Benefits of Action Research

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.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Benefits of Action Research specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More 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. Givin g 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.Advertising Looking for ess ay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More 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 st udents. 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).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Benefits of Action Research specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More 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 capt ure 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:Advertising Looking for essay on education? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More 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? Application of Participatory Action Research Approach to Create a Universally Designed Inclusive High School Science Course: A Case Study The main question for the case study was: â€Å"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. Ku ala Lumpur: The International Conference on the Social Science and Humanities (ICOSH). This essay on Benefits of Action Research was written and submitted by user Mayson Vargas to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

The Holocaust in Film essays

The Holocaust in Film essays Films greatly enhance and enrich our understanding of the Holocaust. Besides serving the obvious function of scribing history, film adds a third dimension of understanding that we as humans are programmed to understand and relate to better. Being able to see the looks on the Nazi faces as they try to squirm their way out of an uncomfortable question clearly gives you a better sense of understanding about their mockery of the holocaust. You could read that Hitler was an evil man, but until you see his face, and the way people seemingly worshipped him during the holocaust, your imagination is left to wonder; and ultimately, importance is taken away from the catastrophe of the Holocaust. Film puts you there, in the situation, painting a scene so vivid that you can become emotionally attached. Also, film allows you to catch clues that you may not have otherwise seen. In the film Genocide, we saw the German commanders being interviewed after the holocaust. You could tell that they w ere lying, because during dishonest statements they would literally smile. The third dimension of film and emotional appeal can not be understated. Its because of this reason, that film has a greater effect on most people than text, or other avenues of research. One example of increased effectiveness is the film Shtetl that we viewed in class. Shtetl was one mans journey back to Poland in order to figure out exactly how the holocaust happened, and what happened to his Jewish relatives and the Shtetl (small town in Yiddish) they lived in. Through this film, it became evident that even today there are varying degrees of anti-Semitism in the places (more specifically, Poland), where the German invaders were ousted. A lesson should have been learned in these places that suffered great hardship and atrocity, but in this video we saw that many people still held hatred towards the Jews. Anti-Semitic behavior...