Action research is a form of inquiry where one identifies a problem and plans a series of actions as a way of gaining deeper understanding of the range of possible solutions. Please tell us about your experiences in any of these steps if you are framing a project. If you help others frame projects, please share your strategies. The idea is for both researchers and professors to think together about this phase. You can choose to add your name or not, but others can see who added the comments by using the history button. Also, please feel free to use the discussion tab on any page to start a discussion around any action research topic.
Sections
Planning Strategies
Planning Templates from Alana James
Appreciative Inquiry
Project-based learning
Learning Circles to Support Planning
Ideas for Planning Projects:
Planning your action research is a process of envisioning what your workplace would be like if it was in perfect alignment with your values and goals and then thinking about what manageable steps will result in change in this direction.
One of the problems that action researchers have as they try to plan their action is what is the specific problem and how does it relate to problems that others have studied. Here are some examples that might help in the process of planning the project.
Ideas that might help you find the problems that you care about:
Communication problems - The message sent is not the same as the message received. Learning to listen and help others learn to listen is often at the heart of the action research project.
Low motivation and engagement - What role does ownership play in the investment of ideas? What are the incentives that shape high engagement in your place of learning or working?
Lack of knowledge sharing - How are best practices saved and shared over time. If employee turn over is high, so is the need for finding ways to ensure that knowledge stays with the organization.
Lack of Intellectual capital - You can't share what you don't have. Look for evidence for good practices from other places. Expand your knowledge by reading, listening, researching, and observing other people who might be engaged in practices that can help you and the people you work with learn.
Lack of measurement - If you care about something, find a way to measure it as evidence helps you understand change. You will learn from collecting evidence.
Distrust or fear of promising new ideas and technologies - What helps someone approach change and how does this interact with tradition or work habits that might have become outdated? Think about the role of trust in change. New tools can solve problems but they need to be accepted first.
Isolated work patterns - When people work alone there is generally a duplication of effect, a lack of resources, and overly routinized patterns that can stall progress. Think about creating community.
Shared vision of the future missing - Think about how best practices will lead to a changed or new future. Where are you going as an organization? What does it mean to be a servant leader?
Once the problem is identified, then one needs to design a possible action. Try to locate a small number of problems that are really important to you. If you go for something really general, try to move down a few levels to your sphere of power. If you start with something really focused, try moving out a bit to tie it with problems in the field. Go to research questions for examples for developing research questions. Action research is a systematic process of examining the outcomes of a design experiment. You need evidence. One form of evidence is careful observations and reflections. Throughout the cycles of your action research, keeping a research journal (a computer blog is helpful) can help you track your thinking which may chang e over time. You might later to be able to track themes that appear or track shifts in your personal theory of learning and teaching.
ACTION Research Planning Proposal - Alana James
You can download a planning proposalfor thinking through your action research fromhttp://www.ar4everything.com/ another online source for more information about developing action research project
APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY
Action research is problem based by does not mean that problem is always fixing something that is broken. Problem seeing or problem locating is a talent. While some action research projects are trying to fix overt problems, most action research problems are located by paying attention to activities and asking how they can be continually improved. So problem can be seen as a positive move towards an imagined future. But for some, problem finding or problem solving feels like too strong a focus on what is wrong. So a form of action research has evolved that is called appreciative inquiry. Appreciative Inquiry focuses away from problems and towards inquiry into how what is positive might evolve into a future state. They avoid the focus on problem and talk about an envisioned future. To learn more about appreciative Inquiry (AI) visit the AI Portal.
Project based Learning
Many educators might want to experiment with some form of project based learning in their action research. Here is a set of resources that will them play out action research in this area.
Learning Circles to Support Action Research Planning
Learning Circles
Learning Circles
One of the most powerful ways of planning and conducting research is for action researchers to work in learning circles. These learning circles can be in person or online and can help at every stage of the action research design from planning, to taking action, evaluating the outcome, reflecting and planning the next phase.
Strategies and Tools for Planning Action Research
Planning Action Research
Action research is a form of inquiry where one identifies a problem and plans a series of actions as a way of gaining deeper understanding of the range of possible solutions. Please tell us about your experiences in any of these steps if you are framing a project. If you help others frame projects, please share your strategies. The idea is for both researchers and professors to think together about this phase. You can choose to add your name or not, but others can see who added the comments by using the history button. Also, please feel free to use the discussion tab on any page to start a discussion around any action research topic.
Sections
- Planning Strategies
- Planning Templates from Alana James
- Appreciative Inquiry
- Project-based learning
- Learning Circles to Support Planning
Ideas for Planning Projects:Planning your action research is a process of envisioning what your workplace would be like if it was in perfect alignment with your values and goals and then thinking about what manageable steps will result in change in this direction.
One of the problems that action researchers have as they try to plan their action is what is the specific problem and how does it relate to problems that others have studied. Here are some examples that might help in the process of planning the project.
Ideas that might help you find the problems that you care about:
Once the problem is identified, then one needs to design a possible action. Try to locate a small number of problems that are really important to you. If you go for something really general, try to move down a few levels to your sphere of power. If you start with something really focused, try moving out a bit to tie it with problems in the field. Go to research questions for examples for developing research questions.
Action research is a systematic process of examining the outcomes of a design experiment. You need evidence. One form of evidence is careful observations and reflections. Throughout the cycles of your action research, keeping a research journal (a computer blog is helpful) can help you track your thinking which may chang
e over time. You might later to be able to track themes that appear or track shifts in your personal theory of learning and teaching.
ACTION Research Planning Proposal - Alana James
You can download a planning proposalfor thinking through your action research fromhttp://www.ar4everything.com/ another online source for more information about developing action research project
APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY
Action research is problem based by does not mean that problem is always fixing something that is broken. Problem seeing or problem locating is a talent. While some action research projects are trying to fix overt problems, most action research problems are located by paying attention to activities and asking how they can be continually improved. So problem can be seen as a positive move towards an imagined future. But for some, problem finding or problem solving feels like too strong a focus on what is wrong. So a form of action research has evolved that is called appreciative inquiry. Appreciative Inquiry focuses away from problems and towards inquiry into how what is positive might evolve into a future state. They avoid the focus on problem and talk about an envisioned future. To learn more about appreciative Inquiry (AI) visit the AI Portal.
Project based Learning
Many educators might want to experiment with some form of project based learning in their action research. Here is a set of resources that will them play out action research in this area.
The Complete Guide to Project-Based Learning
Learning Circles to Support Action Research Planning
One of the most powerful ways of planning and conducting research is for action researchers to work in learning circles. These learning circles can be in person or online and can help at every stage of the action research design from planning, to taking action, evaluating the outcome, reflecting and planning the next phase.
Return to T3: Resources