Developing EGL pedagogical tools to transform evidence into practice

• In Event: Translating evidence to practice in the LAC region- Practical EGL tools for development practitioners

Proposal

The LRCP is a program solidly based on evidence. After 8 years of work in the region to develop evidence on EGL, from the region and for the region, we have identified many gaps in that evidence base as well as gaps in how the evidence is applied or translated into policy and practice. For example, there are very few evidence-based pedagogical resources in the region that model successful strategies for teaching basic EGL skills. In addition, teacher training programs do not have resources that link evidence with practice and model the practical application of successful methodologies to teach key literacy skills, something that is ever more important during the pandemic. The focus of pre- and in-service teacher training programs in the region remains largely on theory, never getting to the level of practical strategies, procedures, and recommendations that teachers need to develop their classes (Abadzi, 2012).

With this in mind, the LRCP developed a toolkit called "EnseñaLEES", a practical set of videos modeling instruction of key evidence-based EGL strategies accompanied by a step-by-step implementation guide. This toolkit aims to provide concrete support to early grade teachers as they teach students to read and write in the classroom as well as support to teacher trainers to strengthen the modeling of evidence-based EGL pedagogical strategies. We will present these free tools during this session demonstrating where to find them, how to use them, and how they can improve in-person and remote EGL instruction in LAC. These tools are all in Spanish (videos and teacher guides) and will be made available for use by session participants. During this session we will discuss the process for developing practical evidence-based tools and what that knowledge translation process looks like in practice.

These toolkits are a prime example of how the LRCP has not only produced research evidence but have sought to translate that evidence into practical, usable tools which can support classroom practice and teacher training.

Authors

• Maria Josefina Vijil, Juarez

• Juan Luis Cordova, Juárez