From battlefields to classrooms: Operational and action research for creative solutions in education Lonnie Rowell, Ph.D. Director, Center for Student Support Systems (CS3) University of San Diego
Welcome! y
Session purpose: Examine action research as tool for educators seeking to strengthen practice
Presenter Director of CS3 - west coast center for research, program development, and program evaluation in student support systems y Developer of model for collaborative action research in school counseling y Educator for 30+ years y Co-Director, Counseling Program, University of San Diego y
Participants School counselors? y Administrators? y Teachers? y Years as educators? y
Session Plan Introductions & overview y Quick definitions & brief background – Action research y Fundamentals of action research y Problem formulation in action research yQ&A y
Action research defined y
Practitioner led inquiry and action to strengthen practice â—Ś Used to address problems of everyday practice
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Results generally localized- no attempt to generalize, thus outside the battle zone of evidence-based practice
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A large family - more than a set of discrete practices â—Ś A group of ideas emergent in various contexts
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Background y
Kurt Lewin (1890-1947) Group dynamics, experiential learning, social psychology, and action research
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AR emerges in the context of addressing social problems and is lost in the wake of “serious� (i.e. privileged) science
y Today, used in business, healthcare, education, community development
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Contexts of AR emergence y
Professional ◦ Practitioner led inquiry and action
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Personal ◦ Empowerment through “consciouss-raising”
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Political ◦ Production of knowledge and action directly useful to a community ◦ Empowerment through "consciousnessraising" 8
Inquiry and action y
“Action inquiry is a way of simultaneously conducting action and inquiry as a disciplined leadership practice that increases the wider effectiveness of our actions.” x Bill Torbert, Leadership for Change Program, Boston College
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Vision without action is a daydream; Action without vision is a nightmare x Asian proverb
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Widespread Use Business, healthcare, education, community development
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Global applications X JAAR X CARN X India, China
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Major conferences X Europe X San Diego
Action research cycle y
Iterative process
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Systematic, disciplined effort
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Collaborative action research - group of practitioners working together to solve a work-based problem
Lewin, 1946 11
Quick questions or comments?
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Problem formulation in AR y
Starting point for all research â—Ś Requires careful thought â—Ś Initial ambiguity
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Prepare for action, not for proving your impact
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Three reference points (Sagor) x Initiating action x Monitoring & adjusting action being taken x Evaluating action already taken
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Steps in problem formulation y
Problems of practice ◦ Weak accountability x Lack of data regarding impact
◦ Random acts of guidance x Lack of program base
◦ Need for program improvement ◦ Group dynamics
Seeking creative solutions y
From present situation to improvement â—Ś Framing the problem
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Situation as it is now
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Situation as you would like it to be (ideal)
Helping and restraining forces y
Helping – forces that push towards change
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Restraining – forces that push against change
Possible courses of action y
Restraining forces
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Helping forces
Review possible action steps y
Action steps to change the key forces affecting your problem situation
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Most promising steps?
Resources for carrying out action y
For most promising steps - identify resources
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Materials, people, and other resources
Developing an overall plan y
Comprehensive plan for action â—Ś Semester? Year? Two-years? Four-years?
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Steps and resources
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Possible sequence of action
Planning for evaluation y
How will you evaluate your action program as it is implemented?
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What evaluation procedures will you use?
Reflective interview y
An alternative form of brainstorming
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Tapping into creative potential
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Three framing questions: ◦ What matters most to you about your practice? ◦ What do you have the power to change? ◦ If you made a change, what difference would it make?
Discussion y
What do you think about this approach?
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How do you feel about what we have covered?
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Now what?
Thank you for attending y
For a copy of the PowerPoint â—Ś Email lrowell@sandiego.edu
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Visit the on-line Action Research Laboratory at â—Ś www.sandiego.edu/soles/cs3