Case Studies

Example 1
evidence based practice materials

Example 2
building group work skills

Example 3
building research communities

Example 4
project based learning activities

Example 5
research and teaching: an intrinsic link

Example 6
the link between cultural identity and research

Example 7
An inextricable link - theory into practice

Example 8
Teaching connoiseurs of research

Example 9
Exploiting the link in course design

Example 10
innovative practice linking engineering methods and principles to constructing a winning product

Example 11
research and links to critical pedagogy

Example 12
Four examples to promote the synergy in history

Example 13
Students' perspective on linking research and teaching

Example 14
Two students'
perspectives

Elizabeth argues:

I think research is very important in the health area as some procedures that are implemented on clients may not be effective so when you research a particular practice you can get the most effective outcome for the client as well as cost effective outcome. Before I did the nursing course, I had no understanding of research. It has made me more aware of research. With the help of research, you can understand how good/bad a particular practice is and use that evidence to help change the practice within the clinical area.

I have a better understanding of research based practices and I have a better understanding of where to find them. I can question practices occurring in the clinical area and if I am not 100% certain why a procedure is being done in a particular way, I can look up and see what research has been done on this. If nothing has been done, then that can inspire me to go out and research to see if there is a better way.

Heidi asserts:

The lecturers I have had have often quoted their research as it backs up what they are saying using their own examples. I use my lecturers’ research papers as quite often they are linked closely to the material they are presenting. I gain a better understanding of the issue particular with an actual case study.

It is important for lecturers to link their research with their teaching, as they are able to bring cutting edge research into the classroom – things that are happening right now – to make what we are learning current because things go out of date so fast.

Sometimes, I think lecturers use their research as a way of inspiring students to actually encourage students to undertake their own research. It makes us feel like the research projects we do are actually worth something and gives us some motivation.

I think it is also important as it gives them credibility that they have actually published in journals which we are looking up all the time and that is really important – that they undertake professional development.

It also helps when we go and look at their research to see what techniques they’ve used so if you are doing some research you can employ some of the techniques they have used eg sample, instrument.

One other way lecturers may link the two is by writing a textbook. One of my lecturers has written a book on qualitative research methods and I would imagine she is using her teaching experiences to write that book as she has an understanding of students’ needs. Without the examples from their own research, research would not seem interesting or relevant.

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