Transcript Action Research - George Mason University

Action Research
Modified from Leo Rigsby
George Mason University
How is Action Research Defined?
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Action Research is a three step spiral process of
(1) planning which involves reconnaissance; (2)
taking actions; and (3) fact-finding about the
results of the action (Kurt Lewin, 1947).
Action Research is the process by which
practitioners attempt to study their problems
scientifically in order to guide, correct, and
evaluate their decisions and actions (Stephen
Corey, 1953).
ASSESS Need for Change or an
Action
Reflect on the situation or context
 Discuss with colleagues
 Read the professional literature
 Challenge your own assumptions
 Formulate some guesses or hunches
about the phenomenon
 Decide on a first step – make a plan
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Implement the Change or Action
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What evidence would convince you that you
have met your goal?
Decide what steps you need to take to produce
the desired change – trial and error with
warrants
Implement the plan
Collect evidence on effects of the intervention
Study the Results
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Reflect on the evidence you are collecting
Share the evidence with colleagues
Try to fit the data to different explanations
Revisit your assumptions about the learners and
the learning situation
Formulate a trial explanation
Develop an argument with evidence, claims, and
warrants
Rethink the need, the change, and
the results
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Does the evidence support your claims?
Do you have strong warrants?
Do your colleagues find your arguments
credible?
How does the argument fit into ongoing debates
and conversations?
What is unique about your setting or context?
Will others find your argument useful and
appealing?
On What do You Focus Action
Research?
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A problem from your classroom?
A puzzle or dilemma about the learning of a
particular student or group of students
A question you have about your teaching
A situation that has arisen in your classroom
How to develop and support particular learning
qualities
Defining Action Research Problems
TFQ = Teacher’s first question or puzzle
 ARV = Action Research Version of this
question
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“The people who do the work in classrooms are generally consumed by the
day-to-day rhythms of preparing, teaching, assessing students, and so on.
Rarely are they drawn to public examinations of the knowledge that underlies
their actions.” Donald Freeman (2000)
Telling Teaching
Donald Freeman
Telling Teaching involves 3 things:
1. Examining what is going on in your
classroom
2. Questioning why it happens as it does
3. Assessing how your teaching is
suiting that learning
Questioning
Examine what is going on in a lesson or
activity
 How are things playing out
 How do students respond to what you do
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Conclusions
Questioning, probing, assembling
information, and acting is about building,
“constructing” knowledge from experience.
Then you integrate that back into the
experience.