ACTION RESEARCH: WEEK 2

1
ACTION RESEARCH WEEK 2

• Noemi Waight
• UIUC
• June 20, 21

2
Research Questions

• What is the question that will help me to develop
  my area of focus or investigation?
• Research questions can evolve
• Focus research question so that it is manageable

3
Types or Groups of Research Questions

• Settings and Context
• Originate to improve schools, build positive
  classroom climate, create opportunities for
  learning and teaching
• E.g. What are some ways to build a climate for
  learning in my classroom?
• Teaching strategies and content
• Instructional strategies, ideas for constructing
  curriculum, fostering active learning, guides
  student self-evaluation
• How do we integrate technology into the science
  curriculum

4
Cont

• Vision and hopes for teaching
• Explore professional development interests,
  visions for teaching and hopes of what schools
  can be.
• When do I feel good about my work?

5
Planning

• Planning in action research is dynamic
• Through action and reflection, the process can
  become more elaborate
• Becomes informed by experience, experimentation,
  reflection, reading and through discussion
• Classroom observations, trying out new ideas,
  reflections and interpretations evolve over time

6
Data Collection

• As teachers reflect on their practice, they look
  for patterns and connections
• Sources of data allow you to document and
  evaluate your project
• What evidence will determine whether your action
  is successful or not

7
Sources of Data

• More traditional methods
• Classroom Observations
• Interviews
• Questionnaires
• Student Artifacts
• Essays, student portfolios, journals, class work
• Test results, student presentations, standardized
  scores
• Teacher Artifacts
• Unit plans, lesson plans, grade book
• Dialogue
• Discussion, question-answer segment, student
  comments
• Videotaping, Photographs

8
Outlining the Process

• Outline the steps that you intend to take in
  order to implement the project.
• E.g. describe instructional strategy you will try
  out
• What activities will you use
• When will activities be done
• When will questionnaires be administered
• When will interviews be done
• Include a timeline that allow for enough time to
  experiment and gather data, make sense of your
  data and document findings

9
Information Sources

• Books, authors, articles, that you will need in
  order to find out more about your research topic
• List resources that will be needed
• Materials, equipment, hardware, software,
  questionnaires, observation guide

10
Human Subjects and Ethical Considerations

• Consent letters for parents, teachers, students
• What are the ethical and confidentiality issues
• What school permissions are needed

11
References Week 1 and 2 Slides

• Working Towards an Inquiry in my own Context
  Guide
• Action Research Planning Guide
• Fischer, J.C. (2001). Action research rationale
  and planning Developing a framework for teacher
  inquiry. In Burnaford, G., Fischer, J. Hobson,
  D. (Eds). Teachers doing research The power of
  action (pp. 29-48). Mahwah, NJ Lawrence Erlbaum
  Associates Inc.

12
References

• http//www.teachingenglish.org.uk/think/methodolog
  y/action_research.shtml
• http//gsep.pepperdine.edu/mriel/edc638a-2004/act
  ivities/-a.html
• http//www.madison.k12.wi.us/sod/car/carabstractin
  tro.html