Can findings from learning studies be shared by others?

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to explore whether the insights gained by teachers in a learning study can be shared by others and used to enhance other students’ learning.Design/methodology/approachAn exploratory study analysed how four Mathematics teachers implemented the knowledge gained about student learning from a learning study about decimal numbers in their teaching. The teachers enacted two lessons with different conditions in terms of the knowledge identified about student learning in a total of eight classes in the fifth and sixth grades.FindingsThe findings indicate that, when the teachers enacted the knowledge in their lessons, students’ learning improved significantly as compared to when only some parts of this knowledge were enacted.Practical implicationsThis suggests that teachers can produce knowledge that is also usable for other teachers and that enables better possibilities for student learning.Originality/valueThe study provides insights as to what extent findings from learning studies can be valuable for others.