Action Research for Teachers : Traveling the Yellow Brick Road

by Holly, Mary Louise; Arhar, Joanne; Kasten, Wendy C.

• ISBN13: 9780131185180
• ISBN10: 0131185187
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-01-01
• Publisher: Prentice Hall

Summary

For courses in Action Research; supplement for Reading Methods courses; and Teacher Education courses. Appealingly styled as a journey on a yellow brick road, this compact text links all of the practical aspects of conducting action research with the scholarly tools that support the cycle of reflective practice, thereby showing prospective and practicing teachers how to make action research a natural part of their teaching. Offers a clear vision of how curiosity, play, imagination, and creativity can inform classroom teaching, as well as practical, well-grounded guidelines for using these qualities to enhance effective research studies in both individual and collaborative contexts.

Author Biography

Joanne M. Arhar currently coordinates the Middle Childhood Education program and teaches courses in teaching studies, teacher action research, and middle grades education at Kent State University.

Table of Contents

Invitation and Road Map for the Journey to Oz	ix
SECTION I The Scholar's Journey	1	(22)
Somewhere Over the Rainbow	3	(8)
A Time for Transformation If Ever a Time There Was	4	(1)
Action Research Defined: Doing It Differently	5	(1)
New Worlds---New Challenges---New Minds	6	(1)
Human Understanding and Community	7	(1)
Challenges to Educators	8	(1)
Calling All Wizards	9	(1)
Visions of a Profession of Wizards	9	(1)
Chapter Summary	9	(2)
Learning: Creating New Possibilities for Action	11	(12)
Professional Learning, Scholarship, and Community	11	(3)
Action Research and Educational Promise	14	(2)
Exploring the Forest: Developing Tools for the Journey	16	(5)
The Professional Journal	17	(3)
Portfolio	20	(1)
Chapter Summary	21	(1)
Section Summary	21	(2)
SECTION II Defining and Putting Action Research in Context	23	(38)
The Bigger Picture: Paradigms, Theories, and Research	25	(8)
Action Research in the Context of Research	30	(2)
Chapter Summary	32	(1)
Three Orientations to Knowledge and Methods of Research	33	(14)
Images of Teacher Learning: Three Ways to Consider the Relationship Between Knowledge and Practice	38	(2)
Characteristics of Action Research	40	(3)
Research Methods	43	(2)
Action Research Methods	43	(2)
Chapter Summary	45	(2)
From a Meandering Path to the Yellow Brick Road: A Brief History of Action Research	47	(14)
Today: AR as Critical Reflection	52	(3)
Chapter Summary	55	(1)
Section Summary	55	(2)
Exploring the Forest: Finding Our Way	57	(4)
Contexts and Companions	57	(4)
SECTION III Exploring Researcher Selves and the Profession	61	(24)
Journey of the Self: There's No Place Like Home	63	(8)
Ways to Explore Our Teaching Selves	64	(5)
Chapter Summary	69	(2)
The Development Journey: Self and Action Research	71	(14)
A Developmental Continuum---Do We Get to Oz All at Once?	73	(5)
Three Domains of Development	78	(1)
Chapter Summary	78	(2)
Section Summary	80	(1)
Exploring the Forest: Finding Our Roots	81	(4)
SECTION IV Developing an Inquiring Mind	85	(38)
Case Studies	88	(1)
Helping Jen Learn English as a Second Language	88	(1)
The Literature Circle's Study	88	(1)
The S.T.A.R. Club Study	89	(1)
The Democratic Classroom Study	89	(2)
From Curiosity to Research Questions	91	(10)
How Do Questions Evolve?	94	(1)
Lenses for Inquiry: Zooming In, Zooming Out	95	(5)
Chapter Summary	100	(1)
Exploring and Problematizing Our Practice	101	(22)
What Do I Already Know?	101	(2)
Problematizing the Story of Chuck	103	(3)
A Scaffold for Problematizing	106	(6)
What Do Others Know? Students and Colleagues as Resources	112	(1)
Reviewing the Literature	113	(3)
What Do I Expect to Find?	116	(1)
Chapter Summary	116	(1)
Section Summary	116	(3)
Exploring the Forest: From Curiosity to Research Topic: Asking Critical Questions	119	(4)
SECTION V Designing and Planning an Action Research Study	123	(64)
Case Studies	124	(1)
Helping Jen Learn English as a Second Language	124	(1)
