Benefits of Action Research in Education

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In the course of their occupation, teachers will carry out studies to improve their methods. There are many advantages of action research. The following essay examines them in detail.

Table of Contents

Introduction to Action Research
Benefits of Action Research
Limitations of Action Research
Advantages of Classroom Research
Three Action Research Questions
Action Research Benefits: A Case Study
Conclusion
References

Introduction to Action Research

Action research is an additional form of professional development that focuses on methods applied by teachers in efforts to improve learning. It is done through collaboration with the community, teachers, and students. In involves classroom-based inquiries on various topics relevant to the stakeholders.

Through action research, teachers are allowed to make decisions for the good of all students. Research findings have it that teachers are affected by research carried on them by other people. It affects their morale, leading to a decline in the academic performance of students.

It is also noted that giving students too much power leaves most teachers with little or no control over classroom activities. The development is harmful as it negatively affects the performance of the students.

Giving teachers the power to design and implement their research work improves the overall performance of the students (Ros & Meyer, 2002).

The current essay revolves around action research in the school setting. The author will highlight some of the benefits of action research, in addition to the barriers encountered in implementing the strategy. The author will also pose various questions with regard to action research.

Benefits of Action Research

Action research is beneficial to both students and teachers. The various benefits of this phenomenon include professional development. Such a development results from collaborative action work. Action research also improves the culture adopted in the school.

To this end, different research methodologies are applied to bring about change and development in education. Engagement in the classroom improves personal and professional values of the teachers, including their self esteem, self-efficacy, and collegiality.

Another advantage of action research is empowerment of teachers. In this case, teachers are given the power to make and implement their decisions. The powers to conduct classroom inquiries and those concerned with day-to-day running of the school are vested on the teachers.

The empowerment improves their working knowledge and status, which are essential to the success of the students. The teachers plan, organize, and nurture relationships in the school. The teachers improve their professionalism by engaging in curriculum conversations (Ros & Meyer, 2002).

Action research fosters development of skills pertaining to critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration, and ethical decision making. Teachers are required to adopt teaching practices that are beneficial to their students. The teachers hypothesize and test the practices they think are best suited to the career needs of their students.

Action research enhances the status of the teachers through collective participation. Teachers who participate in action research and who share their findings with stakeholders are respected. The expertise gained from research turns teachers into advocates for those practices that can improve and promote students’ learning.

Their discoveries are adopted by other teachers to improve learning. By sharing new ideas, teachers learn from each other. They become more connected and broaden their perspective. Teachers become more involved in issues affecting their school and students.

They begin to view themselves as responsible leaders with a voice and duty of contributing to school matters. Action research promotes the development of a community of learners. It enhances the development of educational leaders and top-notch researchers.

The entire community benefits from these leaders since they learn from each other (Ros & Meyer, 2002).

Limitations of Action Research

Action research has numerous barriers. The barriers hinder data collection, participation, and analysis of findings. It increases anxiety among teachers. Many teachers are intimidated by the language and unethical ways of thinking used by researchers.

Teachers may be isolated by researchers since they perceive them as critical thinkers and analyzers of essential facts. The differential status adopted by some researchers also limits action research. Many teachers perceive this aspect as a tool tailored to ridicule their activities.

Lack of ownership is another setback in action research. Students review only those articles that serve their own interests. They fail to review articles of less interest, hindering action research. There are also institutional issues that negatively affect action research.

Action research is perceived as an asset for opening up the school activities to the outsiders. Based on the sensitivity of the research, administrators paralyze any activity that can open their administration to criticism (Shuiman, 2005).

Advantages of Classroom-Based Inquiries

Conducting classroom-based inquiries facilitates improvement through change. Participation in classroom inquiries generates commitment. The increased commitment is vital in improving students’ achievement. Classroom inquiry also develops teachers’ professional experiences, allowing them to take responsibility for their growth (Lang, 2004).

Three Action Research Questions

Questions for teachers engaged in action research originate from their classrooms. They come as a result of uncertainties, conflict of ideas, and the desire to learn. Teachers use a variety of research questions to investigate the use and adoption of technology by their students.

Before framing research questions, a research plan must be developed to capture such details as the purpose of the research, need for innovation, and the subjects to be covered (Cousin, 2000). Following are three action research questions:

What is the impact of using computer-based instrumentation in science classrooms?
What is the effect of using database in classrooms?
What is the impact of computer technology on students’ motivation?

Action Research Benefits: A Case Study

The main question for the case study was: “Do all students acquire uniform education?’’. The study was aimed at analyzing the learning problems faced by the disabled students. The participants included one unified science general education teacher and two unified science special education co-teachers.

The study involved students with and without disabilities. Data was collected using interviews, review of documents, and focus group discussion for one year. The data was quantified using a constant comparative method and later analyzed (Cousin, 2000).

Conclusion

Action research is a vital tool in identifying the challenges affecting students, teachers, and communities in general. It must be encouraged to improve and mentor the future career of the students.

With improved information and communication technology, it is possible to reduce educational challenges and, as a result, improve the performance of both students and teachers. Though action research is affected by many factors, patience and tolerance must be embraced to enhance its success.

References

Cousin, G. (2000). Action research. Web.

Lang, F. (2004). The dynamics of school-based learning in initial teacher education. Research Papers in Education, 19(2), 185-204.

Ros, H., & Meyer, A. (2002). Teaching every student in the digital age: Universal design for learning. Alexandria, VA: The Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.

Shuiman, L. (2005). Opening lines: Approaches to the scholarship of teaching and learning. Web.

Zaaba, Z. (2009). Science and technology education in English: A case study of language policy in Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur: The International Conference on the Social Science and Humanities (ICOSH).

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