What is Action Research

What is Action Research

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  LIB 600 Librariesand Education 2014 What is Action Research?
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  A succinct definitionof action research That definition states that action research • is a disciplined process of inquiry conducted by and for those taking the action. The primary reason for engaging in action research is to assist the “actor” in improving and/or refining his or her actions. • From Guiding School Improvement with Action Research by Richard Sagor (ASCD Premium Member Book, May 2000). 2 What is Action Research?
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  What is ActionResearch? According to the North Central Regional Educational Laboratory, • “Action research is inquiry or research in the context of focused efforts to improve the quality of an organization and its performance. It typically is designed and conducted by practitioners who analyze the data to improve their own practice. Action research can be done by individuals or by teams of colleagues. The team approach is called collaborative inquiry.” • See also PowerPoint on Action Research by Leo Rigsby, IET, George Mason University 3 Another definition
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  What is ActionResearch? Action Research is a process in which participants examine their own educational practice systematically and carefully using the techniques of research. It is based on the following assumptions: • teachers and principals work best on problems they have identified for themselves; • teachers and principals become more effective when encouraged to examine and assess their own work and then consider ways of working differently; • teachers and principals help each other by working collaboratively; • working with colleagues helps teachers and principals in their professional development. • Heidi Watts, Antioch Graduate School 4 Put another way
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  5 Key elementsof action research? http://www.schoollibrarymonthly.com/articles/Callison2007-v23n10p40.html
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  6 Some otherdefinitions http://www.nctm.org/uploadedFiles/Lessons_and_Resources/Grants_and_Awards/How%20is%20Action %20Research%20Defined(1).pdf
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  7 The actionresearch cycle Action Research Cycle
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  8 Step 1Problem Identification http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/aSGuest140058-1480247-action-research/
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  Develop an actionplan • Will you develop and implement a new strategy or approach to address your question? If so, what will it be? • Will you focus your study on existing practices? If so, which particular ones? • What is an appropriate timeline for what you are trying to accomplish? • Five Phases of Action Research 9 Step 2 Proposing a solution
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  Action! Act toimplement the plan 10 Step 3 Try out the solution Try out solution
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  Record your evidence! 11 Step 4 Gather data https://prezi.com/lrkmaw4ep_mm/data-collection-tools-used-in- action-research/
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  Number crunching? Notjust numbers! • Data analysis involves examination of the data in order to answer your questions. To prepare, you will want to make sure all your data are on paper, and you will probably want to read everything over at least once. If you have asked more than one question, you will want to sort the data according to question. And you may want to discard (or at least set aside) data that do not directly relate to the questions you have posed. 12 Step 5 Analyze data Research to Practice: Guidelines for Planning Action Research Projects
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  Synthesis and explanation 13 Step 6 Report
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  Reflect and startover again! 14 Next Step(s)? Rinse & Repeat! Rinse & Repeat as needed! • From what I now understand about action research, it is merely working to improve an individual’s skill set through a process of inquiry, implementation and reflection and repeating as necessary. The old lather, rinse and repeat routine put to a more formal setting. • Action Research - EDLD 5301 Blog post Tuesday, January 24, 2012 by Michael Tomberlin
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  Some have moresteps, some less 15 Action research cycles vary! An action research approach to curriculum development Information Research, Vol. 1 No. 1, April 1995 Project ACTIVate: Innovations from New Zealand Professional Learning and Leadership Development: Action research
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  16 Copyright 2009