Teachers As Researchers Classic Edition

Teachers as Researchers urges teachers - as both producers and consumers of knowledge - to engage in the debate about educational research by undertaking meaningful research themselves. Teachers are being encouraged to carry out research in order to improve their effectiveness in the classroom, but this book suggests that they also reflect on and challenge the reductionist and technicist methods that promote a 'top down' system of education. It argues that only by engaging in complex, critical research will teachers rediscover their professional status, empower their practice in the classroom and improve the quality of education for their pupils. Now re-released to introduce this classic guide for teachers, the new edition of Teachers as Researchers now also includes an introductory chapter by Shirley R. Steinberg that sets the book within the context of both the subject and the historical perspective. In addition, she also provides information on some key writing that extends the bibliography of this influential book thereby bringing the material fully up to date with current research. Postgraduate students of education and experienced teachers will find much to inspire and encourage them in this definitive book.

This book urges teachers - as both producers and consumers of knowledge - to engage in the debate about educational research by undertaking meaningful research themsleves. Teachers are now being encouraged to carry out research in order to improve their effectiveness in the classroom, but this book suggests that they also reflect on and challenge the reductionist and technicist methods that promote a 'top down' system of education. The author, a leading proponent of qualitative research, argues that only by engaging in complex, critical research will teachers rediscover their professional status, empower their practice in the classroom and improve the quality of education for their pupils. Postgraduate students of education and experienced teachers will find much to inspire and encourage them in this book. Updated and revised for this new edition, it retains both its clarity and insistence on sound research practice. Joe L. Kincheloe is Professor of Education at the City University of New York Graduate Center and Brooklyn College. he is the author and editor of many books on critical pedagogy and qualitative research in education. Series Editor: Ivor F. Goodson.

A Teacher's Guide to Classroom Research 5E is a great 'one-stop' guide for trainee or qualified teachers looking to undertake classroom research. Through its friendly, supportive and authoritative approach, A Teacher's Guide to Classroom Research 5E tackles the big issues and questions of education research and offers a clear framework for doing classroom research. The updated fifth edition retains all the features that have made it so popular over the past thirty years - such as a rich range of insightful case studies demonstrating successful classroom research in practice - whilst offering expanded coverage of research methods and techniques. Key features include: How to get started on classroom research The principles and methods of classroom research for professional learning Interpreting and analyzing data Reporting classroom research Linking to teaching and learning Whether you are a trainee teacher undertaking some form of classroom-based research as an essential element of your teacher training course, or a qualified teacher doing research to explore and improve your practice, this classic and seminal text guides and supports you throughout the entire process from initial research idea to final dissemination.

A main text for courses in action research or a supplement to courses in research methods in education A step-by-step guide to action research with a balanced coverage of qualitative and quantitative methods. Known for its practical, step-by-step guidance for teachers on how to do research in classrooms, Action Research: a Guide for the Teacher Researcher was born from the author's own experience working with teachers and principals. The author guides future educators through the action research process via numerous concrete illustrations; positioning it as a fundamental component of teaching, alongside curriculum development, assessment, and classroom management. From reviews of the book: “Mills’ writing style is informative, direct, and personalized and his expertise as a researcher is evident throughout the textbook. He fully understands the uniqueness of teacher-centered research. . . . The language and the illustration cater to the classroom research contexts and it is easy to understand and apply.” –Adel Al-Bataineh, Illinois State University “The book emphasizes the importance of reflection and creating an action plan. . . . Examples of action research papers are included. There are study sites, videos, slides and other supplemental materials available for the students to consult for ancillary learning. The writing style is clear, interesting and engaging. Throughout the text, Mills offers the reader a research scenario that helps to position him or her around the theme of the chapter and context of the research phase. This helps to alleviate some of the anxiety students of action research may experience as they begin each aspect of the action research process.” –Beverly Melenyzer, California University of Pennsylvania “[T]he survey examples, SurveyMonkey, and direct observation examples are very good, as well as the informal interview, making records, [and] data collection techniques. . . . [T]he section on re-aligning the focus and action research plan is very good. I find my students doing this as they are doing their literature review and understanding that they need to narrow the scope of their research. I like the example of doing AR in Ch. 6. . . . I like the inclusion of the data analysis, sample interview and other models of how to analyze data. . . . The key strengths of the project are the authentic examples of AR.” –Mary Frances Agnello, Texas Tech University

