Origin of AR
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Subject: [ProfessionalDevelopment 584] Re: Origin of Action Research
From: Downey, Stacey sdowney at udc.edu
Date: Thu Oct 5 12:41:33 EDT 2006
Hello, All:
In following the discussion this week, I realize that no matter what we
call it -- practitioner inquiry, action research, shop talk, in-service
days, conferences - all are ways that practitioners carve out time to
reflect on their practice, and I am struck by how consistently these
encounters elicit insights.
As noted on this listserv, reflection requires time. Yet we know that
teachers' precious reflection time is often lost to meetings,
administrative tasks, or work-arounds because of a down printer,
computer, etc.
So, might it be useful to harken back to the notion of participatory
action research, and wonder how we can redistribute the work, and in
doing so, re-balance the learning, by sharing tasks with adult learners.
As David Rosen mentioned in an earlier post, the field is also examining
how technology can help with this.
Remember, action research has its roots in social psychology. The term
action research was coined by Kurt Lewin and based on Paulo Freire's
principles with learners actively engaged in the research and change.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Action_research How can we as educators
shift our role from teacher to facilitator?
Adrienne Jones, a DC Teacher-Researcher, has posted about how she used
technology in a downtown adult ed. center serving the homeless.
Contrary to what one might expect with learners working independently in
a computer lab, she found that there was increased collaboration and
camaraderie. Adrienne, you may want to say more about this.
Stacey Downey
Literacy Resources Director
State Education Agency, Adult Ed. & Family Literacy
Washington, DC
sdowney at udc.edu
Subject: [ProfessionalDevelopment 591] Re: Origin of Action Research
From: Sandy Wagner sandy_wagner at sbcglobal.net
Date: Thu Oct 5 17:24:31 EDT 2006
Hello, All:
I thought I would first start by introducing myself and appreciate the opportunity to add comments based on my experiences working with technology as a collaborative and extremely effective teaching tool.
My name is Sandy Wagner and I am currently Assistant Professor, Faculty Development for the Defense Language Institute, Department of Defense Center, Monterey Bay and have previously worked with adult ESL and ABE students in Broward County School District, Florida. My advanced degree is in Technology Education and I have designed online courses for second language acquisition. I preface my response with this background because research and experiential learning (my own) have proven the extensive benefits of online discussion and the online learning environment.
As related to implementinig PD and action research, while caveats exist, they cannot supercede the benefits afforded by collaborating with colleagues from all over the world with similar interests and expertise. Online collaboration additionally provides hours of collaboration that coincide with overloaded schedules and communications that allow for incorporation of content rich resources, document sharing and time to reflect before posting. We have available through technology collaboration through blogs, discussion groups (yahoo, google etc.) secure wikis and other resources.
In our workshops, we promote experiential learning, the power of group dynamics, and collegial sharing in conjunction with the precepts of constructivism. Participatory and collaborative action research would be a worthwhile pursuit and and a project worhy of putting into action.
Sandy
