Dr. Deanna Sellnow University of Kentucky January 6, 2010
Introductions Action Research in a Nutshell Step by step process to … prepare your proposal Wrap up and Evaluations
2. One thing you enjoy about teaching at NWIC 3. One challenge in teaching students at NWIC
Goal: to improve (change) how we address issues or problems via vigorous inquiry and reflection (research) (Lewin, 1946) Research Questions: Personal Organizational Societal (Reason & Bradbury, 2001)
GOAL: To improve how we teach (pedagogy) based on rigorous inquiry & reflection (research) WHY: To improve student learning TO DO SO: We must understand our students TO DO SO: We must understand our students Whats in a name? SOTL: Scholarship of Teaching and Learning Instructional Communication Educational Assessment Scholarship of Assessment
1.Identify an issue/problem/difficulty in the classroom (RQ). 2. Come up with a research-based strategy for addressing it. 3. Do it. 4. Assess it. 5. Complete the feedback loop. 6. Write it up!
Examples: Public speaking: anxiety/disclosure/gender bias online speech content Teacher training: international TAs isolation course consistency/integrity General: immediacy in online instruction unprepared students/dont read for class student commitment (relevance/value) student engagement
Consumer Orientation Entertainment Orientation Techno-literate Instant Gratification Self-Interested Cynical Stressed Intellectually disengaged Civility Issues Self-Efficacy Issues Negotiation College Students Today
Teaching-Centered Lecture, discussion (student-teacher, student-student, experiential Curriculum-Centered Course materials, supplements, topics, assignments Problem-based learning Environment-Centered Online, face to face, in-class, out of class
Public speaking: Anxiety=Speech of Personal Significance Online=online course Speech content=problem-based learning Teacher training: International TAs=BAT training Isolation=peer mentoring Course consistency/integrity=weekly meetings, intercoder training, test creation round robins General: Immediacy in online instruction= and emoticon training Unprepared students/dont read for class=quizzes, questions Student commitment (relevance/value)=service learning Student engagement=learning cycle lessons
Modify... Syllabus Lecture notes to lesson plans Assignments Assessment and evaluation tools
Evaluation Curriculum-Embedded Performance-based Cognitive, Affective, Behavioral Rubrics Methods Direct or indirect Qualitative or quantitative
Public speaking: Anxiety=Speech of Personal Sig-content analysis of speeches Online=online course=content analysis of speeches Speech content=problem-based learning=content analysis of speeches Teacher training: International TAs=BAT training=student and teacher questionnaires Isolation=peer mentoring=reflective papers and portfolios Course consistency/integrity=weekly meetings, intercoder training, test creation round robins=portfolios General: Immediacy in online instruction= and emoticon training=student surveys Unprepared students/dont read for class=quizzes, questions=student surveys Student commitment (relevance/value)=service learning=interviews, focus groups, content analysis of speeches, affective learning scale, content relevance scale Student engagement=learning cycle lessons=test scores, content analysis of speeches, TCEs
Reflect on what worked, etc. and modify syllabus and pedagogy
Build an argument for what you did (research based) Introduce RQ or H Describe the methods you used to assess its utility Clarify results Offer a discussion that presents conclusions, implications, limitations, and suggestions for future research
Argument: Speech anxiety is lower when people know each other but men dont like to disclose as much as women RQ: Is there an inherent gender bias in requiring a self disclosure speech? Methods: content analysis comparison of speeches and grades Results: Topics and subpoints differed, grades did not Discussion: Its ok as long as students are free to choose the topic and examples they actually disclose
Put the final touches on your proposals! Onward and upward! Questions/ideas/thoughts?