Action
Research is:
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a methodical evaluation of topics or
issues about teaching practice and student performance.
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research-based, data-driven, and
focused on student learning.
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a structure for determining areas of
focus for research, for gathering data, and for writing
summary reports that describe observations and findings.
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talked about and shared with students
and colleagues.
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Examples:
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Individual Teacher
Research — Involves one teacher and an
individual or group of students
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Example: Examination of
the impact of a change in teaching
strategies or learning environment on
students learning.
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Collaborative Research
— Involves two or more teachers in one
or more classrooms.
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Example: Development
and assessment of strategies designed to
increase reading/writing scores for a
particular group of students.
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School-wide Research
— Involves whole school faculty in
instructional improvement centered on the
needs of students.
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Example: Evaluation of
a student advisory program as a potential
solution to student discipline issues.
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District-wide Research
— Involves groups of faculty throughout
the district in inter-school research
impacting student learning district-wide.
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Underlying
Assumptions:
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Some of the most
valuable classroom research begins with
small questions, with the wonderings of
individual teachers as they engage in
day-to-day work with their students.
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The knowledge and
skills of actually performing research
are not a prerequisite and can be
developed.
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Teachers are
motivated to use more effective practices
when they are continuous investigating
the results of their actions in the
classroom. (Loucks-Horsley, 1998)
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Action Research has
the potential to generate genuine and
sustained improvements in schools.
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Instructions for Application and Registrations |
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Download
the Application Packet
(Adobe Acrobat format) |
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Fill
out On-Line Application Form |
