They employ reliable diagnostic tests and prescribe treatments validated over time. Products and techniques are honed through on-going research, development, evaluation and dissemination. Few patients today would accept a physician who ignores scientific research or fails to keep abreast of change. In the name of autonomy, teachers are encouraged to develop individual instructional strategies and curriculum resources. They function in an environment with little consensus on standards of student achievement and limited external feedback on performance.
Professional development is highly discretionary.
As a result, some educators move from fad to fad, without a scientific knowledge base to inform their practice. While celebrating the art of teaching, we might also wish for more science. Expert teachers identify, respect and apply the findings of scientific research to their practice. They discover which approaches have proven most effective over time and under what conditions they will succeed. They make choices based on knowledge of proven materials and methods, applying them artfully as they diagnose each learning situation.