of these teachers are trying new student-centered teaching strategies and collecting evidence of their effectiveness. More news about the research initiatives can be found on Teachers.Net.

Community Involvement
One of the strategic initiatives of the research project is to build community support for research in the Independent Schools. We have attempted to do this in a number of ways.

In August, a Steering Committee was formed consisting of distinguished scholars and community leaders outside of the SEC. These representatives come from the Qatar Foundation, Qatar Petroleum, UNESCO, the universities in Education City, as well as administrators and Boards of Trustees from the Independent Schools. This group meets monthly to review the activities of the RSDU, advise us on policy matters, and suggest how we can best meet our goals.

As part of our community outreach, we have consulted with the Qatar Scientific Club and explored how we might work together to support shared goals. The Qatar Scientific Club has been very responsive and has pledged support in a number of areas.

Another important milestone has been our work with Reach Out to Asia (ROTA), the charitable NGO of Qatar Foundation. ROTA has become the primary sponsor in Qatar for the International Education and Resources Network (iEARN). iEARN is a non-profit agency that supports project-based learning among schools in 120 countries in over 30 languages. A pilot project being offered this spring will help train master teachers who can support other teachers next year as iEARN participation is offered to all Independent Schools.

Celebrating and Sharing Research
In order to build a culture of enquiry, it is important to reward teachers and students who volunteer to undertake research projects.

Plans are underway for a conference on Action Research to be held this spring in partnership with Qatar University. This one-day event will honour those teachers who have conducted action research projects this school year. Teachers and administrators will be presenting the results of their studies. Look for coming details and make plans to attend.

We also plan to celebrate the research work of students. School-based research fairs will be hosted this spring by those schools participating in the Research Club pilots. Students will have opportunities to present their work to peers and parents, and to learn about the research that other students have completed.

What Can Independent Schools Do to Improve Research Opportunities for Their Students?
Here are some things schools can do to promote research on their campuses.

1. Encourage student-centered instruction!
   Qatar has a world-class curriculum. Embodied in that curriculum are the research skills that students must have to compete globally – skills like critical thinking, problem solving, investigating, and using ICT effectively. These are sometimes called "process skills" because they can be applied across different subject areas.

   Take stock! Review with your faculty whether process skills are getting adequate attention in your classrooms. Is all attention focused on content? Or are students given opportunities to investigate and explore?

2. Start a Research Club or a Research Elective Course
   Offer students the opportunity to learn about research and conduct their own research on topics of interest to them. Start a research club or an elective research course. Have a couple of interested teachers obtain copies of the Developing Young Researchers training program and prepare to use it with students. Build meaningful incentives into an elective course or club so as to attract students.

   If you do not have enough interest in your school, partner with another school to create an inter-school Research Club.

3. Participate in an International Collaborative Project With Another School
   In our increasingly connected world, there are more and more opportunities for students to collaborate with peers in other countries.

   One way to promote research and broaden students' perspectives is to get them involved in a collaborative project with students from another school outside of Qatar. ROTA (www.reachouttoasia.qa) offers that opportunity through the iEARN network (www.iearn.org). iEARN also offers professional development courses (online and face-to-face) for teachers. Visit their Website, view the array of projects they offer, and connect with ROTA to get involved.

4. Prepare Students for the National Student Research Fair
   The Education Institute will host a national student research fair during the 2008-2009 school year. The fair will celebrate and reward the achievements of young researchers. Various types of competition will be offered including individual projects, student team projects, and faculty-student team projects. Get a jump on the competition. Begin thinking about the research projects you and your students could conduct.
5. Encourage Your Teachers to Conduct Action Research
   One of the hallmarks of a professional teacher is the ability to reflect upon his/her practice. That's what action research is all about! How can I improve my teaching and make my school a better place?

   Make action research a topic at your faculty meetings. Identify issues or topics that teachers could investigate. Collect evidence upon which to make policy decisions. Involve parents by seeking their advice and opinions through action research projects.

6. Budget for Professional Development for Teachers
   As your school develops its plans for next year, make sure to include resources for funding professional development of teachers.

   Teachers in Qatar have a wealth of professional development opportunities from which to choose. In addition to the various workshops offered by the Education Institute and private companies in Doha, ROTA will offer online and face-to-face training for teachers interested in participating in international collaborative projects.

   The Web offers many free resources for professional development in virtually all subject areas. Take advantage of those offerings by forming learning communities within your school who support one another as they improve their teaching practices.

   Consider including in your budget funds to pay teachers stipends for Saturday workshops, for attending conferences, for joining professional organizations, and for purchasing special materials.

7. Participate in the Action Research Conference
   The first Action Research Conference held this spring is slated to become an annual event. In future years, teachers from throughout the region will be invited to offer a wider array of projects. Encourage your teachers to participate, either as presenters or attendees. Provide opportunities for sharing among faculty when they return from the conference.