Preparation of Preparation of an ACTION an ACTION RESEARCHRESEARCH

Pines City National High School

July 26, 2012

Jeany C. DupoScience Teacher

What is an ACTION What is an ACTION RESEARCH?RESEARCH?a form of self-reflective enquiry

undertaken by participants in social situations in order to:

Improve the rationality and justice of their own practices

Improve their understanding of these practices Improve the situations in which the practices

are carried out

Carr & Kemmis, 1986

Inquiry-based research conducted by teachersthat follows a process of examining existing practices, implementing new practices, and evaluating the results, leading to an improvement cycle that benefits both students and teachers.

Also known as: practitioner research, teacher research, site-based research, and action science.

cs3.wnmu.edu/elearning/a404/support/a404b0_50100.html

ACTION RESEARCH refers to:ACTION RESEARCH refers to:

“Professionals studying their own practice in order to improve it.

Applied to teaching, it involves gathering and interpreting "data" to better understand an aspect of your teaching that interests or concerns you.

An alternative to teachers who have been encouraged to look to others, rather than to themselves and their students, for ways to improve their teaching.

Action research is an important recent development in the broad territory of "teachers' professional development."

Tom Russell, Queen’s Universityhttp://educ.queensu.ca/~russellt/howteach/arguide.htm#arwhy

WHY MAKE AN ACTION WHY MAKE AN ACTION RESEARCH?RESEARCH?

Real classrooms have to be our laboratories, and they are in the command of teachers, not of researchers.

This is the characteristic of professional schools: the research act must conform to the obligations of the professional context.

Lawrence StenhouseFeb 1979, University of East Anglia, UK

WHY MAKE AN ACTION RESEARCH?WHY MAKE AN ACTION RESEARCH?

“Teacher research will force the re-evaluation of current theories and will significantly influence what is known about teaching, learning, and schooling.

It has often been said, ‘Teachers leave a mark on their students, but they seldom leave a mark on their profession’ (Wolf, 1989). Through the process and products of action research teachers will do both.”

Beverly Johnson, Teacher-as-Researcher. ERIC Digest.

Donald Schon Philosopher, researchers… made significant contributions to

the theory and practice of learning. Concerned with professional learning, learning processes in organizations, and with developing critical, self-reflecting practice

WHY MAKE AN ACTION RESEARCH?WHY MAKE AN ACTION RESEARCH?

REFLECTION

Latin “reflectere” : to bend back

- Involves “shuttling back and forth between thinking and action”

Reflect Reflect

◦ Think about what we want to focus on

Plan Plan ◦ – Plan what to do

Act Act ◦ – Carry out plan, collect

evidence

Observe Observe – Observe, monitor and record

ReflectReflect – Reflect on what has happened

to improve further.

A professional development framework for teachersBased on Action Research.

Since Feb 2002

EXPLORE

PRACTICEPERFORM

PLAN

Quality Teaching &

Learning

EEnquirynquiry

RReflectioneflection

ProcessProductHabits

PEPP&ER process - improving the quality of teaching and learning

PLAN to improve the quality of teaching and learning

EXPLORE new and innovative strategies

PRACTICE – carry out the plan agreed upon

PERFORM – reflect on learning experiences and share findings

PEPP&ER is founded on Action Research Principles and practice

Teaching effectiveness – better understanding, grades, attitude towards learning, teaching materials and acquisition of the key competencies

Classroom management & discipline – better student behaviour (punctuality, reduced disruptions in class, better attention span)

Use of information technology - effective use of IT to deliver the content)

Curriculum innovation - interdisciplinary efforts using Pmodel or similar frameworks eg. PBL

Assessment methodologies - use of alternative assessment tools – student portfolios, checklists, peer assessment, student reflections

Development of students through CCA - leadership skills, self-esteem, personal development

Some Key Areas to Reflect on:

FORMAT?FORMAT?

