Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Action research in education. Teachers'

This study investigated the role of the school administrator in helping teachers to use instructional practices that led to improved student learning outcomes. The data indicated that teachers were comfortable learning from other teacher-leaders in the school. Teachers responded favorably to opportunities to participate in collegial observation and being provided specific feedback to stimulate growth. The study also confirmed that teachers looked to the school administrator to provide necessary resources and funding for professional development opportunities. Teachers need to be provided ongoing opportunities to learn and grow together through meaningful grade-level team meeting.

This study took place during the 2010–2011 school year, and investigated individually and collectively four initiatives: reorganizing grade-level team meetings to facilitate better coordination, collaboration, and peer consultation; gearing professional development opportunities toward proven learning strategies; engaging the teachers in reflective practices for self-improvement; and engaging the teachers in keeping professional growth logs. Teachers were asked to respond to a questionnaire created by the principal, to complete feedback forms as a follow up to each professional development workshop, and to evaluate the effectiveness of grade-level teams using a scoring guide. An analysis of MAP and Tungsten data, teacher created goals/outcomes, and walk-through data was used to evaluate student growth, as well.

A narrow focus on analyzing and using data to make instructional decisions had an impact on standardized test result. The instructional leaders were responsible for helping staff to understand and interpret data, create short-term and long-term goals, monitor the progress and celebrate success.

An underlying theme evolved during the study, encompassing the importance of the school leader to build positive relationships and lines of communication with the staff to guide them toward the improvement of instructional practices.

Teachers are critical to student learning in the classroom, and just like students, teachers perform better when they are able to make choices based on what is relevant to them. Action research is a way for teachers to systematically inquire and reflect to make necessary improvements in practice for student learning. This study involved teachers who had conducted action research as a component of their Master's in Curriculum and Instruction program at one Midwest college. It examined teachers' perceived lasting benefits of conducting action research, the elements they continue to implement, and the supports of and limitations to continuation of the practice.

As part of a mixed-method study, a researcher-developed survey was first used. Seventy-seven teachers provided responses to the online survey. Fifteen survey participants volunteered to offer narrative elaboration of their responses in a follow-up telephone interview.

The compiled data included totals and percentages from the survey and themes and quotations from the teachers' narrative responses. Together, the findings revealed that 98% of the teachers felt they benefited from conducting action research. They perceived the greatest professional benefits of conducting action research to be thinking more reflectively, positively impacting student learning, and inquiring more about their practice.

Teachers were continuing to conduct action research based on the impact they perceived the practice had on their students' success in the classroom. The elements they continued most often were identifying a focus, collecting and analyzing data, and reflecting on the process. This practice allowed them to learn from evaluating the effectiveness of their implementations and realize there was rigor and relevance to what they were doing.

With 92% of participants desiring to continue action research, two major factors were given as greatest support for continuation. Teachers desired a combination of collaboration with peers on issues that mattered to them and time in the school day to collaborate and conduct action research.

The purpose of this study was to examine the High Tec Middle School teachers' and administrators' knowledge of the service learning model upon which the school's service learning program has been based, their views regarding their role in student character formation through service learning, and the teachers' feelings of ownership regarding the service learning program.

1 overarching research question and 3 sub-questions were explored. The overarching question was: How do teachers and administrators at High Tec Middle School experience service learning? 3 sub-questions that aided in answer the overarching research question were: What is the High Tec Middle School teachers' and administrators' knowledge of the service learning model that serves as the foundation for the service learning program that has been implemented school wide? What are the views of the High Tec Middle School teachers and administrators regarding their role in the shaping of students' character through service learning? What, if any, feelings of ownership do the High Tec Middle School teachers and administrators experience regarding the service learning program that has been implemented school wide?

