Synopses & Reviews
This is a wonderful book with deep insight into the relationship between teachers' action and result of student learning. It discusses from different angles impact of action research on student learning in the classroom. Writing samples provided at the back are wonderful examples. -Kejing Liu, Shawnee State UniversityTeacher Action Research: Building Knowledge Democracies focuses on helping schools build knowledge democracies through a process of action research in which teachers, students, and parents collaborate in conducting participatory and caring inquiry in the classroom, school, and community. Author Gerald J. Pine examines historical origins, the rationale for practice-based research, related theoretical and philosophical perspectives, and action research as a paradigm rather than a method.Key FeaturesDiscusses how to build a school research culture through collaborative teacher researchDelineates the role of the professional development school as a venue for constructing a knowledge democracyFocuses on how teacher action research can empower the active and ongoing inclusion of nontraditional voices (those of students and parents) in the research process Includes chapters addressing the concrete practices of observation, reflection, dialogue, writing, and the conduct of action research, as well as examples of teacher action research studies
Synopsis
Action Research: Building Knowledge Democracies is designed to serve as a primary textbook for graduate level courses in action research. What sets it apart from other texts is its emphasis on action research as a vehicle through which schools can build knowledge democracies. This text goes beyond the how to of action research to examine the why-the historical origins, the rationale behind practice-based research, the related theoretical and philosophical perspectives, and the major paradigms of action research. A discussion of collaborative action research and action research as professional development along with a presentation of research methods and case studies demonstrates how action research can contribute to the creation of schools as centers of democratic inquiry.
Features:
Emphasizes action research as a tool for building schools as knowledge democraciesExamines the historical disconnect between educational research and practicePresents three key sections focusing on understanding action research, collaborative action research, and practicing action researchBroadens the concept of collaborative action research to include students and parents as partners in the inquiry processIncludes numerous examples of teacher action research studies