THERE IS NO FIX FORMAT FOR AN ACTION RESEARCH, BUT THERE IS NO FIX FORMAT FOR AN ACTION RESEARCH, BUT THESE ARE THE SUGGESTED CONTENTS.THESE ARE THE SUGGESTED CONTENTS. ACTION RESEARCH PROPOSAL I. Title II. Proponent III. Respondents IV. Research Duration V. Rationale / Background of the study VI. Objectives

- General- Specific

VII. Methodology or Mechanics VIII. Budgetary Requirements IX. Budgetary Source

AbstractIntroduction

Statement of the ProblemReview of Related

Literature Statement of the HypothesisMethods

ParticipantsInstrumentsExperimental/Research DesignProcedure

ResultsDiscussionImplications Donato, 2012. Proper Conduct of Action

Research, Investigatory Projects and Use of ICT in Teaching Scientific Research

1. TITLE Should not exceed 14 words. Make it specific and exact.

2. PROPONENT - Full name (First Name, M.I., Last Name)

3. RESPONDENTS Be specific: section, grade /year level

4. RESEARCH DURATION Date of start to date of expected finish. Include what semester and school year .

5. RATIONALE OR BACKGROUND A statistical background as baseline of your proposal is enough to justify the proposal. - Always use third person in your write-up

6. OBJECTIVES May be presented - cognitive, affective, psychomotor. - may be stated in the declarative. E.g.: To determine the level of … - or interrogative: e.g.: What is the level of …

7. METHODOLOGY / MECHANICS - Discuss Strategies or techniques to be used. - May be stated in a narrative form or presented through a

tabulated matrix. - Include data gathering procedure, mention your data

gathering tool: e.g. documentary analysis, a questionnaire., interview guide.

- In making questionnaire, avoid placing None of the above or all of the above as one of your selections.

- Do statistics if needed and include what sampling method is used etc.

8. BUDGETARY REQUIREMENTS - Identify budget estimate ( to determine if feasible or

reasonable) - Itemize expenses: e.g. materials, transportation etc.

9. BUDGETARY SOURCE - Example Personal Expense

Research Research Design Design

Descriptive Research

Quasi-Experimental Research

Statistical Analysis

When, Who and How will When, Who and How will your proposal be approved?your proposal be approved?

Step 1-Proponent Conceptualizes a research title to the proposed action research and submits to department head (for high school) and principal (for elementary).Step 2- High school : Department Head-Elementary : Principal** Evaluate, comments and recommends suggestions for improvement.-Proponent: incoprorates suggestionsStep 3 High school – principal and Elementary – PSDS** Reviews , comments, suggests and approves research proposal.Proponents: incoporates suggestion if there areStep 4Proponent submits final copy to DO.Education supervisor in - charge – further reviews and evaluates/ initialsStep 5- -Schools Division Superintendent notes the proposal. Step 6-Proponent may proceed.

HEADING

DATE

SDS – Name and office address

MADAM:

Identifying information. Purpose of letter: do not forget research title.

Very truly yoursRESEARCHER

COVER LETTERCOVER LETTER

Take Note: (High School)

Recommending Approval:Head Teacher (Department head)

Approved:School Principal

Noted:SDS

SDS for NOTATION

Procedures In the Approval of Research Proposal

Step 3: FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS

Step 1-Gather your data – following your matrix or Methodology.- Administer data gathering instrument

Step 2: RESULTS and DISCUSSIONS - Statistical treatments if needed.

After the Approval of the ACTION RESEARCH Proposal

Step 4: RECOMMENDATIONS

Step 5: BIBLIOGRAPHY- APA Format should be followed-..\research format and style.pptx

Step 6- compile from title to Bibliography. Make a Letter (follow format of approval letter) informing your final submission. Same signatories.

Pretest data gathering instrument

Administer gathering instrument after improving pursuant to results of pretest

Treatment of data gathered (statistical treatment if needed)

Results and Findings

Conclusions and Recommendations

"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

Products of Action Research: Teachers’ Products of Action Research: Teachers’ Professional KnowledgeProfessional Knowledge

Thank you!Thank you!