An Evaluation of Leading Teacher Learning in Secondary Schools

An Evaluation of Leading Teacher Learning in Secondary Schools

By Alexander Pallister

This essay is presented as an evaluation of leading teacher learning in secondary schools. The paper considers three key areas: (1) The role of school leaders in relation to the professional development of teachers; (2) The contribution of mentoring in relation to teacher development; and (3) The concept and value of teacher leadership in relation to coaching and learner . . .

Manama, BH
Teacher workload concerns: What are the causes and effects?

Teacher workload concerns: What are the causes and effects?

By Amrita Johal

Teachers’ workload and its impact on staff recruitment and retention are a growing concern. This essay examines the perspectives of three teachers working in a secondary school in the UK and shows how workload has impacted their careers. Through the use of email interviews, the paper aims to explore the perspectives of the individuals, providing a glimpse into . . .

Loughborough, ENG, GB
Organizing for Justice:  The Power of Participatory Action Research

Organizing for Justice: The Power of Participatory Action Research

By Donna Nevel

This essay shares my passion for, and belief in, principles of Participatory Action Research (PAR) as an approach that can help strengthen and deepen our work for justice. I share some of what I learned experiencing PAR in practice beginning from the time I spent in Costa Rica working with the late Marcos Guevara. They were profound lessons that I carry with me in . . .

Miami, FL, US
Teachers’ Perceptions of the Role of Teacher Leadership

Teachers’ Perceptions of the Role of Teacher Leadership

By Bernadette Rhodes

This case study explored the role of teacher leadership in a post-16 college in England. The study investigated (a) teachers’ conceptualisations of teacher leadership, (b) the roles, responsibilities and tasks of teacher leaders, and (c) the facilitators and inhibitors of teacher leadership. A survey approach was adopted using a web-based questionnaire. Of the 74 teachers invited, 39 teachers from 30 different subject areas . . .

Nottingham, ENG, GB
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
A Student Friendly Programme To Clean The School

A Student Friendly Programme To Clean The School

By Lummini Gunathilaka

A pleasant environment contributes to a peaceful mind as well as success in education. A stress-free mind for students is facilitated by a pleasant school environment created by the students by cleaning the school environment before the commencement of the school day. That was the focus of the project reported in this paper. The school where I was first appointed as a teacher is located in a . . .

Kandy, LK
Microteaching as a Method to Enhance Prospective Teachers’ Teaching Skills

Microteaching as a Method to Enhance Prospective Teachers’ Teaching Skills

By H.M. Nalini Dhammika Kumari

Microteaching and teaching practice are two integral parts of pre-service teacher education programmes. Microteaching has been used since the 1960s in teaching and learning environments including teaching practices of pre-service teachers. The emphasis of professional development in teacher education has been on . . .

Gampaha, LK
A Reflection from the Action Research Podcast Episode 19

A Reflection from the Action Research Podcast Episode 19

By Meagan Call-Cummings

This essay is a reflection on the Action Research Podcast, Episode 19. Dr. Patricia Maguire discusses feminisms and action research. I pull out some themes and thoughts listeners may find useful. When I began to listen to this Podcast, right off, I recognized myself in Dr. Maguire’s story. As she explains it, she came to action research – or participatory action research – as did I, from involvement in the international . . .

Fairfax, VA, US
Ethics in Action Research: AR Podcast Episode 17

Ethics in Action Research: AR Podcast Episode 17

By Shikha Diwakar

This article is a review of an episode of the Action Research Podcast. In Episode 17, co-hosts Adam Stieglitz (PhD candidate) and Dr. Joe Levitan talked with Dr. Mary Brydon-Miller about some of the tricky concepts like navigating power differentials as an action researcher; conventional versus covenantal ethics; challenges within IRB and the human subject review system; ethical imperialism; and why we need a new . . .

Montréal-Est, CA
A Reflection from the Action Research Podcast Episode 16

A Reflection from the Action Research Podcast Episode 16

By Adam Stieglitz

This article is a short reflection of The Action Research Podcast episode 16 with Dr. Deborah L Schussler, where we talk about how different methodological approaches relate to action research. I reflect on this episode from three different lenses: co-host, action researcher, and podcast listener. The Action Research Podcast is a recurring (iterative) podcast meant to bring action research theory and practice to . . .

