Classroom Action Research

Classroom Action ResearchOverview

What is Action Research?What do Teacher

Researchers Do?Guidelines and Ideas for

Research

What is Action Research?

• Identifying problems on our own• Examining and assessing our own work• Considering ways of working differently • Working collaboratively

Action Research is NOT…

•JUST problem solving•Research on other people•The scientific method•The usual things teachers do

Teacher Researchers…

•Develop research questions•Collect and analyze data•Share data with others•Write about research

Effects of Teacher Research Projects

•More collaboration• Increased communication• Improved student performance•Teacher-designed staff development•Revisions and new developments

5 Phases of Action Research

•Problem identification•Plan of action•Data collection•Analysis of data•Plan for future action

Why do Action Research?

• Figure out and demonstrate what works

• Better relationships with colleagues

• Personal AND Professional development

• Practice and connect as a teacher

• Create new “things”

action-oriented

flexible

reflection process

exploratorycollaborative

discovery

practitioner’s point of view

descriptiveopen-ended

relevant

Descriptors of Action Research:

Starting Points

I want to improve…I want to learn more about…

I’m perplexed by…Some are unhappy about…

I’m curious about…

I want to try…I think to make a difference…

I want to change…I’m interested in…

Continuing Starting Points…

Developing a Question…Hasn’t been asked beforeHigh level thinking Not “Yes or No”Use everyday languageShort and to the point

Continuing Guidelines…

Manageable and able to

doPassionate and

meaningful

Keep it to what you know

Opportunity to grow

Leads to more

questions…

Guidelines for Data Collecting

Be clear.How will you use it?Design a process.Use appropriate tools.How much will you need?Make it easy for you.Use multiple resources.

Continuing Data Collecting…Directly answers question.Presentation is important.Review and don’t expect too much.Display to reveal underlying patterns.Shouldn’t be primary job.Facts don’t ensure being useful.Key issue: Get USEFUL info

Data Collection:The 5 W’s and an H

Answer these 5 simple questions when planning

your data collection!

Who What

When Why

Where How

Data Collection:Planning

Todd Miller

There are many options for gathering data.

Action researchers must choose their data gathering methods.

Choose the techniques that most effectively address the question.

Techniques for Gathering Data

Todd Miller

Interviews

Checklists

Observations

Questionnaires

Case Studies

Portfolios

Guidelines for Analyzing Your Data

DON’TLook through your

data only onceLet your previous

assumptions guide your analysis

Censor the data you have recorded

DODesign a system for

analyzing your dataLook for themes or

pattern to emerge from the data

Share your findings with a colleague

Todd Miller

A Process for Analyzing Qualitative Data

• Write continuously…What are you seeing? What questions emerge? What are you learning?

• Look for themes, patterns, and big ideas

• Identify main points that appear most frequently and most powerful

• Draw information together…Include support for each of your themes

Todd Miller

Writing Prompts forClassroom Action Researchers

Examples1. What questions would you have to answer to

better understand your issue?2. How can I use the data I’ve collected to better

understand my question?3. How can I tell my story, what I have learned, to

others?

Write prompts to guide you through the phases of your action research.

Todd Miller

Roles of Participants

• Be a good listener

• Ask good questions

• Wait to offer your suggestions

Ideas for Your Final Write-up

• Background info

• Question

• Data collection

• References

• Conclusions

• Future directions

Ideas for Your Final Write-up

• Not all write-ups will look alike

• You decide how to organize your write-up

Impact of CAR in Madison, WI

• Professional development activity

• Obstacles and difficulties

• Program knowledge

• Program influence

Multiple Purpose of CAR

•Impacting the classroom

•Influencing policy making

"Action research is the process through which teachers collaborate in evaluating their practice jointly; raise awareness of their personal theory; articulate a shared

conception of values; try out new strategies to render the values expressed in their

practice more consistent with the educational values they espouse; record

their work in a form which is readily available to and understandable by other

teachers; and thus develop a shared theory of teaching by researching practice."

- John Elliott

In conclusion…

Action Research is…

Process, Collaboration, Improvement, Practice, Communication