REVISITING THE PROFESSIONAL

DEVELOPMENT GOALS: A PRACTICAL LOOK

INTO ACTION RESEARCH

Yeni Jiménez

OBJECTIVES Define where you stand in terms of

action research

Explore a research issue by implementing a collaborative approach to research

Set the path to follow

AEP PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

•Attending conferences

•Writing book reports

•Takingonline courses

•Writing papers

What it

meant

•Empowering teachers

• Developing a reflecting attitude

•Systematizing teachers inquiry

What it

means Ongoing profesionalization of teachers

Where we are headin

g

Isolated efforts systemati

c approach

Institutional consolidatio

n

WHY ADOPTING ACTION RESEARCH AS A GOAL? "[We] become reflective researchers in

situations of uncertainty, instability, uniqueness, and conflict.Donald Schön (The Reflective Practitioner. 1983, Jossey-Bass Publishers)

Built into action research is the proviso that, if as a teacher I am dissatisfied with what is already going on, I will have the confidence and resolution to attempt to change it. I will not be content with the status quo...Jean McNiff, Action Research, Principles and Practice, McNiff,1988, 52

ACTION RESEARCH CONCEPT EXPLORATION

What is your conception of action research according to what you found?

Do you think it is relevant to your professional life? Why? How?

BENEFITS OF ACTION RESEARCH What do you think the benefits of Action

Research are ?

ACTION RESEARCH… Professionalizes the work of educators

because it puts them in charge of improving their practice and their professional development.

Encourages educators to work collaboratively.

Gives educators a voice in the field, allowing them to disseminate their findings so others can learn from their experiences.

Encourages educators to rethink the ways they evaluate their work and the work of students.

ACTION RESEARCH… Provides educators with rich sources of data

that can be used to improve classrooms and can ultimately lead to school improvement.

Revitalizes educators’ professional lives because it makes work exciting, fun, interesing and rewarding.

Allows educators to develop the ability to articulate the choices they make and the methods they use, even if those methods are challenged.

Helps educators get to know students, both academically and personally.

(Hendricks, 2006:12)

ACTION RESEARCH PROCESS

Reflect

Act

Evaluate

Reflect

Act

Evaluate

Hendricks, C. (2006) Improving Schools Through Action Research. A comprehensive guide for educators. Pearson Longman. US. p. 9

WHERE DO YOU STAND IN REGARDS TO ACTION RESEARCH? How would you rate yourself in these four

aspects?Use a continuum from 1 to 5 where 1 = very poor; 2 = poor; 3 = acceptable; 4 = high; 5 = very high

ASPECT Understanding of the concept?Familiarity with the process steps?Awareness on its value?Willingness to conduct action research?

Highest percentage

90% 575% 489% 478% 2

A PRACTICAL EXERCISE IN COOPERATIVE DEVELOPMENT 1. What is your concern?2. Why are you concerned?3. What do you think you could do about it?4. What kind of evidence could you collect to help you make some

kind of judgment about what is happening?5. How would you collect such evidence?6. How would you check that you judgment about what has

happened is reasonably fair and accurate?,Barret and Whitehead, 1985, quoted in Action Research, Principles and Practice, McNiff, 1988, 57

Reflect

Act

Evaluate

Reflect

Act

Evaluate

WHERE ARE YOU GOING? How far along are you? Set a realistic goal keeping in

mind the product:+ Area of inquiry definition along

with the justification.+ Project proposal defining

outcome and process you attempt to follow

+ Theoretical sources you plan to or have consulted

+ Any other advances

DEADLINES Plan of Action

October 4th (mail) Final products November 2nd Performance Plan Evaluation

November 8th -19th (individual meetings)

REFERENCES Hendricks, C. (2006) Improving Schools

Through Action Research. A comprehensive guide for educators. Pearson Longman. US. p. 9

Mills, G. (2003) Action Research. A Guide for the teacher researcher. 2nd Ed. New Jersey. US. p. ix

FOR FURTHER READING… New Directions in Action Research

Ortrun Zuber-Skerritt (Ed.)

Action Research: A Guide for the Teacher ResearcherGeorffrey E. Mills

The Mindful School: How to Assess Thoughtful OutcomesKay Burke

Living the Questions: A Guide for Teacher ResearchersRuth Shagoury Hubbard & Brenda Miller Power

I HOPE THIS WAS HELPFUL!GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR PROCESS!WE’LL BE TALKING!