Practical Action Research : A Collection of Articles

by Richard A. Schmuck

• ISBN13: 9781412962872
• ISBN10: 1412962870
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2008-08-20
• Publisher: Corwin Pr

Summary

"Schoolwide renewal and improvement occurs only when a group of dedicated professionals decide to study and reflect on what they are doing and how it affects the students in their school and classrooms. Schmuck provides multiple examples of how school professionals use action research in their quest for improving the school experience for children." -Shaneen Bell, President and CEO Exchange Pointe InternationalCreate alternative ways for enhancing classroom practices and boosting student achievement!Action research can make a critical difference in helping educators collect objective data on their own practices and transform challenges into solutions. This new edition of a landmark collection reflects the editor's extensive educational experience, recent developments in action research, and the voices of some of the best and brightest in the field. This updated volume helps educators navigate the action research process by offering: Articles by experts-including seven new contributions-that help educators define, understand, implement, and study action research Case studies that demonstrate how the multiple forms of action research are used in real-world situations Discussions of the main models of action research, including proactive, responsive, and cooperative approaches An exploration of methods needed for gathering reliable objective dataWell suited for individual reflection, group study, or staff development, the second edition of Practical Action Research is a valuable and much-needed contribution to the ongoing quest to strengthen educational outcomes for all schools.

Table of Contents

Preface

Acknowledgments

About the Editor

About the Contributors

Defining Action Research

Writers Develop Skills Through Collaboration: An Action Research Approach

Educational Action Research

Understanding Action Research

The Unexpected Journey: Renewing Our Commitment to Students Through Educational Action Research

Action Research: Three Approaches

Exemplary Project: The Effectiveness of Spalding Instruction for Spelling Performance

Exemplary Project: The Business Managers' Network: Action Research to Improve Business Capacities of Colorado Charter Schools

Exemplary Project: Improving Schoolwide Communication Through a New School Web Site: Responsive Action Research

Implementing Action Research

Creating a School for David: A Principal's Narrative

Exemplary Project: Proactive Action Research to Build Leadership for a Charter School's Success

Exemplary Project: Examining the Impact of External Building Coaches on Teachers

Exemplary Project: Implementing Strategies to Reduce Dropout Rates of At-Risk Youth in an Online Learning Environment

Using Action Research to Assess Instruction

Exemplary Project: Singapore Math: Action Research on a Curriculum Change, Student Achievement, and Teacher Efficacy

Exemplary Project: Increasing Math Achievement of Title 1 Middle School Students

Action Research for School Improvement

Exemplary Project: Action Research on Middle School Mathematics Instruction Differentiated by Student Gender

What Happens When a School District Supports Action Research

Exemplary Project: Professional Development as a Tool to Enhance Teacher Quality in Charter Schools

Using Action Research to Solve Instructional Challenges in Inclusive Elementary School Settings

Exemplary Project: Math Fact Memorization in a Highly Sequenced Elementary Mathematics Curriculum

Using Action Research as a Collaborative Process to Enhance Educators' and Families' Knowledge and Skills for Youth With Emotional or Behavioral Disorders

Exemplary Project: Building Blocks to Healthy Emotions: A Parenting Program to Improve the Emotional Health of Low-Income Children

Action Research in Action: Curricular Articulation and Integrated Instruction

Studying Action Research

Exemplary Project: Initiating a Collaborative Action Research Project: From Choosing a School to Planning the Work on an Issue

Exemplary Project: Self-Reflection in Essay Writing: An Action Research Project

Promoting Quality for Teacher Action Research: Lessons Learned From Science Teachers' Action Research

Schoolwide Action Research: Findings From Six Years of Study

Ecology and Ethics in Participatory Collaborative Action Research: An Argument for the Authentic Participation of Students in Educational Research

Index

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