Data was collected from an online questionnaire and a focus group completed by 12 teachers and administrators who participated in the planning and implementation of the school's service learning program. Findings from the study showed that 4 primary factors influenced teachers' and administrators' feelings of ownership about the service learning project: belief that educating students in character is their responsibility, having a strong sense of caring, having sufficient knowledge of the service learning model, and feeling empowered by the implementing of service learning.

2 primary conclusions were derived from the study. First, experiential learning was more important than academic learning in teachers and administrators understanding the service learning model used at the school. Second, the feelings of ownership of the SL program held by the teachers and administrators at the school are derived from (a) belief that educating students in character is their responsibility, (b) having a strong sense of caring, (c) having sufficient knowledge of the service learning model, and (d) feeling empowered by the implementing of service learning.

Although family engagement has long been associated with positive outcomes, it is not easy to establish, particularly in urban classrooms. Teachers whose ethnic and social-economic statuses differ from that of the typical urban family may be unaware of how to build and sustain those relationships. When teachers do attempt to involve families, it is frequently in a unidirectional approach that often is not effective in urban communities nor meaningful to urban families. Using action research this study addresses the question how does the co-construction of literacy bags during kindergarten (1) facilitate family/school engagement among urban, culturally diverse parents and (2) support their children's emergent literacy? Epstein's theoretical framework of over lapping spheres and methods of family involvement guides our understanding of this phenomenon. This research began by building relationships with seven urban, kindergarten student families through a series of four family/school workshops. Workshops created an environment where families and teachers co-created literacy bags. Literacy bags were the vehicle whereby bidirectional communication supported and strengthened home-school connections. Literacy based activities within individual literacy bags were based on home practices and shared expertise (parent to parent, parent to teacher). Data gathered from workshops and meetings revealed four emerging themes: making it work, distributed expertise, connecting home and school, and more than just literacy. This study provides meaningful information into how families and teachers can work together, in a bidirectional and collaborative approach, to enrich the children's literacy development of urban, low socio-economic status kindergarten students.

Due to demographic shifts suburban schools are having difficulty meeting the needs of students of immigrant, poor and working class families. Schools are forced with the difficult task of closing learning gaps with students who may have difficult circumstances. Literature indicates fostering a healthy home / school connection by conducting educational home visits may support schools ability to embrace the cultural wealth and social capital of students and their families. In a suburban elementary school, six elementary school teachers and the assistant principal formed a research team to explore the relationship between home visits and teachers' practice.

The study focused on an overarching question: What is the relationship between home visits and teacher practice? The sub questions were: (1) What changes occur in teachers' thinking about students' contexts following home visits? (2) What changes occur in teacher practice following home visits? (3) How do teachers think these changes influences student learning?

The action research study consisted of three distinct phases of work cycles. The phases were, Phase I, Initiation, Phase II, Duration and Phase III, Conclusion. The team investigated how home visits influence teachers' practice and their perception of students' learning. The team collected data through conducting home visits, group meetings, peer classroom observations, triad discussions and maintained journal notes, audio tapes, and electronic notifications. The findings were teachers' improved practice, teachers' professionalism and professional growth. These themes emerged from the home visits, classroom applications experiences and group meetings of the action research project.

Keywords: cultural wealth, action research, home visits, teacher practice, professional development, students' home contexts

This is a qualitative case study using youth-based participatory action research as a model. The author views the youth-based participatory action research through both a social justice and multicultural lens. The prevalence of Eurocentric ideals in society and in the classroom are addressed and solutions on how to remedy these ideals to foster a greater sense of awareness to discrimination, encourage positive ethnic identity, and increase self-esteem are some of the issues addressed in this research. Instead of approaching the research individually, the researcher joined ranks with middle school students to help research these issues as she felt they were important in improving her practice as an educator as well as empowering the students who participated in conducting the research. Both researcher and participants worked together to inform each other and broaden awareness of issues. Some outcomes of this study included empowerment of female adolescents, awareness of when to speak up for oneself, adolescents collaborating with teachers and administration, and teachers implementing instructional strategies based on student feedback.