A Journey in Action Research

A Journey in Action Research

By You Chuan Teoh

Educational action research seems wonderful on paper, where teachers actively participate in developing themselves, learning from each other and trying to improve classrooms, schools, and education systems. However, in reality, the use of action research in education can be a daunting task, and depending on the education policy direction underlying its use in an education system can be anything but a wonderful experience. This essay . . .

Singapore, SG
Increasing Student Learning and Interest in Agriculture Through Project-Based Learning

Increasing Student Learning and Interest in Agriculture Through Project-Based Learning

By Bradley Gannon

Our global population continues to increase and so must our food production. However, literatures indicate that fewer people have access to safe or sufficient food sources. This research is intended to address this problem, as we look at ways to increase middle school student interest in agriculture, including food production, distribution, and agricultural technology. . .

Park City, UT, US
Bridging the achievement gap: The educational success of African students in the U.K.

Bridging the achievement gap: The educational success of African students in the U.K.

By Henry Iberi

It is widely documented that white working-class children are underperforming academically compared to peers from ethnic minority backgrounds. Consequently, opportunities for higher education and well-regarded careers are often foreclosed for these young people. There is a perception, albeit contested, that this pattern of underperformance is rooted in . . .

Wolverhampton, ENG, GB
COVID-19: An Experience by a School Staff Coping with the Crisis

COVID-19: An Experience by a School Staff Coping with the Crisis

By Deborah Dobransky

The creation of a virtual classroom for special education students, as a result of physical school closures due to the COVID-19 virus, offered many challenges including the need to create temporary educational plans and to learn the mechanics of online service delivery. Unexpected and positive outcomes of the virtual classroom included improved therapist and teacher . . .

Rio Rancho, NM, US
Reading Without Walls: Fostering Diverse Reading Interests (Grantee Research Outcome)

Reading Without Walls: Fostering Diverse Reading Interests (Grantee Research Outcome)

By Mary Ellen Shu

Graphic novelist, cartoonist, and teacher, Gene Yang, chose his platform, “Reading Without Walls” (Yang, 2016), to challenge America’s youth to read a book about a character that did not look or live like the reader themselves or a book about a topic that the reader knew nothing about. The goal of this project was to explore . . .

Spring Valley, CA
Leadership and School Effectiveness: Teachers’ Work Lives and Professionalism

Leadership and School Effectiveness: Teachers’ Work Lives and Professionalism

By Effimia Stavrea

This study explored teacher professionalism, perceptions, as well as factors that impact upon their performance and the role of leadership in the enhancement of teacher effectiveness. As the teaching profession has been through harrowing times and the recruitment and retention issue has been a major focus of public attention in the U.K., this study . . .

Oxford, ENG, GB
Curriculum innovation in a primary classroom: Action research

Curriculum innovation in a primary classroom: Action research

By Soledad García Güemes; Elia Fernández-Díaz

This work explores a process of reflection accompanying an innovation in a 5th grade primary class at a public school in Santander, Spain. Combining conceptualization of curricular innovation and action-research as the instrument for innovation and professional development, this work resulted in a deeper knowledge . . .

Cantabria, ES
What impact do individualized teaching sessions have on learners with special needs?

What impact do individualized teaching sessions have on learners with special needs?

By Joanne Whiting

Facilitating the progress of children with moderate learning difficulties can be a challenge due to the poorer retention and memory that many of the children categorized in this group have. The aim of this study was to determine effects of an intervention which would not only enhance the children’s math and reading abilities, but also positively impact on the . . .

Wellingborough, ENG, GB
Creating a happy and active learning environment

Creating a happy and active learning environment

By Yvonne Samarawickrama

The objective of this practitioner-research was to determine if the new motivational and instructional strategies that I planned to implement would help create a classroom environment in which students feel safe and enjoy learning and collaborating with their peers. I wanted to create a space for all the students to express their feelings and emotions freely and openly so that they would have a relaxed mind for productive . .

Colombo, LK
Engaging children and parents in Homework

Engaging children and parents in Homework

By Claire Dunn

The goal of this project was to re-write a whole school approach to homework to fully engage children and parents in this aspect of learning. Surveys completed by children and parents as part of this research project indicated dissatisfaction on both parts with the previous approach to homework. In school, we work hard to develop confident, independent learners who are able to reflect on their learning . . .

Doncaster, ENG, GB