Action Research in Teaching and Learning: A Practical Guide to Conducting Pedagogical Research in Universities

by Norton; Lin

• ISBN13: 9780415437943
• ISBN10: 0415437946
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 2009-01-14
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

A practical, down-to-earth guide for those who work in teaching and learning in universities, this book will be indispensable reading for those who would like to carry out action research on their own practice. Lin S Norton's concept of 'pedagogical action research' has come from over twenty years' experience of carrying out such research, and more than six years of encouraging colleagues to carry out small scale studies at an institutional, national and international level. This accessible text illustrates what might be done to improve teaching/supporting learning by carrying out action research to address such questions such as: What can I do to enthuse my students? What can I do to help students become more analytical? How can I help students to link theory with their practice? What can I do to make my lecturing style more accessible? What is going wrong in my seminars when my students don't speak? Action Research for Teaching and Learningoffers readers practical advice on how to research their own practice in a higher education context. It has been written specifically to take the reader through each stage of the action research process with the ultimate goal of producing a research study which is publishable. Cognisant of the sector'¬"s view on what is perceived to be '¬Ümainstream research'¬", the author has also written a substantial theoretical section which justifies the place of pedagogical action research in relation to reflective practice and the scholarship of teaching and learning.

Table of Contents

Foreword: Why do You Want to Improve Your Teaching and/or What Your Students Learn?

The Theoretical Background

What are the Pressures On Those Who Work with University Students?

Why be a Reflective Practitioner?

Why Engage with the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning?

What is the Case for Pedagogical Action Research?

The Practical

Where do You Start a Pedagogical Action Research Study?

What are the Most Suitable Research Methodologies?

What are the Ethical Issues?

Are there any Useful Tools?

How Can You Grow the Influence of Your Findings?

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