Note
Following the introduction of the "Curriculum Planning and Educational Innovations Research Institute", parts of the institute's research system, including the Research Council, the Council's designated committee and their activities, policies and how to recruit human resources in research departments and policies and how to expand research boundaries, were brought to the attention of our esteemed readers in the second issue. In this issue, we will discuss the research process and research management mechanisms in the institute.
Research Process
Since its establishment, this institute has designed its research activities in the form of a systematic method and various processes and operates exactly in accordance with them. Figure 1 shows the general map of the research system in this institute from the beginning of the problem and the precise recognition of its dimensions to its transformation into a project, estimating the cost of advertising in the media and universities, preparing a final report, research, application of research findings and new needs and issues.
Regarding the regulations of the Institute for ordering research projects to research departments within the institution, Article 8 of the Guidelines for the Formation of the Joint Research Committee of the Organization's Subsidiary Offices states:
Each employee working in the organization, if they meet the following conditions, can participate as an executor in the organization's research projects:
• A. Having at least a master's degree
• B. Having at least one research work (excluding thesis)
• C. Having at least two scientific articles (one of which must be published)
• D. Not having unfinished research (in progress)
Ordering approved research projects to research departments outside the institution is done in the form of a public call through mass media and announcements to universities, research institutions, and education experts. After researchers declare their readiness and submit research projects, research contracts are concluded through a process.
Also, the system for determining the distribution and allocation of research credits to research activities and projects is as follows:
1. Problem identification through research;
2. Multiple surveys using the Delphi method of managers and experts of the organization;
3. Proposing titles in the Research Council;
4. Approving titles in the Research Council;
5. Obtaining the final opinion of the head of the Research and Educational Planning Organization on the titles approved by the Research Council;
6. Estimating the credibility of research based on the approved titles;
7. Preparing a list of research titles in the form of credits allocated to the organization's research programs and projects;
8. Sending the annual program to the National Management and Planning Organization;
9. Approving credits;
10. Notifying the institution;
11. Allocating research credits based on the proposed costs of research projects.
Research management mechanisms
A- Incentive mechanisms for expanding and generalizing research in the organization:
1. Organizing optimal communications between the research department and other offices of the organization
2. Forming research committees and independently implementing research results in the organization's subordinate offices and delegating the authority to approve projects up to a certain amount per year.
3. Establishing a research information center to provide easy and quick access for experts and managers to research results and scientific information
4. Celebrating Research Week extensively and with the participation of all organization offices
5. Organizing scientific meetings to present the results of completed research to the organization's experts
6. Allocating special funds to expand research in the organization's offices
7. Creating study and training opportunities and the possibility of continuing postgraduate education for researchers and qualified experts interested in research
8. Holding numerous competitions in scientific article writing and selecting superior articles and research on various occasions each year
B- Mechanisms to promote the reputation of research and researchers in the institution:
1. Relying on decision-making on the results of reputable research
2. Removing behavioral barriers between the levels of managers and researchers
3. Reducing regulatory barriers (such as the physical presence of researchers, financial and employment regulations)
4. Creating a suitable and welcoming social environment for researchers and scholars to attract and retain them
5. Creating the necessary facilities and equipment to carry out research activities
6. Introducing interested researchers at the level Ministry of Education and other required organizations
7. Supporting researchers to present their research achievements in domestic and foreign conferences
8. Participating research experts in domestic and international conferences
C- Mechanisms to facilitate financial affairs and regulations related to research
1. Financing researchers by providing 25 percent of the total cost as an advance payment at the beginning of the contract and the rest in three installments, each installment for submitting a stage report until receiving the final report
2. Considering an appropriate and flexible time frame for implementing research projects
3. Since the provisions of the institute's research contracts are completely transparent and, on the other hand, payment is made in certain agreed installments in return for stage reports, if researchers fulfill their obligations on time, their financial affairs will be facilitated.
