Created by Dr. Diane Anttila

 Recap - How Did We Get Here?  The Definition of Action Research  The Purpose of Action Research  The Pros and Cons of Action Research  Next Steps – Where Do We Go?

 Unit 1 Discussion Board  Unit 2 Discussion Board  Unit 2 Group Assignment – Research Analysis  Unit 3 Assignment – Research Question and Area of Focus, posted to the wiki  Unit 3 Activity – Abstracting Sources, posted to the wiki (not graded)

 Unit 3 Assignment – Research Question and Area of Focus 1. Is your area of focus an issue that: involves your teaching/learning and focuses on your own practice? is within your locus of control? you feel passionate about? you’d like to change or improve? 2. Explain the research approach 3. Identify question or problem

 Unit 3 Assignment – Research Question and Area of Focus 1. Area of Focus (samples p. 495) An area of focus statement identifies the purpose of your study. The purpose of this study is to describe the effects of student-led conferences on parent and student satisfaction with the conferencing process. Gay, L. R., Mills, G. E., Airasian, P. (2009). Introduction to educational research. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education. Inc.

 Unit 3 Assignment – Research Question and Area of Focus 3. Identify question or problem How does incorporating math manipulatives into problem-solving activities affect student performance on open-ended problem-solving tests? How do students incorporate problem- solving skills into other curriculum areas? Gay, L. R., Mills, G. E., Airasian, P. (2009). Introduction to educational research. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education. Inc.

Author Date Publication Key Points: APA citation: Article 1 title: Found in Doc Sharing – Lit Review Matrix Unit 3 Activity – Abstracting Sources

 Definition  Action research in education is any systematic inquiry conducted by teachers, principals, school counselors, or other stake- holders in the teaching-learning environment to gather information about the ways in which their particular schools operate the teachers teach, and the students learn. Gay, L. R., Mills, G. E., Airasian, P. (2009). Introduction to educational research. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education. Inc.

 Purpose  The purpose of action research is to provide teacher-researchers with a method for solving everyday problems in their own settings.  The primary goal is the solution of a given problem, not contribution to science. Gay, L. R., Mills, G. E., Airasian, P. (2009). Introduction to educational research. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education. Inc.

 Pros of Action Research  The teacher is very much a part of the process.  Can be conducted in one classroom or several.  A scientific approach to problem solving that is considerably better than change based on the alleged effectiveness of untried procedures and infinitely better than no change at all.  Provides “immediate” answers to problems that cannot wait for theoretical solutions.  Can utilize qualitative and quantitative methods. Gay, L. R., Mills, G. E., Airasian, P. (2009). Introduction to educational research. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education. Inc.

 Pros of Action Research  Action research is persuasive and authoritative  Action research is relevant  Action research is accessible  Action research challenges the intractability of reform of the educational system  Action research is not a fad  Done by teachers for themselves; not imposed on them by someone else Gay, L. R., Mills, G. E., Airasian, P. (2009). Introduction to educational research. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education. Inc.

 Pros of Action Research  Building reflective practitioners  Building professional cultures  Professionalizing teaching  Enhancing teacher motivation and efficacy  Meeting the needs of a diverse student body  Achieving success in a standards-based system Sagor, R. (2000). Guiding school improvement with action research. Alexandria, Virginia: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

 Our Pros of Action Research  Action research is…

 Cons of Action Research  Valuable primarily to those conducting it.  Study results cannot be applied to other settings.  The value to scientific progress is limited.  Research is hard work!  The work is difficult and can be quite draining at times (apart verses a part) Gay, L. R., Mills, G. E., Airasian, P. (2009). Introduction to educational research. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education. Inc. Dana, N. F. & Yendol-Hoppey, D. (2009). The reflective educator’s guide to classroom research. Thousand Oaks, California: Corwin Press.

 Our Cons of Action Research  Action research is …

 In Unit 5, you will create a Literature Review Presentation with information from five articles, worth 100 points.  Please refer to the “Literature Review Template” posted in Doc Sharing for the templates of PowerPoint slides to be used.  See the Literature Review Presentation rubric under the “Course Home” tab.

 Also in Unit 5, you will submit your Article Critique, worth 70 points.  Read the article “Let’s Talk: Discussions in a Biology Classroom: An Action Research Project,” found on pp of your text.  Review the article using the questions listed in the directions for this assignment.  See the rubric for the Article Critique assignment under the “Course Home” tab.

 In Unit 6, you will create an Action Research Plan Draft worth 50 points.  Please refer to the “Action Research Plan template” posted in Doc Sharing for more specific information.  See the Action Research Plan Draft rubric under the “Course Home” tab.

 Unit 6 Assignment - ARP Draft 1. Introduction  Area of focus statement  Define variables  Describe intervention  Describe negotiations  Describe timeline Context (membership of group) Research Questions (minimum of three)

 Unit 6 Assignment - ARP Draft 2. Theoretical Framework (Literature Review— min. of five articles). Write a brief summary that ties the literature review to your:  Area of focus  Variables  Research questions  Changes in teaching practice 3. Changes in My Teaching Practice (min. of four)

 Recap - How Did We Get Here?  The Definition of Action Research  The Purpose of Action Research  The Pros and Cons of Action Research  Next Steps – Where Do We Go?

 Unit 7 Seminar  Wednesday, June 23 at 7:00PM EST  Discussion topic – Triangulation of Data

 Dr. Diane Anttila   (914)  Office Hours Tuesdays from 7:00-8:00AM EST in the Resource Center Thursdays from 2:00-3:00PM EST in our course Chat Room as well as AIM (docdanttila)