Beauty is in the

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Beauty is in the I of the Beholder

• Thubten Yeshe

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A World in Transition
Modern World
Postmodern World
The Nature of Reality
Single Reality
Multiple Constructed Forms
3

Resulting Research Continuum
Quantitative
Action Research
The Relationship Between Researcher and
Researched
Independent
Interactive
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Resulting Research Continuum
Quantitative
Action Research
The Role of Researched
Subject
Participant
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Resulting Research Continuum
Quantitative
Action Research
The Research Process and Outcomes
Generalization
Working Hypothesis
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Resulting Research Continuum
Quantitative
Action Research
The Role of the Researchers Values
Value Bound
Value Free
7

Resulting Research Continuum
Quantitative
Action Research
The Researcher Methodology
Exclusive
Inclusive
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Resulting Research Continuum
Quantitative
Action Research
The Locus of Control
Institutions of Theory
Institutions of Practice
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Action Research Group 4
http//www.infed.org/research/b-actres.htm
Origins
Rediscovery
Process
Summary
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Origins
http//www.infed.org/research/b-actres.htm

• Kurt Lewin
• Coined Term Action Research
• Approach involved a spiral of steps

• 2 Camps
• British Tradition - Self Reflective inquiry
• USA - Social Change

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Origins
http//www.infed.org/research/b-actres.htm

• Kurt Lewin
• Coined Term Action Research
• Approach involved a spiral of steps

• 2 Camps
• British Tradition - Self Reflective inquiry
• USA - Social Change

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REDISCOVERY
http//www.infed.org/research/b-actres.htm
Stringer Community-based research (social
values) Extend understanding and resolve
problems

• Characteristics
• democratic ? liberating
• equitable ? life enhancing

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Action Research Process
http//www.infed.org/research/b-actres.htm
Three Basic Phases 1. Look - gathering
information 2. Think - interpreting and
explaining 3. Act - resolving issues

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SUMMARY
http//www.infed.org/research/b-actres.htm
Action Research is

• Collective Self-Reflective Inquiry
• Conducted in a Social Situation
• Collaborative
• Critically Examined individually

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Action Research Group 3
http//www.scu.edu.au/schools/gcm/ar/arp/aandr.htm
la_aar_whatis
Action Research Is

• A natural way of acting
• A natural way of research

ActgtReviewgt ActgtReviewgt ActgtReviewgt ActgtReviewgt
ActgtReviewgt ActgtReviewgt
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Action Research Group 3
http//www.scu.edu.au/schools/gcm/ar/arp/aandr.htm
la_aar_whatis
How does Action Research Achieve Outcomes?

• Remove the gap between deciders and doers
• Participation generates commitment
• Participation provides more complete information

ManagersgtEmployeesgtTeachersgtPupilsgt Parentsgt
Childrengt
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Action Research Group 3
http//www.scu.edu.au/schools/gcm/ar/arp/aandr.htm
la_aar_whatis
Action Research Needs Critical Reflection

• Systematic reflection gives confidence
• Pay attention to unexpected results

ReflectgtRevisegt ReflectgtRevisegt ReflectgtRevisegt
ReflectgtRevisegt ReflectgtRevisegt
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Action Research Group 3
http//www.scu.edu.au/schools/gcm/ar/arp/aandr.htm
la_aar_whatis
ReflectiongtActiongt ReflectiongtActiongt
ReflectiongtActiongt ReflectiongtActiongt
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Action Research Group 3
http//www.scu.edu.au/schools/gcm/ar/arp/aandr.htm
la_aar_whatis
Flexible and Rigorous

• Fuzzy questions
• Answers become more precise with critical
  reflection
• QualitativegtWords
• QuantitativegtNumbers

ChangegtUnderstandinggt ChangegtUnderstandinggt
ChangegtUnderstandinggt
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Action Research Group 3
http//www.scu.edu.au/schools/gcm/ar/arp/aandr.htm
la_aar_whatis
When to use action research

• Achieve understanding
• Achieve change

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Action Research Group 2
http//www.ascd.org/publications/books/100047/chap
ter1.html
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Three Purposes for Action Research

• Building the Reflective Practitioner
• Making Progress on Schoolwide Priorities
• Building Professional Cultures

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Building the Reflective Practitioner

• Process that will foster continuous growth and
  development
• Reflection on teaching practice
• Implement changes based upon experience
• Developing strengths through continuous progress

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Making Progress on Schoolwide Priorities

• Development of common focus on strengthening
  school programs
• Collaborative achievement of shared goals
• Team building and program development
• Significant progress on schoolwide priorities

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Building Professional Cultures

• Independent/team research
• Multiple research inquiries
• Shared findings among colleagues for improved
  independent practice
• Contribute to organizational learning

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Why Action Research

• Professionalize Teaching
• Enhance Motivation and Efficacy of Faculty
• Meet needs of increasingly diverse student body
• Success with standards-based reform

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Professionalize Teaching

• Blue-collar
• Routine
• Isolated
• Occasional supervised
• Vigilance vigor
• Straight forward, simple

• Professional
• Non-routine
• Complex
• Problem solving
• Collaboration
• Demanding
• Dynamic
• Informed practice teacher expert
• Creative

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Enhance Motivation of Faculty

• Empirical evidence of student achievement
• Credible evidence of teaching practice
• Increased job satisfaction (Im making a
  difference)
• Teachers motivated by results

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Meeting Needs of Diverse Student Body

• Awareness of unique learner characteristics
• Strong content background
• Diagnosis of unique learner needs
• Awareness of new/emerging strategies
• Prescribe appropriate interventions

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Success with Standards-based Reform

• High stakes accountability now norm
• Students Teachers master standards
• Consequences
• Encourage experimentation, inquiry, dialogue by
  teachers
• Teachers conduct research standards attainment
  themselves

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THE TIME IS RIGHT FOR ACTION RESEARCH!
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Action Research Group 1
http//www.ascd.org/publications/books/100047/chap
ter1.html

• Disciplined process of inquiry conducted by and
  for those taking the action
• Primary reason is to assist in improving and/or
  refining his or her actions

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Action Research Group 1
http//www.ascd.org/publications/books/100047/chap
ter1.html
PROCESS 7 STEPS
Big Idea 1 Selecting a Focus
Big Idea 2 Clarifying theories
Big Idea 3 Identifying research questions
Big Idea 4 Collecting Data
Big Idea 5 Analyzing Data
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Action Research Group 1
http//www.ascd.org/publications/books/100047/chap
ter1.html
Big Idea 6 Reporting Results
Big Idea 7 Taking Informed Action