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Teacher Research: Linking Theory to Practice

Teacher Research: Linking Theory to Practice. EDT 661 K. Kinnucan-Welsch. Expanding Notions of Research. Move beyond traditional (big R) notions of research: --conducted by university professors and other fulltime researchers --in environments where variables can be controlled

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Teacher Research: Linking Theory to Practice

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  1. Teacher Research:Linking Theory to Practice EDT 661 K. Kinnucan-Welsch

  2. Expanding Notions of Research • Move beyond traditional (big R) notions of research: --conducted by university professors and other fulltime researchers --in environments where variables can be controlled --often looking for cause-effect or other aspects of variable relationships --to report to broader audience

  3. Purpose of Action (Teacher) Research • conducted by practitioners in local setting • Usually in classrooms or school • Using observation, student artifacts, field notes, etc to understand some phenomenon in the classroom • To take action and effect positive change in the specific school environment

  4. Definition • Action research is any systematic inquiry conducted by practitioners in teaching/learning environment to gather information about how their particular schools operate, how they teach, and how well students learn. (from Mills, 2003)

  5. Action Research: An Overview • Identify an area of focus • Collect data • Analyze and interpret data • Develop an Action Plan (From Creswell, Ch 18)

  6. Key Points to Remember • What will you do differently based on analysis of data? • Teacher research is an ongoing cycle of think-observe-reflect-act

  7. The research question • What have you been wondering about? • Research questions need to be specific enough to guide your process, but open enough to allow for flexibility • You will identify tangible and concrete aspects of some phenomenon, or variables • Hubbard and Power refer specifically to qualitative methods and questions that are best addressed in that mode. You do not need to restrict yourself to that mode.

  8. Framing the Question • Using #2 -#5 in H & P, p. 9-10, do some initial thinking about what you wonder about. Refer to class requirements for first written assignment.

  9. Finding Examples • If you are having difficulty framing a question, go to some of the teacher research websites for some examples. One of the first ones you should go to is: http://education.ucsc.edu/faculty/gwells/networks/

  10. The Goal of EDT 661/665 • To support the development of teacher researchers who are involved in ongoing improvement of teaching through observation-reflection-action. • ENJOY!

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