Action Research
What are the benefits of action research?
What experiences do you have conducting research that could help
you in this process?
What questions do you have?
The
action research process can help us understand what is happening in our
classroom and identify changes that improve teaching and learning. Action
research can help answer questions that we have about the effectiveness of specific
instructional strategies, the performance of specific students, and classroom
management techniques.
According
to Melinda Kolk. "Believe it or not, teachers are probably doing some form of
research already. Every time you change a lesson plan or try a new approach
with your students, you are engaged in trying to figure out what works. Even
though you may not acknowledge it as formal research, you are still
investigating, implementing, reflecting, and refining your approach".
For
the purposes of EDCS 480 course, I will focus on technology integration in my
classroom. Collecting sources of data include observation and interviews. As my
students observe, they will want to type or write notes or dictate their
observations into a cell phone, iPod, or PDA. They may want to keep a journal
during the process, or even create a blog or wiki to practice their technology
skills as they collect data.
The
Action Research Cycle: 1. identification of problem area, 2. Collection and organization of data, 3. Interpretation of data 4. Action based on data and 5. Reflection are a cycle of inquiry and reflection. During the
process, we will determine:
1) Where we are
2) Where we want to be
3) How we are going to get there. Action research also helps us take charge of our personal professional development. As I research potential solutions and are exposed to new ideas, I will identify the skills, management, and instructional training needed to make the changes I want to see. I am looking forward to seeing the changes that will occur in my classroom through my own action research project.
Some of the questions I have about action research are:
What strategies do you already know that might help you get there?
1) Where we are
2) Where we want to be
3) How we are going to get there. Action research also helps us take charge of our personal professional development. As I research potential solutions and are exposed to new ideas, I will identify the skills, management, and instructional training needed to make the changes I want to see. I am looking forward to seeing the changes that will occur in my classroom through my own action research project.
Some of the questions I have about action research are:
What strategies do you already know that might help you get there?
Which
of these ideas do you think might work better than what you are currently
doing?
(From
Kirk Lewin, 1994) “Your ideas and experience combined with action research are a powerful
formula for effective change”!
Resources
Grady, M.P. (1998). Qualitative and Action Research.
Bloomington: Phi Delta Kappa
Educational Foundation.
Sagor, R. (2005). The Action Research
Handbook. Thousand Oaks:
Corwin Press.
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