The Joy of Research: Tips For Getting Started
Willy Renandya, 20 Feb 2025
As teachers, we spend much of our time to planning lessons, delivering content, and supporting our students. With such a heavy workload, research might seem like something separate from our daily practice. However, it doesn’t have to feel that way; research can be a natural extension of our teaching—one that not only enhances professional growth but also brings a sense of joy and discovery
Teaching and Research: Are They Really That Different?
At first glance, teaching and research might seem like two entirely different worlds. Teaching is about sharing knowledge, while research is about discovering it. But the major processes are quite similar: both involve planning, executing, and evaluating. Just as you plan a lesson, deliver it, and assess its effectiveness, research follows a similar cycle: you identify a question, explore it by collecting relevant data, analyze and evaluate the results. Furthermore, the skills you use in the classroom—problem-solving, reasoning, creative and critical thinking—are the same skills that drive successful research.
Here is an example. Imagine you’ve noticed that some of your students struggle with staying engaged during online classes. As a teacher, you might try different strategies like breakout rooms, interactive polls or flipped classroom methods to see what works. This is essentially a mini-research project! You’re identifying a problem (low engagement), testing solutions (new teaching strategies), and evaluating the results (student participation). Research formalizes this process, helping you gather evidence so you can draw more credible conclusions.
Why Should Teachers Engage in Research?
Research isn’t just for academics or researchers. It’s for teachers too, especially those who want to improve their teaching practice and make a meaningful impact on their students. Here are a few reasons why research can be valuable for teachers:
- Professional Growth: Research helps you stay updated with the latest educational trends and theories, making you a more effective teacher. For instance, if you’re teaching English as a second language, reading recent studies on language acquisition can help you adopt more effective teaching methods.
- Problem-Solving: It allows you to investigate classroom challenges and find evidence-based solutions. For example, if you’re struggling with classroom management, researching strategies like positive reinforcement or implementing collaborative learning can provide new tools to try in your classroom.
- Personal Fulfilment: There’s a unique thrill in discovering something new or confirming what you already know actually works in your classroom. Imagine the satisfaction of finding that a new teaching technique you’ve researched actually improves your students’ test scores! Backed by solid evidence, you can confidently advocate for your methods, challenge outdated practices, and drive meaningful change in your school.
Getting Started: The 3 Hs of Research
Starting your research journey doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Think of it in terms of the 3 Hs: Head, Heart, and Hands.
- The HEAD: Understanding Research and Its Importance. Research starts with curiosity. Ask yourself: What do I want to learn? How will this benefit my teaching? Research isn’t just about publishing papers—it’s a systematic way to answer questions, solve problems, and improve your practice. For example, if you’re curious about how technology affects student learning, you might begin by reading studies on blended learning or flipped classrooms. This helps you understand what’s already known and discover areas where you can contribute.
- The HEART: Passion and Motivation. Research thrives on curiosity and passion. Are you excited about solving classroom challenges? Does the idea of discovering something new inspire you? While research can be challenging, it’s also deeply rewarding—especially when you see its impact on your students. For example, if you’re passionate about fostering a growth mindset, you might design a small study to explore how praising effort rather than intelligence affects student motivation. Watching your students grow and thrive can be a powerful motivator to keep going.
- The HANDS: Turning Ideas into Action. Research isn’t just about thinking—it’s about doing. Start small: choose a topic that excites you, explore the latest studies, and discuss your ideas with colleagues. As you gather insights from your exploration and research, document your thoughts, observations and insights. Writing plays a crucial role in this process, whether you’re keeping a teaching journal, research blog or preparing to share your findings with others at a conference (e.g., ThaiTESOL conference) or in a teaching journals (e.g., Modern English Teacher).
Tips for Jumpstarting Your Research Journey
- Find a Topic You Love. Choose something that excites you and aligns with your long-term goals. For example, if you’re passionate about student engagement, explore research on active learning strategies. You might investigate how gamification (using game elements in learning) can increase student participation.
- Read Widely: Dive into books, journal articles, and online resources. Google Scholar and websites like Academia.edu are great places to start. For example, if you’re interested in teaching English to young learners, you could search for recent studies on language development in children or effective teaching strategies for this age group. However, teachers are often pressed for time and may not always be able to devote the necessary hours to reading and synthesizing research. Fortunately, AI tools (e.g., DeepSeek, Brisk Teaching and Google’s NotebookLM) can help make this task less daunting. For instance, Google’s NotebookLM can summarize the contents of long academic texts, allowing teachers to quickly grasp key insights and apply them to their practice.
- Collaborate: Join a research group or a Special Interest Group (SIG) within professional organizations like TESOL or IATEFL. Sharing ideas with others can be incredibly motivating. For instance, you might join a SIG on technology in language teaching and collaborate with other teachers to explore how virtual reality can be used in the classroom.
- Write Regularly: Writing helps clarify your thoughts. Start with small steps, like keeping a teaching journal or blogging about your classroom experiences. For example, you could write a blog post about your experience using project-based learning in your class, reflecting on what worked and what didn’t. You don’t always have to write full-length papers. Shorter pieces can be just as valuable. In fact, writing short papers offers numerous benefits.
Balancing Teaching and Research
One of the biggest challenges teachers face is finding the time for research. But remember, research doesn’t have to be a massive undertaking. Start with small, manageable projects. Collaborate with colleagues, seek mentorship, and set achievable milestones. Over time, you’ll find that research and teaching can complement each other, leading to a richer, more fulfilling professional life.
For example, if you’re a busy teacher with a full schedule, you might start by dedicating just 30 minutes a week to reading research articles or jotting down ideas in a notebook. Over time, these small steps can lead to bigger projects, like presenting at a conference or publishing an article.
Final Thoughts
Research isn’t just about producing papers or winning awards—it’s about making a difference in your classroom and in your students’ lives. As the saying goes, “Research is seeing what everyone else has seen and thinking what no one else has thought.” So, start small, stay curious, and enjoy the journey of discovery.
For example, one teacher might notice that her students are more engaged when they have a say in what they learn. She could turn this observation into a research project, exploring how student choice impacts motivation and learning outcomes. This kind of research not only benefits her students but also contributes to the broader educational community.
Remember, the most important step is simply to begin. Happy researching!
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