Getting started with action research with Dr Chris Smith and Chrissi Nerantzi

Getting started with Action Research

Chris & Chrissi

http://introtoactionresearch.blogspot.co.uk Chrissi Nerantzi Dr Chris Smith

Workshop plan

• Sharing understanding • Introduction to Action Research methodology and

methods • Linking to your own practice and context • Getting started on an Action Research project with

your new critical friend • Questions

Chrissi

Task 1 Start by reflecting on your recent teaching practice Is there something that troubles you or you want to improve? Formulate the issue into a brief question to capture its key aspects Write your question on a post-it note Swap with your neighbour What could you do about it? Discuss possible options with others

Chrissi

Chrissi

Methodology

Action research is a form of self-reflective enquiry undertaken by participants in social situations in order to improve the rationality and justice of their own social or educational practices, their understanding of these practices, and the situations (and institutions) in which these practices are carried out

Carr & Kemmis, 1986

Kurt Lewin father of Action Research

Chris

Characteristics of Action Research

• social practice

• aimed towards improvement

• cyclical

• systematic enquiry

• reflective

• participative

• determined by the practitioners

Chrissi

Identifying a general or initial idea

Reconnaissance or fact-finding

Planning

Take first action step

Evaluate

Amend plan

Take second action step

Evaluate

Lewin’s Action Research

spiral

Chris

plan

act observe

reflect

plan

act observe

reflect

Chrissi

Reflective practice Reflective enquiry

Donald Schön reflection-on-action • to consider practices undertaken retrospectively, in order to uncover the

knowledge used in a particular situation reflection-in-action • to think and theorise about practice while actually doing it Leads to knowing rooted in experience Creating new practical knowledge eg in communities of enquiry Action Research is research in practice Action Researcher is part of the research

Chris

Potential benefits of Action Research

• Carry out enquiry into own practice to enhance the learning experience

• Opportunity to analyse and better understand own practice

• Get feedback from students and colleagues of a change

• Solve practical problems • Evaluate ongoing changes • Strengthening interest in teaching

and learning • Actively engage in continuing

professional development • Establish professional

relationships with colleagues, participate in a community of enquiry

Chrissi

Data collection instruments

qualitative vs quantitative

• survey • interview • observation • reflection • focus group • Drawings • LEGO® Serious Play® • models • ...

Chris & Chrissi

• informed consent • privacy and

confidentiality • protection from

harm

Ethical implications

British Educational Research Association (BERA) http://www.bera.ac.uk/ BERA Ethical guidelines for Educational Research 2011

Chris

Action Research template

Title

Focus

Research questions Your intervention

Participants Timeline

Literature

Resources Method(s)

Ethical approval Critical friend

Chris

RUFDATA

• Reasons

• Uses

• Foci

• Data

• Audience

• Timing

• Agency

Planning to engage in Action Research

• reflect on your practice and identify an idea for action research

• share your idea with others around the table

• identify and pair up with a critical friend

• get to know each other, share contact details

• identify how you will communicate and support each other Chrissi

Areas of contest around AR

• Confusion around methodology when there are also political issues

• Context-dependent insights are probably not generalisable • Context itself is not straightforward and can be complex and value-

laden • Drawing upon what might be perceived as a fuzzy theoretic base

eg phenomenology • Skills and know-how for research and evaluation • Participation as subjective? • Can be an uncomfortable experience • Implies change which can be challenged/resisted

Chris

Disseminating Action Research

Why?

• sharing good practice

• influencing change

• establishing research track record

• gaining recognition

How?

• case studies collection

• events, conferences

• mentoring and coaching

• teacher initial and continuous development

• publications (articles, papers in journals)

• seek funding

Chrissi

open up your practice

Questions

References • Carr, W. & Kemmis, S. (1986) Becoming Critical.

Education, knowledge and action research, Lewes: Falmer.

• Lewin, K. (1946) Action research and minority problems, in G.W. Lewin (Ed.) Resolving SocialConflicts. NewYork: Harper &Row

• Norton, L. S. (2009) Action Research in Teaching & Learning. A practical guide to conducting pedagogical research in univesities, Oxon: Routledge.

contact us

• Chris Smith

[email protected]

• Chrissi Nerantzi [email protected]

http://introtoactionresearch.blogspot.co.uk