D- Mechanisms to facilitate the use of services and equipment available in the institution for research
1. Establishing an information center in the institute Using the internal "Lan" network, the use of the Internet network and the external network (Intranet), this center began its activities in the following areas, while creating databases about researchers, authors of research projects and scientific articles:
1.1. Designing and creating a database of researchers and authors inside and outside the organization
1.2. Installing and launching the software of colleagues in the Paper-Less mechanized system of the research institute.
1.3. Training employees in the fields of 2000 Internet, word, windows, office automation
1.4. Subscription to three world scientific research databases
- Digital Dessertation full text
- Proquest Education Complete
- ERIC
2. Strengthening the library and documentation center through the purchase of up-to-date and needed books (domestic and foreign institutions) Subscription to specialized magazines and publications related to the activities of the institution (domestic and foreign)
3. Launching a research information system
4. Organizing coordination meetings and special conferences required by researchers
5. Issuing necessary letters of introduction for referring to schools, regions, and provincial education organizations or other government, cooperative and private institutions
- Mechanism for utilizing research results in administrative affairs of the institution, documenting and announcing research results
In order to utilize the results of research conducted in response to questions, issues and problems in the path of the activities of planners and implementers of educational and curriculum programs, a specialized committee called the "Educational Research Results Application Committee" has been formed in the organization's affiliated offices. The goal of these committees is to use valid research results in the programs, activities and tasks of the organization. To achieve this goal, each of the interested offices, within the framework of its specialized activities and duties, collects all written sources (including books, journals, articles, and research reports), examines their findings (after validation by at least two members of the research committee), and proceeds to prepare executive plans based on how to apply the research results.
These committees, which are guided and supported by the organization's research institute headquarters and apply research reports related to their activities after validating the findings in three ways: The application committees in the textbook planning and writing offices have so far examined and used 20 research plans and 60 scientific articles with the aim of applying their results in the curricula, and have sent their reports to the research institute in four volumes.
F- Mechanisms for cooperation with other executive bodies in conducting research
Based on strategic policies in the field of paying attention to external environmental factors and using the opportunities available in society, communication was established with universities and research institutes of the country since 1999 and
has continued until now. During this activity, numerous meetings were held between representatives of the organization from the research institute and representatives of the following agencies and ten memorandums of understanding were concluded:
1. The Deputy for Research of the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology, based on the provisions of the memorandum of understanding, a plan for the participation of professors in the curriculum and research planning committees was developed.
2. Sharif University of Technology, a memorandum of understanding was concluded between the organization and this university in several meetings, and a plan for establishing a Research and Development (R&D) center in the field of mathematics, science and technology education was prepared, and its regulations were approved. This center was launched in the spring of 2002 and three research projects were assigned to it.
3. Based on the provisions of the memorandum of understanding between the two, a joint cooperation office was established under the title of "Sajid Office", which has been active for about two years.
4. Islamic Azad University held consultative meetings with the Research Vice-Chancellor of Azad University in 1379 and plans were developed, which have now been suspended due to the change in the management of the relationship with the industry at that university.
5. Teacher Training University developed a memorandum of understanding in several meetings and it was signed by the university president and the organization. However, the meetings to implement the memorandum did not continue.
6. The Education and Training Research Institute exchanged a memorandum of understanding to establish greater communication and initiated measures for joint cooperation, which it is hoped will be pursued more seriously in 1383.
7. Shahid Rajaee University Joint meetings led to the conclusion of contracts for five research projects
8. Al-Zahra University Joint meetings led to the conclusion of contracts for four research projects.
9. Allameh Tabatabaei University: Meetings have been held between the managers and professors of the Faculty of Educational Sciences of this university and the managers and experts of the organization, and a draft memorandum of understanding has been prepared for signing.
10. Shahid Beheshti University: After joint meetings between the managers and professors of the Faculty of Educational Sciences and the managers and experts of the organization, a memorandum of understanding was drawn up and contracts for four research projects were signed.
11. University of Science and Technology: Joint meetings led to the signing of two research contracts on virtual education for teachers.
12. Tarbiat Modares University: Negotiations led to the signing of contracts for three research projects.
G- Mechanisms for using international experiences
The International Research Group has been launched to develop scientific and international activities since the establishment of the institute and is currently implementing two projects:
1. The Second International Study of Technology in Education (SITES M2) was a project that, in cooperation with the International Society for the Evaluation of Educational Progress, its first phase ended in 2008. In the 2008-2009 academic year, its new phase was implemented in 20 high schools in Tehran under the title "Information Technology in Education". The evaluation of the second phase through the dispatch of researchers and observation of students' innovations in the use of information technology indicates new successes in this international experience.
2. The International Scientific Literacy Project "Project 2061" of the American Association for the Advancement of Science is one of the projects whose review and the possibility of utilizing its results have been entrusted to Shahid Rajaee University. So far, the report of the first and second phases of the project has been presented and 22 of its documents have been translated and published.