International Association of Educators   |  ISSN: 1308-951X

Original article | International Journal of Research in Teacher Education 2022, Vol. 13(3) 15-26

Action Research to Improve Educational Practices: Case Study to Explore to What Extent Action Research Could Improve Teaching Practices

Sura Sabri

pp. 15 - 26   |  Manu. Number: MANU-2010-03-0001

Published online: September 26, 2022  |   Number of Views: 219  |  Number of Download: 437


Abstract

Action research is now a requirement to ensure continuous professional development. In most urban countries, it is even required for licensure. Encouraging teachers to become researchers and investigate various issues in their classroom would develop their teaching strategies and inform them about the level of their students’ understanding. This instrumental case study research explored the effects of action research on improving teachers’ pedagogical skills in their classrooms. The study was conducted with two volunteer science teachers in a private high school in Abu Dhabi, and data was collected from open-ended questions, semi-structured interviews, and document analysis. Results supported previous findings of the importance of action research to develop teaching practices, in addition to the essential requirement to include action research performance as a central element in teacher evaluation and appraisal processes discussion and recommendations.

Keywords: Action research, Biology education


How to Cite this Article?

APA 6th edition
Sabri, S. (2022). Action Research to Improve Educational Practices: Case Study to Explore to What Extent Action Research Could Improve Teaching Practices . International Journal of Research in Teacher Education, 13(3), 15-26.

Harvard
Sabri, S. (2022). Action Research to Improve Educational Practices: Case Study to Explore to What Extent Action Research Could Improve Teaching Practices . International Journal of Research in Teacher Education, 13(3), pp. 15-26.

Chicago 16th edition
Sabri, Sura (2022). "Action Research to Improve Educational Practices: Case Study to Explore to What Extent Action Research Could Improve Teaching Practices ". International Journal of Research in Teacher Education 13 (3):15-26.

