The Action Research Guidebook a Process for Pursuing Equity and Excellence in Education /
Think of yourself as an educational architect By tapping into the power of action research, you can improve overall student performance, eliminate achievement gaps, and enhance your own efficacy and morale. In the third edition of this bestselling guidebook, you'll find: New insights on how to...
| Main Author: | Sagor, Richard D., |
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| Other Authors: | Williams, Charlene Denise Verreen, |
| Format: | eBook |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Thousand Oaks :
Corwin,
2016.
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| Physical Description: |
1 online resource (288 pages) |
| Subjects: |
| Summary: |
Think of yourself as an educational architect By tapping into the power of action research, you can improve overall student performance, eliminate achievement gaps, and enhance your own efficacy and morale. In the third edition of this bestselling guidebook, you'll find: New insights on how to use reflective practice, qualitative and quantitative methods, and culturally responsive teaching to improve the success of all students A field-tested, four-stage action research process to lead you from brainstorming to breakthrough Illustrative examples, charts, handouts, worksheets, and sample action. |
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| Item Description: |
Articulating a Theory of Action If Not Us, Who? An Adequate Knowledge Base Already Exists Going Beyond Proven Practices: Building a Theory of Action Two Kinds of Variables Creating Mileposts on the Route to Mastery Inferring Independent Variables Using the Priority Pie to Identify, Clarify, and Weigh Independent Variables Using the Priority Pie With Descriptive Research 5. Drawing a Theory of Action Why a Map? European Explorers as Action Researchers Building a Graphic Reconstruction Graphic Reconstructions for Quasi-Experimental Research Graphic Reconstructions With Descriptive Research Proofing a Theory of Action for Leadership Projects 6. Analyzing the Data Trend Analysis Organizing Data to Help Answer the Three Generic Questions ACR Question 1: What Did We Do? ACR Question 2: What Changes Occurred Regarding the Achievement Targets? ACR Question 3: What Was the Relationship Between Actions Taken and Any Changes in Performance on the Targets? Drawing Tentative Assertions Using Member Checking to Add Credibility to the Tentative Assertions Additional Tools for Qualitative Data Analysis Qualitative Data Analysis Using Bins and a Matrix Low-Tech Strategies for Bins and Matrixes Using a Computer for Bins and Matrixes 9. Turning Findings Into Action Plans Modifying Your Theory of Action Data-Based Decision Making Turning Your Findings Into Ed Specs Solicit and Brainstorm Action Alternatives Using Ed Specs to Evaluate Action Alternatives Using Ed Specs to Evaluate Action Alternatives for Schoolwide Projects Completing the Cycle: Revised Theory of Action 2 10. Reporting and Sharing Action Research Common Issues Formats for Reporting Creating a Bank of Abstracts Creating a District Archive 11. Conclusion: The School as a Learning Organization The Two Keys: Coherence and Congruence Putting the Pieces Together Resources Resource A: How to Use the Feedback Forms and Summary Reports Resource B: Five Characteristics of a Quality Action Research Project Resource C: Applications for Leadership Projects Resource D: Sample Abbreviated Action Research Reports Glossary References Index. Preface to the Third Edition; Publisher's Acknowledgments; About the Authors; 1. Introduction to Action Research; Why Conduct Action Research?; The Complexity of Routine Instructional Decisions; Key Terms and Concepts; Universal Student Success; 2. Finding a Focus; Zeroing in on Your Priorities; Using Reflective Writing to Find a Focus; Performance, Process, and Program Targets and Action Research by School Leaders; Using a Journal to Identify Action Research Foci; Reflective Interviews; Reflective Interviewing and the Problem of Isolation; Analytic Discourse; Team Reflection; 3. Refining the Focus; Visualizing Success; Conducting an Instructional Postmortem; Taking Stock of One's Recent Leadership Experience; Comparing Your Experience With the Experience of Others; Developing Criteria to Measure Changes With Priority Achievement Targets; Creating Performance Rating Scales; Rating Scales and Program Action Research; The Special Problem of Long-Range Goals; Assessing Rate of Growth; Determining Adequate Yearly Progress in Real Time; Producing Your Own Rate-of-Growth Charts; Ascertaining Rate of Growth in Leadership Projects; 4. Articulating a Theory of Action; If Not Us, Who?; An Adequate Knowledge Base Already Exists; Going Beyond Proven Practices: Building a Theory of Action; Two Kinds of Variables; Creating Mileposts on the Route to Mastery; Inferring Independent Variables; Using the Priority Pie to Identify, Clarify, and Weigh Independent Variables; Using the Priority Pie With Descriptive Research; 5. Drawing a Theory of Action; Why a Map?; European Explorers as Action Researchers; Building a Graphic Reconstruction; Graphic Reconstructions for Quasi-Experimental Research; Graphic Reconstructions With Descriptive Research; Proofing a Theory of Action for Leadership Projects; 6. Determining the Research Questions; Three Generic Action Research Questions; Developing Your Own Research Questions; Two-Step Walk-Through; Drafting the Questions; Surfacing Research Questions for Leadership Projects; 7. Building a Data Collection Plan; Data Collection and the Competing Demands for Your Time; What Qualifies as Teaching?; What Things Qualify as Data?; Data in Descriptive Research; Data in Quasi-Experimental Research; Data Collection and Concerns About Precision; Fishing in a Sea of Data; Securing Research Assistants; Building a Triangulated Data Collection Plan; Data Collection Planning for Leadership Projects; Integrating Efficiencies Into Your Data Collection Work; Using Technology to Compile and Assemble Action Research Data; Keeping a Researcher's Journal; 8. Analyzing the Data; Trend Analysis; Organizing Data to Help Answer the Three Generic Questions; ACR Question 1: What Did We Do?; ACR Question 2: What Changes Occurred Regarding the Achievement Targets?; ACR Question 3: What Was the Relationship Between Actions Taken and Any Changes in Performance on the Targets?; Drawing Tentative Assertions; Using Member Checking to Add Credibility to the Tentative Assertions; Additional Tools for Qualitative Data Analysis; Qualitative Data Analysis Using Bins and a Matrix; Low-Tech Strategies for Bins and Matrixes; Using a Computer for Bins and Matrixes; 9. Turning Findings Into Action Plans; Modifying Your Theory of Action; Data-Based Decision Making; Turning Your Findings Into Ed Specs; Solicit and Brainstorm Action Alternatives; Using Ed Specs to Evaluate Action Alternatives; Using Ed Specs to Evaluate Action Alternatives for Schoolwide Projects; Completing the Cycle: Revised Theory of Action 2; 10. Reporting and Sharing Action Research; Common Issues; Formats for Reporting; Creating a Bank of Abstracts; Creating a District Archive; 11. Conclusion: The School as a Learning Organization; The Two Keys: Coherence and Congruence; Putting the Pieces Together; Resources; Resource A: How to Use the Feedback Forms and Summary Reports; Resource B: Five Characteristics of a Quality Action Research Project; Resource C: Applications for Leadership Projects; Resource D: Sample Abbreviated Action Research Reports; Glossary; References; Index. Think of yourself as an educational architect By tapping into the power of action research, you can improve overall student performance, eliminate achievement gaps, and enhance your own efficacy and morale. In the third edition of this bestselling guidebook, you'll find: New insights on how to use reflective practice, qualitative and quantitative methods, and culturally responsive teaching to improve the success of all students A field-tested, four-stage action research process to lead you from brainstorming to breakthrough Illustrative examples, charts, handouts, worksheets, and sample action. |
| Physical Description: |
1 online resource (288 pages) |
| ISBN: |
9781506380599 150638059X 9781506380582 1506380581 |