Leading Educational Research and at the Forefront of Efforts to Promote Education
As a university that believes education is the key to a better future and that education studies are the foundation for a more inclusive and equitable society, our centers are at the forefront of efforts to promote education and educators, leading groundbreaking research. This is evident in many of our centers, such as the Da-Gan Center, which serves as a national center for promoting mathematics, science, and technology in early childhood education; the Simulation Center in Education (HaLeV), which conducts simulation workshops and produces educational films for educators on interpersonal communication skills in conflict situations; the Center for Development and Support of Biology Laboratories in Schools, which combines guidance, support, and supply of materials for biology laboratories in schools with the development of curricula on laboratory teaching; the Center for Science Teaching, which promotes scientific and technological education; and the Sal-Van-Gelder Center, which focuses on Holocaust research and education.
We recognize the central role that educators and teachers play in shaping young minds and preparing students for future challenges. Therefore, our centers provide them with valuable resources, equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and tools needed to excel in their profession. In addition to promoting educational research, these centers also focus on the professional development of educators, caregivers, and researchers, and raising awareness of education issues. Workshops, seminars, training programs, meetings, and study days are held at these centers from time to time, covering a wide range of topics and fields, including curriculum development, pedagogical techniques, integrating new technologies into the learning environment, and more. In this sense, these centers ensure that educators stay updated with the most advanced educational practices and apply high-quality teaching methods.
Another goal underlying the establishment of these centers is to encourage a vibrant and communal culture of collaboration among educators, caregivers, and teachers. These centers serve as a meeting place that connects teachers, researchers, educators, and caregivers from diverse backgrounds and fields, providing a platform for knowledge exchange, idea sharing, refining teaching approaches, and exploring learning environments and teaching methods.
On the Importance of Educational Research and Its Impact on the Field of Education
The teaching landscape is constantly evolving, and education systems in Israel and around the world face numerous challenges, from performance gaps among students and increasing student engagement in learning processes to improving learning outcomes, fostering innovation, and integrating technology in the classroom. In such a climate, educational research plays an important role and can significantly contribute to leveraging and improving education in Israel, as seen in the Harris Program, which operates intervention, training, guidance, and counseling programs for professionals working with infants and toddlers; the Baker Center for Research on Developmental Difficulties in Infants and Young Children; the Hadad Center for Research on Dyslexia and Reading Disabilities, which provides diagnosis for students with learning disabilities, remedial teaching, and a variety of supportive learning courses; and the International Research Program on the Well-being and Health of Adolescents, a program funded and sponsored by the Ministries of Education and Health in Israel, which helps shape policies and effective strategies to reduce phenomena such as drugs, alcohol, and violence, and promotes the physical, social, and mental well-being of children and youth in our region.
Educational research can provide important insights for educators, caregivers, and policymakers, and work towards promoting evidence-based education. Therefore, educational research serves as a powerful tool in mapping and understanding challenges and formulating effective solutions. In an era where it is crucial to distinguish between educational practices based on empirical data and evidence and those based solely on daily practice, promoting research in education plays an important role in shaping teaching methods, developing successful interventions, and advancing effective educational strategies.
