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Description
Content:
Action Research is a form of practitioner research, which enables educators to understand and develop their practice systematically. In this module, it is considered as a research methodology focusing on change.
During the module, you will identify an area of practice to improve, then engage with academic literature to identify suggestions for implementing the improvement. You will then consider how you can collect data to establish whether your chosen improvement has bought about the desired change. You will also consider ethical implications arising from your research.
Although you will not carry out your research for this module, assessment takes the form of a research proposal, so if you are completing a dissertation or report as part of your studies, writing a research proposal will be a valuable skill to develop. The additional opportunities to engage with research methodology, data collection and analysis methods, and ethics will help deepen your understanding of the whole research process.
Teaching delivery:
The module is taught online, with optional synchronous tutorials that take place throughout the term. It will run in either the Autumn Term 2024 or Summer Term 2025. It complements the common core module Understanding Research of the MA Education Programme, and can be taken before, after, or at the same time as Understanding Research.
Indicative topics:
Introduction to Action Research, Developing Research Questions, Approaches to Research, Research Methods and Ethical Considerations, Ensuring the Quality of Research.
Module Aims:
All participants will:
鈥� Develop action research methodologies drawing on research and literature on research methodologies;
鈥� Make connections with the literature, Teachers鈥� TV programmes, television documentaries and other materials and resources to develop educational practitioners鈥� critical understanding of educational research methodologies;
鈥� Explore and problematise different action researcher approaches;
鈥� Contribute to the development of a learning community of practice;
鈥� Work collaboratively with a network of education practitioners in different contexts, e.g., teachers in the classroom, support managers, FE tutors, librarians;
鈥� Use conceptual literature and visual narratives which link individual research projects with continuing professional learning and practice improvement.
It is not expected that you will undertake Action Research as part of this module.
Module outcomes:
The expected learning outcomes for this module mean that all participants will develop professional knowledge and academic experience which will enable them to:
鈥� Critically select appropriate methodologies for participants鈥� own setting-focused research project;
鈥� Understand and problematise different methodological approaches to action research;
鈥� Plan and design a piece of educational action research;
鈥� Contribute to and draw upon the community of research practice;
鈥� Make connections between the scholarly literature, audio and video media, their own potential research and the wider issues related to continual professional learning and practice improvement.
Recommended readings:
Wyse, D., Brown, C., Oliver, S., Poblete, X., 2020. Education research and educational practice: The qualities of a close relationship, British Educational Research Journal
Kemmis, S., Nixon, R., McTaggart, R., 2014. The Action Research Planner: Doing Critical Participatory Action Research. Springer, Singapore.
Vaughan, S., 2020. Developing an empowering school curriculum: A renewed focus on action research, London Review of Education,
Module deliveries for 2024/25 academic year
Last updated
This module description was last updated on 8th April 2024.
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