Action Research

Which of the following best describes Action Research?

• The ability, drive, and disposition needed to regularly and systematically investigate personal teaching practices.

• The critical analysis of how action is portrayed within the comic book literary genre.

• An educational and pedagogical research method that aims to create knowledge and solve a problem at the same time.

• Cases in which external facilitators help teachers articulate concerns, plan actions, implement changes, and reflect on values.

What are the four phases of the Action Research cycle?

• Live, Laugh, Love

• Purpose, Hypothesis, Analysis, Conclusion

• Anticipatory Set, Modelling, Guided Practice, Closure

• Plan, Act, Observe, Reflect

True or False: Action Research promotes a Teachers-as-Technicians approach to professional practice.

• True

• False

Which kind of Action Research does NOT involve external facilitators?

• Emancipatory

• Practical

• Technical

What does it mean to be a critical pedagogue?

• Investigating our practices, questioning the systems in which we operate, and seeking constant improvement.

• Learning to give students constructive feedback on their work

• Partnering with classroom teachers to facilitate the implementation of the Action Research cycle

• Cultivating a relationship of trust with our colleagues to provide honest feedback on their practices

Lucas is placed in a sixth grade class. His students are very bright, but they become more and more disruptive as the afternoon goes on. He knows that they are sedentary throughout their day, and during recess they choose to sit and talk rather than play. He wants to launch an inquiry into how DPA might improve their focus, but his AT does not believe they should be taking instructional time away from other subjects.

What is the main challenge that Lucas is facing?

• Conflicting Demands

• Lack of Support

• Time Constraints

• Data Orientation

Kaitlyn is reading a research article about an early literacy intervention that took place in London, England. She is really excited about the potential of this strategy to get her students reading at a higher level. However, she notices that the student demographics reported in the paper do not match those found in her own classroom. She decides to develop her own strategy based on the academic and cultural backgrounds of her specific students.

What is the main benefit of Action Research on Kaitlyn's practice?

• Context-Specificity

• Data-Orientation

• Uncontrollable Variables

• Reflection

In the second year of her teacher education program, Daniela’s professor asks her to launch a math-related action research project in her practicum classroom. Daniela already has a lot going on this term, and she is noticing that her students are falling behind the provincial standard in reading fluency. However, she has no choice but to follow the assignment instructions, so she starts working on a math intervention.

What is the main challenge that Daniela is facing?

• Uncontrollable Variables

• Context-Specificity

• Conflicting Demands

• Time Constraints

Carolyn's PLC has decided to implement an inquiry-based approach to mathematics. All the teachers are so excited to try out this new learning strategy that they are already positive that it will work. Carolyn reminds the group of the importance of the "Observe" stage of the Inquiry Cycle, and she proposes a systematic approach to collecting evidence of student learning.

What is the main benefit of Action Research on Carolyn's practice?

• Reflection

• Context Specificity

• Lack of Support

• Data Orientation

Laine has just completed a very successful action research cycle. They discovered that by making time each day for outdoor exploration, their grade one students asked more “why” questions during science class. Laine’s colleague across the hall also wants to increase his students’ environmental curiosity, so he decides to adjust his schedule in the same way. He doesn’t notice any significant changes, and he wonders what is wrong with his teaching.

What is the main challenge that Laine and her colleague are facing?

• Data Orientation

• Uncontrollable Variables

• Conflicting Demands

• Limited Generalizability