Transcript Slide 1
Implementing Values
through Community
Action Research
Dr Josephine Bleach
01-06-2011
Early Learning Initiative
Provides learning support
programmes, which enables
positive educational change in
the local community
Works collaboratively with
local educators to improve
teaching and learning
Uses community action
research
Vision
Each child in the Docklands will
achieve their full intellectual, emotional and physical
potential;
progress smoothly and happily through their early
years and schooling,
supported by responsive, sensitive and secure
relationships with the significant adults in their lives;
and
go on to further and higher education and become
active, responsible citizens.
Values
Community development - Bottom up rather than top down
Acknowledge, respect and utilise the expertise and
experience of others
Support learning journeys
Work in partnership with others
Inclusive
Based on good practice, both nationally and
internationally
Early Years
Parent Education: Toddler Groups,
Parenting Courses, Information
Sessions (149 people)
Continuous Professional
Development: Improve the quality
of teaching and learning; implement
Síolta and Aistear (513 people)
Parent Child Home Programme:
Develop children’s language, literacy
and numeracy skills and prepare
them to enter school ready to
succeed (60 families)
Stretch to Learn
Primary: Literacy, numeracy
and educational guidance
programmes, Awards, NCI
Challenges (1,239 people)
Secondary: Tuition Support,
Awards, Discover University
(216 people)
Third Level: Support for Third
level Students, Campus Connect
(14 people)
Community Action Research
Create a learning community that works together
to ‘nurture and sustain a knowledge-creating system’,
based on valuing equally each other and the following
three interacting domains of activity:
Research: a discipline approach to discovery and
understanding, with a commitment to share what is learned.
Capacity-building: enhancing people’s awareness and
capabilities, individually and collectively, to produce results
they truly care about.
Practice: people working together to achieve practical
outcomes.
(Senge and Scharmer 2001, 240)
Action Research Process
Doing Implementation
of Plans
Evaluation
Action
Plans
Review
Priorities &
Long-term/Strategic
Plans
Evaluation
Participant Observation
Feedback
Evaluation Forms
End of Year Reviews
observation forms, end-of-month
reports
–visits, meetings,
training days, events
– end of
every programme/training session
- June
Evaluation
Action Research aims to change
three things:
Practices or ‘doings’
Understanding of practice or
‘sayings’
Conditions of practice or
‘relatings’
(Kemmis 2009)
Findings
Over 2,000 people take part in various
programmes and events each year
95% (N=567) who filled out evaluation forms
found the programmes useful to their
practice
– Learning (N= 333)
– Social benefit (N= 240)
‘Brings the family and all the education
sections together, bonding links in the
community’
‘Fosters a learning environment where school
and home learning comes together’
Findings
Practice (Doings)
Assessment and planning for learning
Educational interactions with children
Learning environment
National policy (Síolta and Aistear)
People working together and learning from each other
Understanding of Practice (Sayings)
Core values – literacy and numeracy
Excitement about learning and books
Skills and knowledge required for educational success
Educational aspirations
Conditions of Practice (Relatings)
Partnership approach – listen, learn and act
Relationships improved
Problem-solving skills
Community Action Research
Shared statement of purpose
and a set of guiding principles
Collaborative projects that
focus on key change issues
Infrastructures that support
community building
(Senge and Scharmer 2001, 242)
Discussion
Common Purpose
–
–
–
–
First task – defined project
Reflection, discussion and best practice elsewhere
Change thinking and practice
Develop skills of enquiry
Collaborative Projects
–
–
–
Linked to common purpose
Excitement about education and learning
Build practical know-how
Infrastructure
Annual Plan
On-going reflection, discussion, sharing and acting
– Leadership
– Role boundaries
–
–
Conclusion
Evaluation
– ‘Independent scientific’ (Bamber et al 2010)
– Action research
Continuous Programme Development
– Meeting learning needs & system complexities
– Implemented
– Evaluation and monitoring structures
Community Building
– Sharing and creating knowledge
– Working together
Collective Vision
– Benchmark
– Direction and meaning
– Sense of commonality
Conclusion
Changed thinking
Enhanced capabilities and
skills
Improved practice
Increased educational capital
Developed a sense of
ownership and responsibility
Last Word!!
Watching my child reading and exploring colours, shapes,
looking so happy, wants us to read more to him. I never had
that as a child. I have actually learnt myself from the books. I
enjoy it too. Hope to get involved with the college when he
goes to primary school (Dad)
We are listened to by the ELI. They follow up on suggestions
and see them through. Our needs are addressed and ELI
keeps in contact with us. (Primary School Principal)
You tell them (ELI) about a project you want to do and they
row in behind you (Stakeholder)
Clearer understanding of the process. The importance of staff
reflection and more aware of when to give the child support
and how to facilitate the child’s needs (ECCE Manager)