Transcript October 29, 2014 PowerPoint Dr. Bobbie Jo Monahan

Professional Development
Action Research
October 29, 2014
Goals of Presentation:
Understand Action Research
Be inspired and motivated to do Action
Research
What is Research???
“Wonderings”
Wonder is the foundation for formulating a researchable question based on
issues, tensions, problems, or dilemmas experienced by the teacher. (Dana,
2013, p. 10)
“Wonderings” Activity
Take 3 minutes and write down one wondering…
Rarely does any teacher researcher eloquently state his or her wondering
immediately. It takes time, brainstorming, and actually ‘playing’ with the
question . . . By playing with the wording of the wondering, teachers often
fine-tune and discover more detail about the subject they are really
passionate about understanding. (Dana & Yendol-Silva, 2009, pp. 57-58)
Now, take your wondering and apply it to
the Wondering Litmus Test.
Question 1: Is your wondering something
you are passionate about exploring?
Question 2: Is your wondering focused on
student learning?
Question 3: Is your wondering a real
question (a question whose answer is not
known)?
Question 4: Is the wondering focused on
your practice?
Question 5: Is your wondering phrased as
dichotomous (yes/no) question?
Questions…
“Wondering” ideas:
Perhaps a particular learner or group of learners is/are…
-struggling with the content you are teaching.
-not behaving in ways that are conducive to your classroom
environment.
-advanced academically and have already mastered the curriculum
you are charged with teaching this year.
-coming to school hungry, without basic health care.
Question 1: Is your wondering something
you are passionate about exploring?
Example:
How does one create a student-driven
versus teacher-driven afterschool session?
Question 2: Is your wondering focused on
student learning?
Example:
In what ways will implementing a minilesson series on organization with three
first0grade special-needs students impact
the quality of the work they are able to
produce throughout the school day?
Question 3: Is your wondering a real
question (a question whose answer is not
known)?
Example:
How do my struggling readers experience
reading time in my third-grade classroom?
Question 4: Is the wondering focused on your
practice?
Example:
What strategies can I incorporate as a virtual
school teacher to support my Spanish II
students who have fallen significantly behind
the pacing schedule and/or have logged into
the class infrequently?
Question 5: Is your wondering phrased as
dichotomous (yes/no) question?
Example:
What is the relationship between
teachers’ analysis of ISTEP+ data and
changes they make to their reading
practice?
Thank you!
Contact me if you have questions and/or
want to share your wondering stories
with me!
Bobbie Jo Monahan, Ph. D.
[email protected]
Dana, N. F. (2013). Digging deeper into action
research: A teacher Inquirer’s Field Guide.
Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.