PRACTICE MAKES RESEARCHSean Yee

Assistant Professor California State University

Sohayla LajevardiMathematics Teacher

Culver City High School

Gilbert HernandezMathematics Teacher

Los Alisos Middle School

Layout

25 Minutes: Action Research and Practice25 Minutes: Sohayla Lajevardi25 Minutes: Gilbert Hernandez

15 Minutes: Roundtable Questions

What is Action Research?

“Action research is a form of investigation designed for use by teachers to

attempt to solve problems and improve professional practices in their own

classrooms” (Parsons & Brown 2002)

Common Myths

Addressing the Myths

I already know it works!

Define “works”

• For whom? For all your students? All classes?

• When?

• What if parents attack you on your method?

You want me to do MORE?!

Yep…

• If you do…• Master’s degree• National Board Certified Teacher• Present at Conferences• Be a Rock Star with Administration

Are children lab rats?

Nope…

• Strict IRB requirements.• Consent forms from

– Principal/Super Intendant– Students– Parents

How is this useful?

Good Question!

Research Literature

Teaching

Also…• Parental Attacks on your Curriculum

• Parental Encouragement with your Curriculum

Isn’t this just for the Ivory Tower?

Mathematics Education is Changing

• Keeping our jobs as professors has changed in Mathematics Education.

• We can’t publish theories in Mathematics Education without practice and evidence.

• My action research paper taught me to care.

What can and can’t research do?

• Jame Hiebert (1999) explained how research relates to NCTM Standards, and the same holds with CCSS.

Research Cannot…

• Determine standards for teaching.• Determine “best” teaching practices• Create new ideas• State whether CCSS is “good” or “bad” for

teaching.

Research Can…

• Influence the nature of standards• Document current situations• Document effectiveness of new ideas• Suggest explanations for success and failure

YOUR TURN(10 minutes)

Think Pair Share:

Your Research Question:_______________How would you figure this out?_________ How would you share your results?______

Action Research Design

• 5 Chapters1. Introduction2. Literature Review3. Method4. Results5. Conclusion

Let’s hear from Gilbert

Let’s hear from Sohayla

Questions? Answers?

Thank You!

Sean Yeesyee@fullerton.edu

Gilbert Hernandezgilmh20@csu.fullerton.edu

Sohayla Lajevardisohaylalajevardi@ccusd.org