DRAFT 9/28/10 Course Form
I. Summary of Proposed Changes
Dept / Program
C&I
Prefix and Course #
Course Title
Action Research in the Classroom
C&I 588
Short Title (max. 26 characters incl. spaces)
Action Reasrch in Clssrm
Summarize the change(s) proposed
New course in MA in Math./ Mddl. Schl Math.
II. Endorsement/Approvals
Complete the form and obtain signatures before submitting to Faculty Senate Office
Please type / print name Signature
Date
Requestor:
David Erickson
Phone/ email :
x5318
david.erickson@umontana.edu
Program Chair/Director:
Trent Atkins
Other affected programs:
Mathematics Dept. Chair
Leonid Kalachev
Dean CoEHS
Roberta Evans
Dean CAS
Christopher Comer
Are other departments/programs affected by this
Please obtain signature(s) from the
modification because of
Chair/Director of any such department/
(a) required courses incl. prerequisites or corequisites,
program (above) before submission
(b) perceived overlap in content areas
(c) cross-listing of coursework
III: To Add a New Course Syllabus and assessment information is required (paste syllabus into
section V or attach). Course should have internal coherence and clear focus.
Common Course Numbering Review (Department Chair Must Initial):
YES
NO
Does an equivalent course exist elsewhere in the MUS? Check all relevant disciplines if
X
course is interdisciplinary. (http://mus.edu/transfer/CCN/ccn_default.asp)
** Graduate Course only, not subject to Common Course Numbering **
Exact entry to appear in the next catalog (Specify course abbreviation, level, number, title, credits,
repeatability (if applicable), frequency of offering, prerequisites, and a brief description.) 
C&I 588 Action Research in the Classroom 3 cr. Offered autumn.
Readings in research in teaching/learning. Strategies to implement all components of an action research
project in a classroom including planning/research design, action, reflection, and sharing.
Justification: How does the course fit with the existing curriculum? Why is it needed?
Required course in the proposed Master of Arts in Teaching Middle School Mathematics Program
Are there curricular adjustments to accommodate teaching this course?
No.
Complete for UG courses. (UG courses should be assigned a 400 number).
Describe graduate increment
(http://umt.edu/facultysenate/committees/grad_council/procedures/gradIncrement.aspx)
New fees and changes to existing fees are only approved once each biennium by the
Board of Regents. The coordination of fee submission is administered by
Administration and Finance. Fees may be requested only for courses meeting specific
conditions according to Policy 940.12.1 http://mus.edu/borpol/bor900/940-12-1.pdf .
Please indicate whether this course will be considered for a fee.
If YES, what is the proposed amount of the fee?
Justification:
YES
NO
X
IV. To Delete or Change an Existing Course – check X all that apply
Deletion
Title
Course Number Change
From:
Level U, UG, G
To:
Description Change
Change in Credits
From:
To:
Prerequisites
1. Current course information at it appears in catalog
(http://www.umt.edu/catalog) 
From:
To:
Repeatability
Cross Listing
(primary
program initiates
form)
Is there a fee associated with the course?
2. Full and exact entry (as proposed) 
3. If cross-listed course: secondary program & course
number
4. Is this a course with MUS Common Course Numbering?
http://mus.edu/transfer/CCN/ccn_default.asp
If yes, please explain below whether this change will eliminate the course’s common course
status.
YES NO
5. Graduate increment if level of course is changed to
Have you reviewed the graduate increment
UG. Reference guidelines at:
guidelines? Please check (X) space
provided.
http://umt.edu/facultysenate/committees
/grad_council/procedures/gradIncrement.aspx
(syllabus required in section V)
6. Other programs affected by the change
7. Justification for proposed change
V. Syllabus/Assessment Information
Required for new courses and course change from U to UG. Paste syllabus in field below or attach and send
digital copy with form.
See attached
VI Department Summary (Required if several forms are submitted) In a separate document list course
number, title, and proposed change for all proposals.
VII Copies and Electronic Submission. After approval, submit original, one copy, summary of
proposals and electronic file to the Faculty Senate Office, UH 221, camie.foos@mso.umt.edu.
Revised 9-2010
C&I 588 Action Research
in the Classroom
Fall 2011
Instructor:
David Erickson, Ph.D. Associate Professor
Department of Curriculum & Instruction
Email: david.erickson@umontana.edu
Office Hours: Monday/Wednesday 9:10 – 11 AM
And by appointment and online – just email
or phone (406) 243-5318
Course Description:
This is a three-credit web-based graduate course for teachers designed to facilitate and document a
change in the teaching/learning in the classroom. Through readings and online discussions,
students plan an individual research study to investigate a specific research question of interest to
the learner. Students will follow the plan, act, reflect cycle and share results with peers through the
web-based course. Additionally, students are encouraged to seek publication of their research in
appropriate journals.
Learning Outcomes:
1. Students will be able to describe how action research informs teaching and changes teaching
practice (Conceptual Framework #1 (CF1).
2. Students will be able to formulate relevant action research questions. (10.58.501.1b).
3. Students will be able to write a literature review for an action research project (10.58.501.1k).
4. Students will be able to implement the action research cycle – plan, act, and reflect – within
their own classroom (CF5; 10.58.501.1j)
5. Students will be able to analyze and critique action research projects (CF8).
Textbooks:
American Psychological Association. (2009). Publication manual of the American Psychological
Association (6th ed.). Washington, DC: Author.
Mertler, C. A. (2011). Action Research: Improving Schools and Empowering Educators, 3rd Ed.
Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Readings (list to be updated in Fall 2011):
Kemmis, S., & McTaggart, R. (1988). The action research planner (3rd ed.). Victoria, Australia:
Deakin University Press.
Koehler, M. S., & Prior, M. (1993). Classroom interactions: The heartbeat of the
teaching/learning process. In D. T. Owens & S. Wagner (Eds.), Research ideas for the
classroom: Middle grades mathematics (pp. 280-298). New York: Macmillan.
Lankford, N. K. (1993). Teacher as researcher: What does it really mean? In P. S. Wilson & S.
Wagner (Eds.), Research ideas for the classroom: High school mathematics (pp. 279-289).
New York: Macmillan.
Raymond, A. M., & Leinenbach, M. (2000). Collaborative action research on the learning and
teaching of algebra: A story of one mathematics teacher’s development. Educational Studies in
Mathematics, 41(3), 283-307.
Smith, T. J. (2006). Exploring connections between teaching, learning and assessing mathematics
for understanding. In J. O. Masinglia (Ed.), Teachers engaged in research: Inquiry in
mathematics classrooms, grades 6-8. Reston, VA: NCTM.
Evaluation/Assessment:
Online weekly discussion board
Action research questions
Literature review
Project chapters I – V
Project sharing
20%
20%
20%
20%
20%
Letter grades correspond to percentages as follows:
A – 90% and above
B – 80-89%
C – 70-79%
D – 60-69%
F – Below 60%
Expectations: The University of Montana Student Conduct Code
All students must practice academic honesty. Academic misconduct is subject to an academic penalty by the course
instructor and/or a disciplinary sanction by the University.
All students need to be familiar wit the Student Conduct Code. The Code is available for review online at
http://life.umt.edu/vpsa/student_conduct.php
Please be aware of the expectations for academic student conduct. If you have any questions related to this code, please
ask.
Accommodations
Please let me know at the beginning of the semester if you need accommodations for learning in my
online classroom or through Disability Services for Students (DSS). I am happy to help facilitate
these needs.