As a K-12 teacher, should you pay attention to the research done by “those university people up in their ivory towers?” To understand some of what academic research offers you, an analogy might be helpful. As a driver, you are aided by reporters in a traffic helicopter. These reporters can help you make decisions about the route to take to your destination, even though they are far removed from actual cars. Similarly, those viewing classrooms from their ivory towers can provide valuable information—information gleaned from a distance that can help you make decisions about how to get your students to your chosen educational destination. This month’s column prepares you to be a critical consumer of educational research.