ACTION RESEARCH & CLASSROOM RESEARCH

ACTION RESEARCH & CLASSROOM RESEARCH

1. Critique to educational action research

   • Concerns
     • Lewin’s concept of action research
       • Prescriptive in practice
       • Designed to assist a client system
       • Functionalist in orientation
     • Action research models
       • Steps that can inhibit teacher independence
       • Models outline a process
       • Models may appear confusing
         • Models are the interpretation of someone's reality
     • Semantics
       • Overuse of words like 'problem'
         • Can give the impression that action research is a deficit model of professional development

2. Classroom research by teachers

   • methods to
     • Identify and initiate research projects
     • Observe classroom and gather data
       • on
         • classroom behaviors
     • Interpret and analyze the data gathered
     • Report classroom research
     • Link classroom research
       • to
         • Learning
         • Teaching

3. Criteria for action research by teachers

   • Six principles
     • 1. The teacher's primary job
       • Teaching
       • Any research should not interfere
     • 3. The methodology employed
       • must be
         • Reliable
           • to
             • Formulate hypotheses confidently
             • Develop strategies applicable to classroom research
     • 4. Teacher
       • Should be
         • Commited with the focus of research
     • 5. Need
       • to pay close attention to
         • Ethical procedures
           • surrounding their work
     • 6. adopt a ‘classroom exceeding’ perspective
       • All members of the school
         • Build
           • Common vision
         • Share
           • Common vision
             • Main purpose
       • Main focus for action
         • Teaching
         • Learning
         • in ordert that students develop
           • Intellectual power
           • Imaginative power
     • 2. The method of data collection
       • must not be
         • Too demanding on teacher's time

4. Action research

   • Definitions
     • Robert Rapoport (1970)
       • contributes
         • Practical concerns of people
         • Goals of social science
     • Stephen Kemmis (1983)
       • Self-reflective research
         • Rationality and Justice
           • 1. Own social or educational practices
           • 2. Understanding of these practices
           • 3. Situations in which the practices are carried out
     • Dave Ebbutt (1985)
       • Way groups of people
         • Learn from the experience
           • 1. Practical Actions
           • 2. Reflection of the effects
     • John Elliott (1991: 69)
       • Study
         • Social situations
           • Need to improve
       • Theories
         • Validadted
           • Practice
       • Hypothesis
     • Mills (2003)
       • Systematic research
         • Teachers Researchers
         • To collect Information
           • 1. Teachers teach
             • For developing
               • 1. Reflective practice
                 • Positive outcomes
               • 2. effecting positive changes
           • 2. Students learn
     • Kurt Lewin
       • First (Used this methodology)
         • Post-war Period
           • Social problems
         • Consisted in
           • 1. Analysis fact-finding
           • 2. Conceptualisation
           • 3. Planning execution
           • 4. Fact-finding or evaluation
           • 5. Repetition of this circle

5. Models of action research

   • John Elliot
     • Three cycles
       • Identify initial idea
       • Reconnaissance
       • General plan and action steps
       • Implementation of action steps
       • Monitor implementation and effects
   • Dave Ebbutt
     • Series of cycles
       • General idea
       • Reconnaissance
       • Overall plan
       • Action 1
       • Monitoring and reconnaissance
   • James McKernan
     • 'Time process' model
       • Two action cycles
         • Define problem
         • Needs assessment
         • Hypotheses ideas
         • Develop action plan
         • Implement plan
         • Evaluate action
         • Decisions
   • Stephen Kemmis
     • 'Action Research Planner'
       • Sequential programme (spiral)
         • Plan
         • Act
         • Reflect
         • Observe
         • Revised plan
   • Michael Fielding
     • Students as co-researchers
       • Trained in research
       • Responsible for identifying the topic and selecting methods of data collection and analysis