Innovative Teaching Through Action Research

Oct 5, 2024

Lecture on Teaching as a Craft and Action Research

Teaching as a Craft

  • Teaching combines both art and science.
  • Great teachers experiment and make mistakes.
  • Important to understand what methods are effective in teaching.

Action Research

  • A method to determine what works in teaching.
  • Involves identifying a question, testing a strategy, gathering data, and analyzing the results.
  • Results in dynamic, innovative outcomes directly tied to the classroom.
  • Breaks down the barrier between participants and researchers:
    • Teacher is both participant and researcher.

Action Research Frameworks

  • Generally follow a similar process:

Phase One: Planning for Research

  1. Inquiry
    • Define a specific research question that is testable.
  2. Literature Review
    • Gain a deeper understanding of the topic.
  3. Design Process
    • Determine data collection methods.
    • Consider ethical issues.
    • Obtain necessary permissions.
    • Set deadlines and establish systems.

Action Phase

  • Engage in cycles of experimentation and data collection.
  • Data Collection Methods
    • Qualitative Data: Observations, artifacts, interviews.
    • Quantitative Data: Rubric scores, surveys, achievement data.

Analysis

  • Organize data using charts, graphs.
  • Look for trends.
  • Discuss findings with peers.
  • Methods for analysis can include:
    • Free writing in journals.
    • Creating cluster maps.
    • Writing out results.

Conclusion

  • Share research findings with the broader community.
  • Reflect on personal teaching practice.
  • Leads to new questions and continues the action research cycle.
  • Aims to refine teaching skills for better, more creative outcomes.