Action Research Support Workshop

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Action Research Support Workshop 1

• Fall 2007

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Workshop Goals

• Understand the rationale behind the Action
  Research Project
• Generate a research question and refine it with
  workshop facilitators.
• Plan the literature review.
• Develop a comprehensive plan for data collection.
• Complete the IRB proposal necessary to begin
  collecting data.

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What is Action Research?

• The process of studying a real school or
  classroom situation in order to understand and
  improve the quality of actions or instruction.
  (Johnson, 2002)
• Action Research acknowledges teachers
  experience and knowledge as teachers and
  encourages them to systematically find their own
  answers to problems they face in their
  classrooms. (Caro-Bruce, 2000)
• Action research is a form of self-reflective
  inquiry by teachers about their own teaching.

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Why conduct Action Research?

• To begin to ask appropriate questions about your
  own teaching.
• To gather data about your teaching.
• To reflect on your practice as a result of the
  data.
• To give you a better understanding of your own
  practice.
• To add to the knowledge base of your profession.
• To ultimately improve your teaching and the
  situation in which you teach.

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How do I get started?

• Download the handbook from the ELEC website.
• Answer the following question What have you
  observed about your students (all or a small
  group) that you believe, if changed, would make
  your classroom better, or more specifically,
  improve academic achievement?

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What makes a good research question?

• Your question should address a teaching strategy
  as opposed to discipline or a behavior issue.
• On occasion, behavior/discipline can be linked to
  achievement but you should clearly make this link
  in your study.
• Your question should NOT have a yes or no answer.
• Poor Does the use of a word wall improve student
  achievement?
• Better How does the implementation of a word
  wall affect not effect students reading
  proficiency in a 3rd grade classroom?
• Do not conduct a case study on just one student!!!

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Putting the work into Workshop

• Individually complete the green worksheet labeled
  Appendix C. Question Development Chart.
• After discussing your possible questions with a
  facilitator or a fellow teacher candidate and
  deciding on a research question, complete the
  other side of the green worksheet labeled
  Appendix D. Organizing Your Study.
• On your own, be sure to examine the sample
  questions and introductions in your handbook.

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Whats the deal with this literature review?

• It is a chance for you to become an expert on
  your topic.
• You need to know what information has already
  been found about your topic so that you can
  relate your findings to the existing knowledge
  base.
• You need to synthesize a minimum of 5 scholarly
  sources for your literature review.

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Whats the deal with this literature review?
(Continued)

• A literature review is not an annotated
  bibliography, rather a coherent synthesis of past
  research.
• It should be 2 3 pages long.
• Again, review the examples in the handbook.
• A note about scholarly (peer reviewed) sources
  follows.

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What kind of data do I need to collect?

• This does NOT have to be an experimental study
  that has a control group and a treatment group.
• However, you do need to collect data that answers
  your question.
• Very often it will be in the form of a pre-test
  and and post-test.
• Observation is a legitimate form of data
  collection as well.
• Do not use surveys or questionnaires!!!!

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Do I need IRB approval and if so, how do I get
it?

• YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• You must submit the following 3 things to your
  supervisor before October 5th.
• Certificate of completion of Use of Human
  Participants in Research module. (p. 7)
• IRB protocol form (p. 38)
• Exempt from review application ( link below)
• http//academics.sru.edu/grants-irb/IRBForms/exemp
  t_app.doc
• You cannot collect data until you receive word
  that your study has been approved.

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More on IRB Approval

• It is imperative that these forms be turned in to
  your supervisor as soon as possible.
• Both you and your supervisor must sign the
  exempt form.
• Your supervisor is officially the principal
  investigator but all of the responsibility is
  yours.
• Some supervisors know more than others with
  regard to this project, so it is your
  responsibility to make sure all forms are
  completed and accurate.
• If you cannot get a signature from your
  supervisor, Dr. Hunt will act as your faculty
  representative on this project.

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More Work!

• Take this time to complete as much of the
  required forms tonight as possible.
• Any questions about the IRB forms?
• Other questions?

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Reminders

• Support Workshop II on Data Analysis October
  19th _at_ 1230 in the MPR room.
• Support Workshop III on Presentation Requirements
  December 4, 5 6
• Action Research Celebration December 12th _at_
  430 in Boozel

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Thank You!

• Good Luck future teachers!