Action Research Topics for Teachers
Action research is a reflective process that allows teachers to improve the effectiveness of their teaching methods. It focuses not on theoretical issues but on issues that the teacher can control. The process of action research consists of identifying an area to study, fact finding, determining a plan and implementing that plan, evaluating the results, amending the plan and taking action based on the amended plan. This cycle of continued improvement can be invaluable for teachers looking to enhance teaching methods and student achievement.
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Individual Teachers
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It is often the responsibility of individual teachers to determine what is and isn't working in their classrooms. Teachers can begin by asking themselves questions such as which students are learning and which are being left out, what behavior problems exist in the classrooms, and what performance patterns exist, such as decreased test scores among particular groups of students. Within a single classroom setting, topics studied could include the effectiveness of different teaching materials and the effectiveness of self-regulated study among students.
Collaborative Action
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Collaborative action could involve a single classroom with more than one teacher or multiple classrooms concentrating on a single issue. With more than one classroom, surveys and questionnaires are time-effective methods of assessing students' motivations and preferences. You can use charts to track variables such as students' verbal participation and compare the results amongst the educators and the classrooms. Topics could include comparing class participation across gender, the effects of different seating arrangements and the value of displaying students' work.
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School
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Although school initiatives are wider in scope and require more preparation than collaborative or individual action research plans, they can also tackle more systemic issues. To ensure a broad spectrum of results that is usable, studies should include a variety of different types of tools, such as surveys, videotaping or one-on-one interviews with students and teacher research journals. Topics could include the effects of preschool attendance on first grade standardized tests or comparing reading levels of kids who have parents that read to them and those that do not.
District
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Administrators often enact district-wide plans to facilitate social change and often work in collaboration with teachers to develop ideas for change. Topics should include those that benefit the dominant student population in a given district. Topics could include how to effectively teach learners that are not primary English speakers, how to reduce the dropout rate, how to increase math scores on standardized tests or how to reduce school violence and gang involvement.
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References
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