RSA #3 Resource-Based Learning

According to the University of Leeds, Research-based learning (RBL) is a style of learning that will "actively develop students’ independent research skills and provide students with opportunities to put these skills into practice" ("Research-based learning," 2014). In the classroom, research based learning is synonymous with resource based learning. The difference is that resource based learning provides all the necessary resources for students while research based learning lets students find their own resources. Resource based learning provides students with access to high quality materials on a given subject. Students are then able to use the materials with instructor directions to foster and develop research skills. Resource based learning also provides students a unique exposure to different materials than they may gather independently. In resource based learning, the instructor collects a library of information and resources that are useful to the students in the class and contain information regarding the topic covered in class.

Resource based learning can be used in many different classes from Social Studies classes to Science classes as well as English and even Mathematics classes. Science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) classes have been an area of innovation in current education trends. Vega (2014) outlines methods to use research-based and project-based learning in STEM classrooms. She includes an infographic which compares a percentage of students meeting or exceeding Ohio state standards in core classes. Cleveland Metropolitan School District is compared with the state of Ohio overall and MC2STEM High School, a school which integrates research-based learning into its practices. The research based practices not only brought student success with state standards back to the level of Ohio's average, but it exceeded the state percentages by as much as nine points. The practices also brought high school graduation from sixty three percent to ninety five percent, which is eleven percentage points higher than the Ohio state average.The data listed in Vega's article show evidence that research based learning can improve student success.

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References

Research-based learning (2014). University of Leeds Curriculum. Retrieved from http://curriculum.leeds.ac.uk/rbl

Vega, V. (2014). Research-based practices for engaging students in stem learning. Edutopia. Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/stw-college-career-stem-research