Action Research in Graduate Teacher Education Programs

1. Action Research in Graduate Teacher Education Programs Bonita Friend Williams Paulina Kuforiji Bonita Flournoy Columbus State University 17th Georgia Conference On College & University Teaching Kennesaw, Georgia February 12, 2010

2. Concern about Reforms in Schools Lingering achievement gaps Need for teachers who believe that change can occur (action research) Development of teacher leaders who use inquiry processes and are supported Challenge of curriculum mandate

3. Action Research Contextualized, systematic, localized, and aimed at developing changes in practice and student learning (Mills, 2003; Wallace, 2000). Fundamental components include: developing a plan for improvement implementing the plan observing and documenting its effects reflecting on effects for further planning and informed action (Kemmis & McTaggert, 1988).

4. Course Goals Empowering teachers as researchers Increasing teacher leadership capacity Learning action research process and skills Using action research to enhance student achievement Engaging in reflection for planning Sharing research findings with the community of practice beyond the capstone class

5. Culminating Forum In 1998, faculty from several programs in the Department of Teacher Education designed an alternative to the Master of Education Program Exit Examination. Seeking a more authentic and flexible capstone experience, the faculty provided an opportunity for degree candidates to design and conduct research- based projects in their classrooms to systematically investigate the effectiveness of their teaching. The Department of Teacher Education Graduate Symposium is scheduled each fall and spring as a professional venue to share the inquiries and investigations completed by graduate degree candidates.

6. Culminating Forum The goal of the Professional Symposium sponsored by the College of Education Department of Teacher Education is to produce reflective educators who will make a contribution through research to local school systems and to the larger educational community.

7. Columbus State University Graduate Capstone Research Courses: Teacher Inquiry and Investigation - EDCI 6255 Capstone Research Project - EDUT 6999 Leadership in Curriculum Change - EDCI 7158 Text: Action Research: A Guide for the Teacher Researcher, by G. E. Mills, 2003 (to guide action research projects)

8. Course Participants Sample Groups of varying backgrounds starting in Spring 2005 Master’s and Specialist candidates in middle and secondary grades covering Mathematics, Reading, Science, Social Studies, English Language-Arts, School Library Media and Instructional Technology Teaching experience from 0-31 years Interchange enriches faculty, students and community.

9. The Action Research Process

10. The Action Research Process • Permission to conduct research • School District Permission • Building Level Permission • Individual Parental / Student Consent • CSU -IRB – Human Subjects Committee

11. The Action Research Process Personal interest, Importance, Time, Difficulty, Monetary costs, Research ethics Identifying a topic Preliminary consideration Limiting a topic Focus on who, what, when, where, and how Planning for Action Research Gathering preliminary information Reconnaissance Self-reflection, Description, Explanation Examination of Journal articles, books, and other sources related to action research project Purpose is to inform and guide decisions necessary in planning research Reviewing related Literature Primary sources Journal articles, Monographs, Papers presented at conferences Secondary sources Reviews of research Summaries or analyses

12. The Action Research Process Action Research Proposal Worksheet 1. Tentative Title of your Project: 2. Describe the research problem or topic. 3. What kind of documentation do you have of the problem or issue? 4. Describe your “experiment”, or intervention. 5. Describe your assessment. What kind(s) of assessment information are you going to collect to measure the outcomes of your “experiment”? FULL TEXT

13. The Action Research Process Literature Review Matrix Data Source Triangulation Matrix

14. The Action Research Process

15. TRIANGULATION MATRIX ---------DATA SOURCES--------

16. The Action Research Process Observation • Characteristics • Accuracy • Credibility • Dependency Interviews Qualitative data collection techniques Journals Existing documents and records Collecting Data Surveys, Questionnaires and rating scales Quantitative data collection techniques • Characteristics • Validity • Reliability Checklist Tests and other formal instruments

17. The Action Research Process Local presentations Professional conferences Sharing and Reflection Communicating the results of action research Academic journals Electronic dissemination

18. Teacher Action Research Projects Sample Projects included: “The Effects of Writing in Mathematics: Do 5th Grade Students Achieve Higher Scores on Multiple Choice Math Tests or Open-ended Math Tests?” Gender Issues: Short Changes in the Science Curriculum The Effect of Structured Heuristics on Invention in Student Writing

19. Action Research PaperEvaluation Rubric Paper Evaluation Rubric

20. Oral Presentation Rubric - Content Content Rubric

21. Oral Presentation Rubric - Delivery

22. Phase II : Steps to Action Chart

23. Impact and What’s Next for the Teachers? Students’ Reflection Videos

24. Impact and What’s Next for the Teachers? Students’ Reflection Videos

25. Impact and What’s Next for the Teachers? Students’ Reflection Videos

26. Impact and What’s Next for the Teachers? Students’ Reflection Videos

27. Impact and What’s Next for the Teachers? Students’ Reflection Videos

28. Research Questions What are the effects of graduate action research courses on preparing teacher researchers and leaders? What are the impacts of a state funded action research initiative?

29. Action Research website http://racc.colstate.edu/Research.htm

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31. References Johnson, A. (2009). What every teacher should know about action research. Columbus, OH: Allyn & Bacon Johnson, A. (2008). A short guide to action research. Columbus, OH: Allyn & Bacon Mertler, C. (2009). Action Research – Teachers as researchers in the classroom. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publication, Inc. Mills, G. Action Research: A guide for the teacher researcher. Columbus, OH: Prentice Hall Kemmis, S., & McTaggart, R. (Eds.) (1988). The Action Research Planner. Melbourne: Deakin University. Wallace, M. J. (2000). Action research for language teachers. New York: Cambridge University Press.