Born of the author's own experience working with teachers and principals,Action Research, Fourth Edition,provides a research-based step-by-step outline of how to do action research. The author guides teachers and administrators through the action research process via numerous concrete illustrations; positioning it as a fundamental component of teaching. Action Researchhelps to develop teachers and administrators with professional attitudes, who embrace action, progress, and reform. Features Balanced coverage of quantitative data collection and analysis techniques Chapter 4, Data Collection Techniques, covers collection techniques for the most frequently used qualitative and quantitative data, including observations, interviews, teacher-made tests, and standardized test data. Chapter 6, Data Analysis and Interpretation, guides students through data analysis and provides techniques, coding guidelines, and examples for analyzing both quantitative and qualitative data. Additional coverage of mixed methods research has been added throughout the book. A focus on producing critical consumers of action research A new chapter, Evaluating Action Research (Chapter 9), helps students become critical consumers of research. Included in Chapter 9 is an article from an action research journal that is analyzed using the new criteria for evaluating action research. Appendix A, Action Research in Action, contains an extended example and evaluation of an action research case study. An expanded coverage of ethics Chapter 2, Ethics, provides an expanded discussion of ethical guidelines and provides guidance for seeking and obtaining Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval. Integration to the MyEducationLab for Action Research website The fourth edition ofAction Researchincludes margin note integration with MyEducationLab for Action Research, a dynamic online learning environment that provides students with the opportunity to build a better understanding of action research through engagement with real products from the research process. A user-friendly format Chapter objectives give students targets to shoot for as they read and study Key Concept boxes provide students with an efficient review of important vocabulary and theory Research in Action checklists provide students with guidelines to use in each stage of the action research process

Become part of an online action research community Craig Mertler has recently created a wiki for action research. Click here to become part of this online community and begin exchanging ideas, questions/answers, and reflections about action research today! You can also follow Craig Mertler on Twitter @actionrsrchr, or listen to his podcasts here. Provides comprehensive coverage of action research methods without being unnecessarily technical The Second Edition of Action Research: Teachers as Researchers in the Classroom introduces practicing teachers to the process of conducting classroom-based action research. Written for the practicing educator, the focus is on conducting applied, classroom research. The book's practicality stems from its attention to research methods and procedures that teachers can use with their everyday instructional practices and classroom activities. New to the Second Edition Incorporates a discussion of rigor in classroom-based action research (Chapter 1) Presents several additional models of action research, including visuals of those models (Chapter 1) Discusses the activity of conducting "reconnaissance" (Chapters 2 and 3) Adds a third Action Research Portrait to illustrate how teachers conduct action research in response to their own classroom situations (Chapters 3-8) Provides a section that encourages educators to develop their own action research communities (Chapter 8) Simplifies the summaries of all nine chapters so that the main points and sub-points are more apparent Offers two new examples of complete action research reports in Appendixes A and B Now Accompanied by a Student Study Site! A new Student study site includes comprehensive study materials such as chapter summaries, practice tests, flashcards, and PowerPoint slides. Additional resources include "Learning from SAGE Journal Articles," "How to Read a Research Article," and an annotated research report for student reference.

“This informative book helped me to understand research in general and to bring focus and clarity to my current research project. The text answers questions and provides guidance and support in a manner that is user-friendly and easy to comprehend…. After reading this book, I feel empowered as a teacher-researcher and would unhesitatingly recommend it to other teacher-researchers, graduate students and educators.”Francesca Crowther – teacher and doctoral student, Nova Scotia, Canada. This book provides a comprehensive and detailed approach to teacher research as systematic, methodical and informed practice. It identifies five requirements for all kinds of research, and provides clear and accessible guidelines for teachers to use in conducting their own classroom-based studies. Features: A clear definition of teacher research which insists on more than ‘stories’ and anecdotal ‘retrospectives’ Innovative organisational structure based on the collection and analysis of spoken, written and observed data, with strong emphasis on the design of research projects Easy-to-use and widely applicable tools and techniques for collecting and analysing data in qualitative research Informed by the authors’ own wide-ranging experiences, A Handbook of Teacher Research provides everything the teacher researcher needs in order to conduct good quality practitioner research. It is ideal for upper level undergraduate Education programmes and for postgraduate research, as well as for teacher researchers who conceive and drive their own independent studies.

Becoming a Teacher through Action Research, Third Edition skillfully interweaves the stories of pre-service teaching with the process of action research. This engaging text focuses specifically on the needs of pre-service teachers by providing assistance for all stages of the research experience, including guidance on how to select an area of focus, design a culturally-proficient study, collect and interpret data, and communicate findings. With an updated introduction and two new chapters, this revised edition fully develops a convincing response to the framing question of the book, "Why pre-service teacher action research?" The new edition continues to focus on elements of trustworthy pre-service teacher action research, and provides a more robust overview of research methodology. Using additional activities, charts, and examples, this book offers support during the steps of writing a critical question, data collection, data analysis and the use of analytic memos. New Features in the Third Edition include: New chapters on ongoing data analysis and final data interpretation, which include practice scenarios and examples to give readers a deeper understanding of doing the work of action research processes; An expanded chapter on action research methodology, which includes scaffolds for making methodological decisions, additional practice scenarios, and a revised action research design template; New end-of-chapter Content and Process Questions to encourage deeper understanding; New examples throughout, expanded additional glossary terms, enhanced literature review guidance, and updated templates to support action research projects; An updated companion website with downloadable templates and additional instructor resources; A revised interior text design to increase the accessibility of the text. This one-of-a-kind guide continues to offer invaluable support for teacher-education students during a critical phase of their professional—and personal—lives.