1. Teacher Action Research
Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD
George Mason University
( )
Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD - GMU

2. Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD - GMU
OBJECTIVES
Describe what action research is
Describe the characteristics of action research
Describe how different research methods can be used in action research
Describe when one would conduct action research
Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD - GMU

3. What is Action Research?
Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD - GMU

4. Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD - GMU
Action Research is…..
Conducted by and for teachers
A way to improve/refine teaching
Always relevant to participants
Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD - GMU

5. Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD - GMU
Action Research is probably the purest form of applied research. Action Research involves the application of the scientific method to everyday problems in the classroom.
Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD - GMU

6. Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD - GMU
Teachers
Engage In
Research
Teachers
Engage In
Research
Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD - GMU

7. Action Research has 5 Characteristics
Purposes and value choice
Contextual focus
Change-based data and sense making
Participation in the research process
Knowledge diffusion
Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD - GMU

8. Different Research Methods
Quantitative Methods Used in Action Research - usually require 2 groups of participants
Qualitative Methods Used in Action Research - ideally suited to AR. Occurs in the natural context and requires ongoing or at least frequent contact with the participants
Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD - GMU

9. Kinds of Action Research Models
Survey
Historical
Program Evaluation
Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD - GMU

10. When Should One Conduct Action Research?
The obvious advantage of Action Research is that teachers and practitioners can inform their own practice.
AR aids teachers in reflective thinking in that it helps them to determine how to improve instruction.
Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD - GMU

11. Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD - GMU
Educational research has gradually affected most of our ideas about education and practices we use to achieve our objectives in education. Yet many excellent teachers and administrators know little about educational research and assume that research has had no effect on their daily activities.
Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD - GMU

12. Action Research Process
Selection of a general “puzzlement”
Review the literature on the puzzlement
Select the specific research puzzlement, question or hypothesis
Collect data
Analyze and present data or provide integrative diagrams
Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD - GMU

13. Action Research Process Continued
Interpret the findings and state conclusions or generalization regarding the puzzlement
Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD - GMU

14. What do Teacher Researchers do?
Develop research questions based on their own curiosity about teaching and learning
Examine their underlying assumptions about teaching and learning
Systematically collect data from and with their students
Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD - GMU

15. Teacher Researchers Continued
Share and discuss their data and research methodology with fellow teacher researchers
Analyze and interpret their data with the support of fellow teacher researchers
Share their findings with students, colleagues, and members of the educational community
Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD - GMU

16. What are some of the positive outcomes of teacher research?
Increased sharing and collaboration across disciplines and grade levels
Increased dialogue about instructional issues and student learning
Enhanced communication between teachers and students
Improved performance of students
Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD - GMU

17. Positive Outcomes Continued
Revision of practice based on new knowledge about teaching and learning
Teacher-designed and initiated staff development
Contributions to the profession’s body of knowledge about teaching and learning
Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD - GMU

18. So, how do we get from here to there?!
Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD - GMU

19. Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD - GMU

20. DISCOVERY OF PUZZLEMENTS
Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD - GMU

21. Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD - GMU

22. IS THAT YOUR FINAL ANSWER?!
Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD - GMU

23. Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD - GMU
Three Possible Foci:
Instructional Strategies
Organizational Patterns
Student Motivation
Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD - GMU

24. Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD - GMU
SAMPLE PUZZLEMENTS
How do I stay in the target language?
How can I keep my students motivated?
Does planning have a direct impact on my teaching?
Why does this method work when it feels so bad?
Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD - GMU

25. Sample Puzzlements Continued
How do I move my teaching to be more student-centered?
How do I get students to do their homework?
How can I make sure I’m covering all the Standards?
How do I find time to work with special needs learners and not bore the other students?
Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD - GMU

26. Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD - GMU
FORMULATING A PLAN
WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?
Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD - GMU

27. Identifying Research Questions
Generate a set of personally meaningful research questions to guide your inquiry
Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD - GMU

28. Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD - GMU
Collecting Data
Valid & reliable
Multiple sources of data
Fit teaching strategies to students
Use daily instructional opportunities
Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD - GMU

29. Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD - GMU
Analyzing Data
Not necessarily statistics
Examine data: sort, sift, & rank
What is the story told by these data?
Why did the story play out this way?
Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD - GMU

30. Taking Informed Action
All teaching is trial and error
Avoid repeating mistakes
Learn from inquiry process
Improve your teaching
Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD - GMU

31. Teacher Action Research Plan of Action
My puzzlement is.....
Review the literature
Collect data
Analyze data
Interpret findings and present implications
Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD - GMU

32. Feel free to contact me: Marjorie Hall Haley, Ph.D.
George Mason University
(703)
Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD - GMU

33. Action Research Web Sites
Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD - GMU

34. Web Site for my current international teacher action research
Marjorie Hall Haley, PhD - GMU