Calca, PE
Action Research Tradition of Sports Sciences in Sri Lanka

Action Research Tradition of Sports Sciences in Sri Lanka

By Thanuja Liyanage

The Department of Sport Sciences and Physical Education, Sabaragamuwa University, Sri Lanka, has earned a reputation as a leader in sports education and has been recognized nationally since 2008 for the delivery of two full-time undergraduate degrees in Physical Education and Sport Sciences & Management. Students complete two action research studies in partial fulfillment of . . .

Colombo, LK
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
Welcome to The Action Research Podcast

Welcome to The Action Research Podcast

By Adam Stieglitz; Vanessa Gold; Shikha Diwakar; Joe Levitan

The purpose of this project is to expose a new form of knowledge inquiry and dissemination through the use of podcasting. Dr. Joe Levitan and Adam Stieglitz created “The Action Research Podcast” as an attempt to push back on the standard approach to accessing meaningful knowledge, specifically in the academic realm. As co-hosts, Adam and Joe feel it . . .

Calca, PE
What shall we do about the Children of the Pandemic?

What shall we do about the Children of the Pandemic?

By Teresa Snyder

I wrote this piece after hearing many of my peers expressing confounding perspectives on “learning loss” during a pandemic which has turned everyone’s life upside down. I published this on a Facebook page and was astonished at how far it has traveled and how many people around the globe have responded that it expressed their concerns as well. Ultimately, the piece has received about 1,000,000 global interactions in . . .

Schenectady, NY, US
Room 7 and a Feminist Participatory Action Research Website

Room 7 and a Feminist Participatory Action Research Website

By Patricia Maguire

This short essay explores why I recently created a website to digitally codify a slice of my life work in feminist participatory action research and teacher action research. My website – part repository, part memoir – includes freely downloadable PDF files of publications, presentations, and teaching resources. In this essay, I briefly explore why I included personal Backstories to . . .

Saint Augustine Beach, FL, US
Strengthening Critical-Thinking Skills of Science Students in Sri Lanka

Strengthening Critical-Thinking Skills of Science Students in Sri Lanka

By Thanuja Perera

Scientific literacy and critical thinking are key components of science education aiming to prepare students to think and function as responsible citizens in a world where science and technology play a key role. Students should be given opportunities to engage in learning experiences that promote development of critical-thinking skills, resulting in their ability to take . . .

Negombo, LK
Power in schools: An ex-teacher returns as a researcher

Power in schools: An ex-teacher returns as a researcher

By Dave McPartlan

This writing is for teachers who are either returning to schools to conduct research or are hoping to conduct research within their own institution. I explore how my previous role may have been seen by the young people within the school and how that impacted on the young people’s perceptions of me. The aim of the writing is to reflect on my preparation to conduct qualitative research on power in a school where I . . .

Hexham, ENG, GB
Think on matters positively: The impact of Covid-19 in Sri Lankan society

Think on matters positively: The impact of Covid-19 in Sri Lankan society

By Ushara Shamini

This essay is my self-reflection, as a young person, about the pre Covid-19 society and Covid-19 society of Sri Lanka. There has been a vast change in Sri Lankan society during this Covid-19 pandemic. As we are a developing country this pandemic hits everyone’s life. However, when I reflected on lives during Covid-19 I found that there are many positive impacts of the pandemic . . .

Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, LK
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
Una experiencia docente en modalidad virtual / A Teaching Experience in Virtual Mode

Una experiencia docente en modalidad virtual / A Teaching Experience in Virtual Mode

By Karina Cruz-Pallares

The text describes the situation generated in a Normal School in northern Mexico as a result of the health contingency caused by COVID-19, and mainly highlights the prompt organization of teachers and students to continue the 2019-20 school year online. The main problems faced result from economic needs that limit the possibilities of relying on permanent . . .

Chihuahua, MX