The
Action Research
Process
Sponsored by Project CENTRAL
A Project of the Florida Department of Education
In Collaboration with the University of Central Florida
With rights given to Seminole County Public Schools
Professional Development Department for use in training
personnel
A product of Project CENTRAL, 2004
Understanding Action
Research
“The
idea of action research is
that educational problems and
issues are best identified and
investigated where the action
is; at the classroom and
school level.
A product of Project CENTRAL, 2004
By integrating research into
these settings and engaging
those who work at this level
in research activities,
findings can be applied
immediately and problems
solved more quickly”
(Guskey, 2000).
A product of Project CENTRAL, 2004
Action Research is NOT-
Writing a
Research
Paper
A product of Project CENTRAL, 2004
A Model of Professional
Development

Action research is a model of
professional development in which
educators study student learning
related to their own teaching, a
process that allows them to learn
about their own instructional
practices and to continue to improve
student learning.
A product of Project CENTRAL, 2004
What is Action Research?
Action (teacher) research is a
natural extension of good
teaching.
Observing students closely,
analyzing their needs, and
adjusting the curriculum to fit the
needs of all students have always
been important skills demonstrated
by fine teachers” (Hubbard &
Power, 1999).
“
A product of Project CENTRAL, 2004
The Action Research Process
Identifying a
Class room
Problem
PLANNING
EVALUATION
Using &
Sharing
Results
Action
Research
Developing &
Implementing
an Action
Research Plan
DELIVERY
Collecting &
Analyzing
Data
FOLLOW-UP
A product of Project CENTRAL, 2004
ACTION RESEARCH is a CYCLE!!
•Plan
•Act
•Observe
•Reflect
•REVISED
Plan
•Act
•Observe
•Reflect
A product of Project CENTRAL, 2004
Approaches to Action Research

Individual Teacher Research

Collaborative Action Research

School-wide Action Research
Emily Calhoun, 1993
A product of Project CENTRAL, 2004
Individual Teacher Research
A teacher focuses on an area of
concern in his or her classroom.
 May receive support and guidance
from colleagues, coaches, and/or
outside support personnel from
district, state, or university.

A product of Project CENTRAL, 2004
Individual Teacher Research

A problem or issue within a single
classroom to study-

What impact can daily phonemic awareness
activities have on my kindergarten students’ oral
language development? (Kindergarten teacher)
How can using concrete objectives
(manipulatives) improve my students’ ability to
identify and extend patterns in mathematics?
(Middle grade teacher)
A product of Project CENTRAL, 2004
Collaborative Action Research

Co-teachers


Team of teachers


focusing on a grade level issue
Teacher and district, educational agency, or
university personnel


in one classroom instructing a specific group of
students
learning and studying a particular instructional
practice
Group of teachers

in the same school studying the same instructional
concern
A product of Project CENTRAL, 2004
Collaborative Action Research

Focuses on studying a problem or
issue within one or more classrooms.


How can students with disabilities experiencing deficits
in phonemic awareness show improvement in those skills
by participating in additional and intensive instruction in
phonemic awareness activities at least four times per
week? How will it affect their overall reading ability?
(ESE Teacher & FDLRS HRD Specialist)
How can implementing “Organizing Together” a
Strategic Instruction Model curriculum, improve 6th
graders ability to come to class organized and prepared?
(6th grade teachers in a middle school team)
A product of Project CENTRAL, 2004
School-wide Action Research

School-wide action research
is a school reform initiative.
Every faculty member of the
school is involved in studying
a specific issue identified
from school data.
A product of Project CENTRAL, 2004
HOW CAN I GET STARTED:
Located on right side of this web page
http://www.scps.k12.fl.us/staff_development
/HTML/actionresearch.cfm
Seminole County Action Research Forms
Action Research Log
Action Research Summary
A product of Project CENTRAL, 2004
ACTION RESEARCH LOG
A product of Project CENTRAL, 2004
ACTION RESEARCH LOG CONTINUED
A product of Project CENTRAL, 2004
http://www.scps.k12.fl.us/staff_development/Documents/ACTION%20RES
EARCH%20SUMMARY.doc
A product of Project CENTRAL, 2004
Action Research Samples
Web Question Samples

http://www.sou.edu/education/actionresearch/tasks.htm

http://www.sou.edu/education/actionresearch/questions.htm
Video Samples:

http://home.sou.edu/~jablonsd/ARfair.HTML
PowerPoint
To use with faculty
Blackboard course
A product of Project CENTRAL, 2004