Educational Enquiry, Improving Practice Module

 

Through this module you will determine your own defined area of study. As your enquiry progresses you will explore how to identify key current literature and critically review it. You will be introduced to action research methodologies and ethical issues particularly linked to the policies of your context and experiment with different forms of data collection and analysis techniques. You will expect to make your successful 5,000 word account freely available on the http://www.actionresearch.net as a contribution to professional knowledge-base.

Aims

As you research to improve your practice you will be supported to:


  1. •Undertake a piece of sustained professional development in a defined area of learning and teaching in primary or secondary education

  2. •Influence thinking and practice in the defined area at a local level


Learning outcomes

You will be supported to learn how to:


  1. •Engage in an in-depth and critical analysis of practice, theory and current literature, relevant to a defined area of education in a professional setting or context

  2. •Sustain professional dialogue, including where appropriate with external bodies, agencies and specialists, resulting in an understanding of the influence of the process on both their own learning and the practice of others

  3. •Plan and execute analytical and reflective research founded on appropriate methodologies and data analysis which includes feedback from learners where appropriate, and/or colleagues in their own setting and beyond.

  4. •Devise a systematic strategy for the transfer and sharing of their learning to influence understanding and practice in the profession in their local area.


The unit will address the following issues:


  1. •Theoretical perspectives and practical understandings of practitioner-research

  2. •School, local authority and government policies on education

  3. •The value judgments implicit in different research methodologies

  4. •Systemic influences on learning of educators researching to improve their values-based practice

  5. •The use of action research methodologies in the improvement of educational practice and provision and the development of educational knowledge


In the unit, participants will be required to undertake a small-scale action research project in which they will research an attempt to improve educational practice and provision with the overall aim of producing validated explanations of the educational influences on their own learning, the learning of others and the learning of their context.


Useful reading


The bibliography will depend to a large extent on student's area of study.


Campbell, A., Gilroy, P., & McNamara, O. (2004) Practitioner Research and Professional Development in

Education. London: Paul Chapman.


Christensen, P. & James, A. (eds.) (2000) Research with Children - Perspectives & Practice. London: Routledge Falmer


Clough, P. (2002) Narratives and Fictions in Educational Research. Buckingham: Open University Press.


Delgado, M. (2006) Designs & Methods for Youth-Led Research. Thousand Oaks, Ca: Sage, second edition.


Denzin & Lincoln, (2000) Handbook of Qualitative Research. Thousand Oaks, Ca: Sage.


DfES, (2003) Every Child Matters. London:, HMSO.


Elliott, J. (2005) Using Narrative in Social Research: Qualitative & Quantitative Approaches. London: Sage.


Farren, M., Whitehead, J. & Bognar, B. (eds.) (2011) Action Research in the Educational Workplace. Palo Alto; Academica.


Frank, A. (2005) What is Dialogical Research and Why Should We Do It?, Qualitative Health Research. 15 (7) pp.964-974.


Gorard, S. & Taylor, C. (2004) Combining Methods in Educational and Social Research. Maidenhead: Open

University Press.


Harding, J. (2006) Questioning the Subject in Biographical Interviewing in Sociological Research Online. 11 (3)


Heikkinen, H., Huttunen, R., & Syrjala, L. (2007) Action research as narrative: five principles for validation. Educational Action Research. 15 (1) pp.5-19


McNiff, J. & Whitehead, J. (2011) All You Need To Know About Action Research (2nd Edition). London; Sage.


Swann, J. & Pratt, J. (eds.) (2003) Educational Research in Practice: Making Sense of Methodology. London:Continuum


Travers, M. (2001) Qualitative Research Through Case Studies. London: Sage.


Wengraf, T. (2001) Qualitative Research Interviewing. London:Sage.


Whitehead, J. & McNiff, J. (2006) Action Research Living Theory. London; Sage.


Whitehead, J. (2011) Action Planning In Improving Practice and Generating Educational Knowledge In Creating Your Living Educational Theories. Retrieved 5 May 2011 from http://www.actionresearch.net/writings/jack/arplanner.htm .


Journals (available via the Library•s electronic catalogue)

Childhood

Children & Society

Children•s Geographies

Journal of Educational Research

Sociology of Education

Journal of Adolescence



Journals

Journal of Youth Studies

International Journal of Early Childhood

International Journal of Early Years Education