week 4 (feb.13, 07)
DESCRIPTION
Week 4 (Feb.13, 07). Frame & Refine Research Questions. Agenda for Today. Identify your area of interest (40) 1-minute presentation/defense of your research questions) (40) Peer review – INTRO (20) For next week: classroom teaching observation. Agenda I. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Week 4 (Feb.13, 07)
Frame & Refine Research Questions
Agenda for Today
Identify your area of interest (40)1-minute presentation/defense of your research questions) (40)Peer review – INTRO (20)For next week: classroom teaching observation
Agenda I
Frame your research questions: where to start?
Identify Your Area of Interest – 1st try
What intrigues you in your classroom?
Introduction to Action Research What is action research: Mills (p5)
Select an area of focus for your Action Research
What criteria/tips does Mills suggest when selecting an area of focus?
Select an area of focus for your Action Research (cont.)
Mills recommends the following criteria when selecting and area of focus:
The area of focus should involve teaching and learning and should focus on ones own practice.
The area of focus is something within your locus of control. The area of focus is something you feel passionate about. The area of focus is something your would like to change or
improve.
Why teacher researcher? (4.1.1) What do I learn from this reading?
Why teacher researcher? What does the author intends to say about
research through Julie and little Johnny's story?
In what sense is Julie a researcher? It conveys the simplicity of beginning with
genuine questions. Goal of research: to gain access to the
play ground Method: getting data- little Johnny to ask
mom, analyze the data and find the pattern!
Research is a process of Discovering essential questions; Gathering data, and analyzing it to Answer those questions.
What teacher research/action research is
Research that is initiated and carried out by teachers in their classrooms and schools. Teacher researcher use their inquiries to study everything:
The best way to teach reading,Most useful methods for organizing group activities,Different ways girls or boys respond to a science program.
Teacher research…Begins with genuine research questions that are truly relevant to researchers Teacher researcher
Significant contributor to researchSource of systemic reform in individual schools and districts.
Rich in classroom anecdotes and personal stories.Not written in distance, third-person voice, but has an immediate, first person tone.Stories are a critical tool for illuminating the deeper theories or rules governing the way a classroom community works.A “maybe” work – after the list of so many duties/obligations… but there are ways to develop inquiry skills that are relevant to almost any teacher and classroom
Little r and Big R (4.1.2) What do I learn from this reading?
Teacher-researcherResearch can focus on problem they are trying to solve in their own classrooms. Observing students closely, analyzing their needs, and adjusting the curriculum to fit the needs of all studentsTeacher research involves collecting and analyzing data as well as presenting it to others in a systematic wayTeacher-Researcher: the end goal is to create best possible learning environment for students.e.g. blank look – “how else can I teach this concept?” (and that’s research!)
“Careful gardener” metaphor
Celebrating “Things I learned last week” (3.1.3)
Observe your own teaching and your class/students for a week
Look closely at the small details Process daily small moments These small details will become building blocks of
our lives as researchers
HW for this week: Discovering my research questions through observation
Things I’ve learned this week about teaching. It can be any form: A journal A list A poem
Remember the purpose of doing this though!!! To identify you an area of interest and try to frame your research questions.
Strategies for working toward a research question (4.2)
Process the reading (whole class)Each group pick one of the strategies and help the class understand that strategies through giving examples.
Understanding Action Research
Textbook Chapter 1
Framing research questions
Open-ended (not yes or no question)Pose the question in a way that can be answered by descriptions and observations – how & whatWhat intrigues you in your classroom?What are you puzzled by in your classroom?Are there what-ifs running through your mind begging to be explored?
The way of finding and framing research questions
It takes timeIt may involve a lot of exploration through wonderingsThe research cycle continues with new question as well as possible answers.
Tip: Don’t rush to state a question so your research can begin. Figuring out the question is an important part of the research.
3 major steps in doing a research study (Review)
Preparing a proposal describing the study to be done and its significance (EDU651)
Collecting and analyzing data (EDU652) Writing a report of the complete study
(EDU652)
Action Research Examples http://education.ucsc.edu/faculty/gwells/ne
tworks/
Housekeeping
Agenda II
Frame and Refine Your Research Questions
Frame/Refine your research questions Group work
Frame your Research Question Form a group of 4/5 people Share with the group your
wonders/concerns/questions about your teaching and/or student learning, or other’s classroom teaching.
Frame/refine your question and prepare for a 1-minute presentation/defense
1-minute presentation/defense What is your research question and sub-
questions? (Poster) Why do you think it is a good/not-so-good
research question?
You sincerely interested and/or invested in?Researchable?Feasible?Clear?Significant? Real world problemEthical?… …
House Keeping Hot Topic Debate for next week Assignment: one week observation Q & A?
Q & A