The Literature Circle Study	125	(1)
The ST.A.R. Club Study	126	(1)
The Democratic Study	127	(2)
From Research Questions to Planning a Study	129	(6)
What Is Design?	129	(1)
Designing a Quick Practice Study	130	(3)
Chapter Summary	133	(2)
Elements of Design: Planning and Documenting the Action	135	(38)
What Will I Try Out in Order to Improve My Practice? The Action Plan	135	(4)
How Will I Document the Process?	139	(3)
Observing	142	(14)
Interviewing	156	(7)
Examining Documents and Artifacts	163	(9)
Chapter Summary	172	(1)
Elements of Design: Verification, Interpretation, and Portrayal	173	(14)
How Will I Verify That My Judgments Are Trustworthy, Credible, and Respectful?	173	(1)
How Will I Interpret the Data?	174	(1)
How Will I Portray What I Have Learned and Make It Public?	174	(1)
How Will These Actions Make Life Better? What Will I Do Next?	175	(1)
What Ethical Considerations Need to Be Made?	175	(1)
Chapter Summary	176	(2)
Section Summary	178	(3)
Exploring the Forest: Designing an Action Research Study and Doing Fieldwork	181	(6)
Design	181	(6)
SECTION VI Analyzing and Interpreting Data	187	(44)
Case Studies	188	(1)
Helping Jen Learn English as a Second Language	188	(1)
The Literature Circle's Study	189	(1)
The S.T.A.R. Club Study	189	(1)
The Democratic Classroom Study	189	(2)
Exploring and Theorizing the Stories	191	(28)
Ongoing Interpretation	193	(5)
Analysis	198	(7)
Synthesis	205	(3)
Theorizing and Making Assertions	208	(3)
Verification	211	(6)
Oral Inquiries: Making Interpretations and Assertions in Community	217	(1)
Chapter Summary	218	(1)
Taking Action---What Will I Do Next? And How Will It Make Life Better?	219	(12)
Transformation	221	(1)
The Tension Between Democracy and Control in Educational Change	221	(1)
Chapter Summary	222	(1)
Section Summary	223	(2)
Exploring the Forest: Developing Tools of Interpretation	225	(6)
SECTION VII Writing and Sharing the Research Story	231	(55)
Case Studies	232	(1)
Helping Jen Learn English as a Second Language	232	(1)
The Literature Circle's Study	233	(1)
The S.T.A.R. Club Study	233	(1)
The Democratic Classroom Study	234	(1)
Writing as a Research Process	235	(8)
Writing Down, Writing Up, and Writing About	236	(5)
Chapter Summary	241	(2)
Narrative Writing	243	(10)
Narrative Defined: A General Term, a Process, and a Product	243	(2)
Writer Perspectives	245	(3)
Portraits, Portraiture, and Vignettes	248	(3)
Chapter Summary	251	(2)
Report Formats	253	(18)
General Questions and Information About Writing and Sharing	257	(1)
Foundational Questions to Consider	257	(6)
Questions Related to Sections of the Report	263	(6)
Chapter Summary	269	(2)
Building Learning Communications: Sharing our Research	271	(15)
Structures for Action Research Communities	272	(1)
Ways of Sharing with the Larger Community	273	(8)
Papers for Publication	273	(2)
Professional Presentations	275	(2)
Poster Sessions	277	(1)
Technology and Multimedia Presentations	278	(1)
Performances: Portraying What We Are Learning Through the Arts	279	(1)
Online Resources for Action Researchers	280	(1)
Developing Our Knowledge Base Through Transforming Ourselves as Learners	281	(1)
Chapter Summary	281	(2)
Exploring the Forest: Portraying and Communicating	283	(3)
Lessons from Oz	286	(11)
Riddles, Paradoxes, and Contradictions	287	(1)
Lessons from Home, Heart, Mind, and Courage	288	(1)
The Riddles of Oz	289	(2)
Exploring the Forest: Constructing Lessons from Oz in a Portfolio	291	(3)
The Researcher's Story of the Journey	294	(3)
Glossary	297	(10)
Travelers' Notes and Stories A Problematizing the Honor Roll in Your School	307	(4)
Travelers' Notes and Stories B Increasing Social Interaction Between Students with Multiple Handicaps and Their Typical Peers: An Action Research Proposal	311	(6)
Travelers' Notes and Stories C Organizing and Visually Displaying Data	317	(12)
Travelers' Notes and Stories D Analyzing Student Writing and Mathematical Data	329	(6)
Travelers' Notes and Stories E Creating a Democratic Classroom: An Action Research Study	335	(12)
References	347	(12)
Index	359	(10)
About the Authors	369