References
  1. Anon. n.d. Abell, Ra K. (2007) Handbook of Research on Science Education. Edited by Sandra K. Abell and Norman G. Lederman. United States: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.No Title. [Google Scholar]
  2. Brown, Christopher, Natalie Babiak Weber. 2016. “Struggling to Overcome the States Prescription for Practice: A Study of a Sample of Early Educators Professional Development and Action Research Projects in a High-Stakes Teaching Context’.” Journal of Teacher Education 67(3):1–20. [Google Scholar]
  3. Bruce, B. C. 2011. “What Is Inquiry-Based Learning?” [Google Scholar]
  4. Campbell, Kimberly Hill. 2013. “A Call to Action: Why We Need More Practitioner Research. A Response to ‘A Teacher Educator Uses Action Research to Develop Culturally Conscious Curriculum Planners.’” Democracy and Education 21(2):7. [Google Scholar]
  5. Capobianco, B.M. and Feldman, A. 2006. “Promoting Quality for Teacher Action Research: Lessons Learned from Science Teachers’ Action Research’.” Educational Action Research 14(4):497–512. [Google Scholar]
  6. Creswell, John W. 2011. Educational Research. 4th Editio. Pearson Education (US). [Google Scholar]
  7. Dorman, Jeffrey P., Jill M. Aldridge, and Barry J. Fraser. 2006. “Using Students’ Assessment of Classroom Environment to Develop a Typology of Secondary School Classrooms.” International Education Journal 7(7):906–15. [Google Scholar]
  8. Forawi, Sufian. 2015. Science Education in the Arab Gulf States. 1st ed. edited by N. M. and S. Al-Shamrani. United States: Sensepublishers. [Google Scholar]
  9. Goodnough, Karen. 2010. “Teacher Learning and Collaborative Action Research: Generating a ‘Knowledge-of-Practice’ in the Context of Science Education.” Journal of Science Teacher Education 21(8):917–35. doi: 10.1007/s10972-010-9215-y. [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  10. Hanauer, D. I., and C. Bauerle. 2012. “Facilitating Innovation in Science Education through Assessment Reform.” Liberal Education, Association of American Colleges and Universities 98. [Google Scholar]
  11. Hong, Ji, and Penelope Vargas. 2015. “Science Teachers’ Perception and Implementation of Inquiry-Based Reform Initiatives in Relation to Their Beliefs and Professional Identity.” International Journal of Research Studies in Education 4(5). doi: 10.5861/ijrse.2015.1092. [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  12. Jill M. Aldridge, Barry J. Fraser, Lisa Bell, Jeffrey Dorman. 2012. “Using a New Learning Environment Questionnaire for Reflection in Teacher Action Research.” Journal of Science Teacher Education Volume 23:259–290. [Google Scholar]
  13. Kösterelioğlu, İlker, and Amasya Üniversitesi. 2016. “Öz Değerlendirme Yönteminin Etkililiğinin Değerlendirilmesi Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Self-Assessment Method 1.” 15(2):671–81. [Google Scholar]
  14. Long, M., Wood, C., Littleton, K., Passenger, T., Sheehy, K. 2011. The Psychology of Education. London. Britin: Routledge. [Google Scholar]
  15. Lopes, J. Bernardino, Maria Júlia Branco, María Pilar Jiménez-Aleixandre. 2010. “Learning Experience’ Provided by Science Teaching Practice in a Classroom and the Development of Students’ Competences.” Research in Science Education 41(5):788–809. [Google Scholar]
  16. M, Capobianco. B. and Feldman, A. 2010. “Repositioning Teacher Action Research in Science Teacher Education.” Journal of Science Teacher Education 21:909–15. [Google Scholar]
  17. McCullagh, John F. 2012. “How Can Video Supported Reflection Enhance Teachers’ Professional Development?” Cultural Studies of Science Education 7(1):137–52. doi: 10.1007/s11422-012-9396-0. [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  18. McMINN, M., KADBEY, H., DICKSON. 2015. “The Impact of Beliefs and Challenges Faced, on the Reported Practice of Private School Science Teachers in Abu Dhabi’.” Journal of Turkish Science Education 12(2):69–76. [Google Scholar]
  19. Merriam, Sharan B. 2009. Qualitative Research: A Guide to Design and Implementation. JOSSEY-BASS. [Google Scholar]
  20. Mitchener, Carole P., and Wendy M. Jackson. 2012. “Learning from Action Research About Science Teacher Preparation.” Journal of Science Teacher Education 23(1):45–64. doi: 10.1007/s10972-011-9261-0. [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  21. Morales, Marie Paz E., Edna Luz R. Abulon, Portia Roxas-Soriano, Adonis P. David, Ma Victoria C. Hermosisima, and Maribel G. Gerundio. 2016. “Examining Teachers’ Conception of and Needs on Action Research.” Issues in Educational Research 26(3):464–89. [Google Scholar]
  22. Nolen, Amanda L., and Jim Vander Putten. 2007. “Action Research in Education: Addressing Gaps in Ethical Principles and Practices.” Educational Researcher 36(7):401–7. doi: 10.3102/0013189x07309629. [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  23. Sandra Enger, Robert Yager. 2009. Assessing Student Understanding in Science: A Standard-Based K-12 Handbook. 2nd ed. Indiana: Sega. [Google Scholar]
  24. Schraw, Gregory, Kent J. Crippen, and Kendall Hartley. 2006. “Promoting Self-Regulation in Science Education: Metacognition as Part of a Broader Perspective on Learning.” Research in Science Education 36(1–2):111–39. doi: 10.1007/s11165-005-3917-8. [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  25. Selçuk, Gamze Sezgİn, Serap Çalişkan, and Gülten Şendur. 2015. “The Opinions and Self-Evaluations of Science Teachers from Different Regions of Turkey about Active Learning Activities Instruction.” Education Electronic Journal of Science and Mathematics Education 9(2):125–57. [Google Scholar]
  26. Shawer, Saad. 2010. “The Influence of Student Teacher Self-Regulation of Learning on Their Curricular Content-Knowledge and Course-Design Skills.” Curriculum Journal 21(2):201–32. doi: 10.1080/09585176.2010.480872. [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  27. Slavin, Robert. 2014. Educational Psychology : Theory and Practice. Harlow England: Pearson. [Google Scholar]
  28. Steinar Kavle, Svend Brinkman. 2015. Interviews: Learning the Craft of Qualitative Research Interviewing. 3rd ed. Los Angeles: Sage. [Google Scholar]
  29. Swason, Richard. A. 2005. Swanson-2005-Chapters 1-2.Pdf. 1st ed. California: Berrett-Koehler. [Google Scholar]
  30. Tatar, Nilgün. 2012. “Inquiry-Based Science Laboratories : An Analysis of Preservice Teachers ’ Beliefs About Learning Science Through Inquiry and.” Journal of Baltic Science Education 11(3):248–67. [Google Scholar]
  31. Trauth-Nare, Amy, and Gayle Buck. 2011. “Using Reflective Practice to Incorporate Formative Assessment in a Middle School Science Classroom: A Participatory Action Research Study.” Educational Action Research 19(3):379–98. doi: 10.1080/09650792.2011.600639. [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  32. Udeani, U. N., H. I. Atagana, and G. O. Esiobu. 2016. “The Implementation of Action Research for the Improvement of Biology Teaching and Learning in Senior Secondary Schools in Nigeria.” Journal of Education and Practice 7(7):57–69. [Google Scholar]
  33. UNRWA. 2016. “Unit 4.5 Providing Continuing Professional Development for All Teachers.” [Google Scholar]
  34. Volk, K. .. 2010. “Action Research as a Sustainable Endeavor for Teachers: Does Initial Training Lead to Further Action.” Action Research 8(3):315–332. [Google Scholar]
  35. Wright, Margaret R., David N. Ellis, and Abigail Baxter. 2012. “The Effect of Immediate or Delayed Video-Based Teacher Self-Evaluation on Head Start Teachers Use of Praise.” Journal of Research in Childhood Education 26(2):187–98. doi: 10.1080/02568543.2012.657745. [Google Scholar] [Crossref] 
  36. Zimmerman, B. .. 2002. “Becoming a Self-Regulated Learner: An Overview’.” Theory into Practice 41(2):64–70. [Google Scholar]
  37. Zimmerman, B. .. 2013. “From Cognitive Modeling to Self-Regulation: A Social Cognitive Career Path.” Educational Psychologist 48(3):135–147. [Google Scholar]