ABLA ELT CONFERENCE
TEACHERS AS LEARNERS
“Action Research: A way to
become professionals in ELT
July 30, 31, 2010
Cali
Margarita María López P.
University of Caldas
Manizales
What do English teachers need to do in order
to become professionals?
 Know about the language
Promote real world
changes
Manage the classroom
Innovate
Become lecturers
Begin to write
RESEARCH
Publish
What is our reality?
TEACHERS USUALLY……
 adopt what others believe
is the best for their
classrooms.
 do not usually reflect
about their teaching
practice.
 do not integrate theory
and practice in the
classroom
Why is it important for English teachers to
do research?
 To reflect about their own
practice.
 To take a new role as
researchers
To change something.
To innovate in the classroom.
For professional development.
What are some other reasons ?
 To be involved in activities developing ways of exploring
their own classrooms.
 To understand what is going on in the classroom
 To develop skills like collection, analysis and
interpretation of classroom data
 To assess their behavior, as teachers, or the situation in
the classroom.
 To reflect about what they need or want to improve.
What can teachers research about?
LANGUAGE LEARNING AND TEACHING CONTEXTS
Language skills
Autonomous learning
METHODOLOGY
Multiple intelligences
Assessment and evaluation
CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT
Interaction
Roles of the teacher
What can teachers research about?
MATERIALS
The design of worksheets
The use of authentic material
EDUCATIONAL AIDS AND POLICIES
Bilingualism in Colombia
Educational laws
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
In-service ELT courses in methodology and the language
What are some approaches to classroom
research?
Experimental Approach
Ethnography Approach
Case Study
What are some others?
Psychometric Approach
Qualitative- Quantitative
Action Research
What is Action Research in ELT?
“Action research is a
process in which participants examine
their own educational practice systematically and carefully,
using the techniques of research”.
(Watts, 1985:118)
“Action
Research is a systematic attempt to gain a better understanding of
the educational process, generally with view to improvement”.
(Stern 1983:59)
“Action Research is trying out ideas in practice as a means of improvement
and as a means of increasing knowledge about the curriculum, teaching,
and learning.”
(Kemmis and McTaggart 1985)
What are the different stages when doing
action research?
analysis
Fact-finding
evaluation
ACTION
RESEARCH
More factfinding
execution
Lewin’s model (1946)
conceptualiz
ation
planning
How can English teachers begin doing action
research?
Observe.
Develop a plan to improve
or change something.
Act to implement the plan
Observe the effects of
action in the context in
which it occurs
Reflect on these effects as a
basis for further planning
Implement changes
First Stage:
Design an action plan and implement it
Observe
Record
Detect what can be
improved or changed.
Collect some preliminary
data
Second Stage:
Action
Revise the plan
Check resources or
equipment needed
Implement techniques and
strategies
Act
Third Stage: Observation
Fourth stage: Reflection
 Understand the process, issues and constrains found in the
implementation.
 Think about what you recorded from the observation.
 Discuss the situation with colleagues.
 Triangulate information
 Revise the plan
What techniques can teachers use to
collect the data?
ELICITATION TECHNIQUES
OBSERVATION TECHNIQUES
Surveys
Field notes
Interviews
Journal
Questionnaires
Audio Recording
Informal talks
Video Recording
Classroom Observation
How can teachers analyze and Interpret the
data?
“ Data analysis refers to sifting, organizing, summarizing
and synthesizing the data so as to arrive at the results
and conclusions of the research”
(Selinger ans Shohamy 1989:201)
What can we conclude?
 All English teachers should be doing research in their classrooms.
 It is not difficult.
 Action Research is a necessity if teachers want to improve their
classes.
 Education in general benefits when teachers do research.
 Action Research is vital if teachers are looking for Professional
Development.
 Teacher do not need to be involved in a Master´s program for
doing research.
 When teachers do research they become professionals in their
field.
DO YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?
THANK YOU VERY MUCH