Educational Research

Because research is conducted continuously, teachers are able to adjust their styles and programs on a regular basis to get the most out of their subjects for their students. At the same time research can say one thing but in practice certain techniques just don't work all the time. It is helpful to know the research that is being done and it is good to know alternatives for any kind of lesson plan.
As far as researchers and teachers collaborating in the classroom goes, it can work really well so long as there is flexibility for the teacher. If they are trying to test out a technique or lesson plan on a group of students that simply isn't working, it's imperative that the teacher be allowed to change it up to make sure the students are actually learning the material and not just being used as test subjects. So long as there is communication between researchers, teachers. administrators and parents I see no reason why most classrooms couldn't participate in some form of research. It might even be a good way to help supplement income for schools.
Teachers already are researchers. They test out a way of teaching, see if it works and then repeat or discard the process depending on the results. The only thing teachers might be leaving out is the sharing of information that researchers do. If teachers aren't paying attention to what works and what doesn't with their students then they are just failing themselves and their students. Teachers are researchers and they all need to share the wisdom they gain from both students and other teachers as well as the researchers doing major leg work.