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Digging Deeper Into Action Research
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Digging Deeper Into Action Research
A Teacher Inquirer's Field Guide

Foreword by Marilyn Cochran-Smith



February 2013 | 120 pages | Corwin

Take your great idea to the next level with action research

How—and when—can we find time to conduct meaningful action research? Great ideas and thought-provoking questions can only blossom through methodical inquiry. Nancy Fichtman Dana steps in as your action-research coach and leads you on a journey through wonderings to real change in your classroom.

From framing your question to presenting your research, this guide will encourage, challenge, and ultimately lead you through the action research process. Teachers, students, and action-research coaches alike will learn how to:

• Reframe initial wonderings into pointed inquiries
• Creatively analyze both qualitative and quantitative data
• Draw action-research topics out of ordinary discussions with colleagues
• Share findings with others to help them improve as well

With real-life vignettes, self-guided worksheets, and an included DVD, Digging Deeper into Action Research is your go-to guide each time you embark on a new journey toward professional growth.

"This field guide will undoubtedly make a valuable contribution to the larger project of practitioners engaged in the work of reflecting on, studying, and interrogating their own practice in order ultimately to improve the social life of classrooms and the learning opportunities and life chances of children."
—Marilyn Cochran-Smith, Cawthorne Professor of Teacher Education
Boston College

"This is THE book to read for any educator who ever found themselves asking, 'What just happened?!?' If you like finding your own solutions to your teaching problems, this is the key to your freedom and to satisfaction in your teaching career!"
—Mary K. Culver, Associate Clinical Professor
Northern Arizona University


 
List of Figures
 
Foreword by Marilyn Cochran-Smith
 
Preface
 
Acknowledgments
 
Introduction to the Inspire to Inquire DVD
 
About the Author
 
How to Use the Inquiry Books
 
1. Why Do Teacher Research Anyway?
Teacher Research Defined

 
How to Define Your Research

 
Why It's Important: The 5 Es

 
 
2. Developing and Fine-Tuning Your Wondering
Wondering Defined

 
How to Define Your Wondering

 
The Wondering Litmus Test

 
 
3. Developing and Fine-Tuning Your Research Plan
Research Plan Defined

 
How to Define Your Research Plan

 
The Inquiry Plan Litmus Test

 
 
4. Analyzing Your Data
Data Analysis Defined

 
How to Avoid Data Analysis Paralysis

 
The Data Analysis Litmus Test

 
 
5. Presenting Your Research
Presentation Defined

 
How to Define Your Presentation

 
The Presentation Litmus Test

 
 
6. On Your Way: Teacher Research as a Way of Being in the World
Inquiry Stance Defined

 
How to Define Your Stance

 
Living the Life of an Inquirer

 
 
References
 
Index

Good supplementary reading for teacher education programs

Dr Zsuzsanna Szabo
Social Behavioral Science Div, Marist College
October 22, 2013

I really like this book but think that the earlier book would better suit my class needs. This does not delve into the creation of questions/problems as thoroughly as I would like. It is broader, not quite as specific.

Dr Emily Daniels
Education, Health and Human Services, Suny College at Plattsburgh
July 26, 2013
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Key features
  • Simple and succinct review of each component of the action research process.
  • Exercises and vignettes to guide teachers conducting classroom research.
  • The "5 Es" (engage, enable, expand, express, and embrace) - A mnemonic device to inspire teachers to engage in their own research and energize them throughout each step of the process, particularly in these trying education times.
  • Tips for fine-tuning a "wondering" (or research question), developing a research plan, analyzing data, and presenting research to colleagues.

Purchasing options

For large school/district orders, volume discounts, availability and shipping times contact customer service at 800-233-9936
or order@corwin.com.

contact corwin

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ISBN: 9781452241951
CAD$ 43.95

For large school/district orders, volume discounts, availability and shipping times contact customer service at 800-233-9936
or order@corwin.com.

For instructors

This book is not available as an inspection copy. For more information contact your local sales representative.