Action Research

1
Action Research

• Action

2
Pre-Assess (if appropriate)

• Before enacting your plan, gather data and
  information about the population you are
  teaching.
• Some possible pre-assessment strategies may
  include
• Pre-tests
• an evaluation of students prior to instruction to
  determine what level of knowledge, skill or
  aptitude they are bringing to instruction
• Student interviews
• allow the teacher to ask the student questions to
  determine their present knowledge or aptitude
  level prior to instruction
• Teacher observations
• collect information, i.e. prior knowledge of the
  group

3
Enact the plan Use the strategy

• Pre-determined group of learners
• Implemented over an extended period of time
• At least four to six weeks of implementation
• During implementation
• record observations of student behavior,
  reactions and progress
• Written notes including positive negative
  aspects
• Anecdotal records
• Video and audio recordings
• Teacher
• Students

4
Measure the effect of the strategy Collect Data

• Posttest/formal assessment
• Measure gains in student knowledge after the
  implementation process
• Student interviews
• Determine if the student has mastered course or
  unit objectives
• student portfolios
• Electronic/paper collection of student work
  samples used for evaluation
• Reviewing video footage
• Self assessment
• Effective/non-effective plan
• Improvements/changes

5
Links

• Sample interview
• http//activated.decs.act.gov.au/assessableMoments
  /assessment/interviews/interviews.htm
• Research guidelines on observations
• http//www.capcollege.bc.ca/programs/psychology/st
  udents/research/observation.xhtml
• Using videotape as self-evaluation tool
• http//bokcenter.harvard.edu/docs/videotaping.html
  
• Portfolios
• http//www.pgcps.org/7Eelc/portfolio.html