bridging

Bridging Research & Practice: Challenges & Opportunities: 

Bridging Research & Practice: Challenges & Opportunities Dale A. Blyth, Ph.D. Associate Dean for Youth Development University of Minnesota Extension Service Tucson, Arizona February 11, 2003

Overview: 

Overview The Bridge Analogy Elements of Effective Bridges Challenges of Bridge Building Why Build More Bridges Now What Types of Bridges Are Needed? Toward a field of Applied Youth Dev. Use this Conference Opportunity

The Bridge Analogy: 

The Bridge Analogy Bridges are structures designed to allow traffic to cross a gap or barrier between two or more places While bridges can occur naturally, they more often have to be deliberately designed and intentionally implemented for them to be successful Success is when the people and resources from one place can get to the other place – and vice versa

Slide4: 

Bridging Research and Practice User-Inspired Research Research-Inspired Reflection

Elements of Effective Bridges: 

Elements of Effective Bridges Solid Bedrock into which to place the foundations – on both sides Strength of each tower separately Strength of the supports that hold it up The nature of the surface on which traffic flows The connection to the rest of the world

Challenges of Building Bridges Between Research and Practice: 

Challenges of Building Bridges Between Research and Practice The lack of a common theoretical bedrock for both research and practice The multiple types of practice and programs The mixed and “non-system” nature of supports and opportunities The limitations & perspectives of each field The lack of adequate educational supports The lack of adequate policy supports – but high expectations for proof The shear size of the gap - its bigger than it appears Picking the right places to build

Why Build More Bridges Now?: 

Why Build More Bridges Now? Increased Recognition that Supports and Opportunities are Not Reaching All Youth Moving from WHAT Youth Need to HOW to Deliver It Both Research & Practice Need Help Increased “Ripeness” among practitioners for Using What is Known from Research Increased Academic Support for Applied and Useful Research Increased Policy Pressure for Both to be Accountable, Effective, and Efficient

What Types of Bridges are Needed? : 

What Types of Bridges are Needed? Making the Case Bridges Connecting knowledge to public will Connecting research / practical wisdom & policy makers Connecting what’s known and what’s available with parent and youth decision making Model Program Bridges Connecting specific program models and relevant research (e.g., mentoring) Connecting program development with both practical wisdom and research knowledge

What Other Types of Bridges are Needed?: 

What Other Types of Bridges are Needed? Specific Population Bridges Connecting what’s known about a culture or population with the way supports and opportunities are offered Connecting what’s known about a specific age group and the ways to deliver supports and opportunities Field Building Bridges Connecting those who work on different islands in the youth development sea Bridges connecting researchers to policy makers and policy makers to practitioners

Do we Need a New“Field” For Bridge Builders?: 

Do we Need a New “Field” For Bridge Builders?

Slide11: 

Bridging Research and Practice

Slide12: 

Bridging Research and Practice

What is a “Field” of Applied Youth Development?: 

What is a “Field” of Applied Youth Development? A field of YD “engineers” who design & build bridges A field that complements rather than replaces primary disciplinary fields of people A field that strengthens both user-inspired research & research-reflective practice A field with its own critical infrastructure – from places to dialogue to places to publish A field where investments are made in its development A field that will further enhance the deliberate design and intentional implementation of supports and opportunities for youth

During This Conference, I Hope You Will . . .: 

During This Conference, I Hope You Will . . . Consider your role in bridge building Challenge your assumptions about how and why bridges work, and do not work, in this field Analyze why some of the bridges you hear about this week have been built successfully Examine what types of infrastructure you believe is needed for YD bridge builders Design some bridges you want to help build Make a commitment to bridge research & practice in new ways!!