‘Journal clubs have been used widely in medical settings since the 19th century during training and as ongoing professional development. Meetings are led by a facilitator who begins by reading a summary of a pre-decided paper or article and guides a group discussion. Journal clubs are an informal and social way to discuss research and keep practitioners up to date, whilst providing an opportunity to discuss how research is relevant to practice and develop skills of critical analysis (Linzer, 1987; Sidorov, 1995). The use of journal cubs in education settings has increased in recent years as research engagement has become more widespread and been given a higher priority in professional development.

Journal clubs offer an approach for schools to deliver effective professional development for staff at all levels and engage with research, keep up to date with emerging ideas in education and question how this relates to teaching and learning in an ongoing, sustained way. Not every member of staff will be familiar with academic research – some degrees such as mathematics or computer science may not require it, and support staff may not have higher-level qualifications. Journal clubs support leaders to familiarise staff with the structure and language of research, and can facilitate evidence-informed practice in schools.’

(https://my.chartered.college/research-hub/journal-clubs-as-an-approach-to-teacher-cpd/)

Journal clubs are a well-established practice in academic fields, especially medicine, that have been adapted for use in education as a form of professional development and a teaching strategy for students. These meetings involve a group of individuals who regularly discuss and critically appraise published research articles.

For teachers and school leaders, journal clubs are a powerful tool for fostering evidence-informed practice and staying current with pedagogical trends. 

The traditional format of a single presenter and passive audience has evolved to include more collaborative and digital approaches. 

This blog was written by Bretta Townend-Jowitt, Education Consultant and Trainer.