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[Assessment 516] Cross-post: Action Research as Professional DevelopmentTaylor, Jackie jataylor at utk.eduTue Sep 26 12:15:41 EDT 2006
Assessment List Colleagues: I am very pleased to announce an exciting discussion lined up for the Adult Literacy Professional Development List, beginning this Monday, October 2nd, on "Action Research as Professional Development." University researchers from the University of the District of Columbia and at least five of the 17 teacher researchers will be joining us to share their rich experiences with the practice of action research as a vehicle for teacher change. I hope you will join us! Best, Jackie Taylor, Adult Literacy Professional Development List Moderator, jataylor at utk.edu ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Discussion Topic: Action Research as Professional Development Discussion Dates: October 2 - 9, 2006 To Participate: Subscribe by visiting: http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/Professionaldevelopment To Prepare: View this short streaming video for background about action research in the District of Columbia http://www.nifl.gov/lincs/discussions/professionaldevelopment/webcast_ac tion.html (or try: http://tinyurl.com/krah5 ) General Overview: Join our guests from the University of the District of Columbia and teacher researchers (listed below) on the Adult Literacy Professional Development Discussion List to discuss a broad range of topics related to action research in adult literacy professional development (PD), including: * Defining action research * Problems/questions from instruction that could become action research * Teachers' experiences with action research * Action Research in Adult Basic Education in the District of Columbia * Using practitioner inquiry as professional development * Ancillary support systems for action research * Tools that give teachers different modes for examining their practice and to build a PD community * Role of action research in "evidence-based practice" * Action research as a transformative professional development ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ GUESTS: Teacher Researchers: Patricia DeFerrari works for Academy of Hope which runs several adult education programs including ABE/GED classes. Her research was on the use of authentic materials to improve attendance in ABE reading class. Adrienne Jones works for Catholic Charities GED program. Her research was on how daily interactive, self-paced computer learning and discussion time with peers and the instructor effect written posttest scores in science, reading and social studies. Kris Garvin works for Notre Dame Adult Education Center. Her research was on using authentic material to improve social studies scores in GED. Her research also focused on building, highlighting, and reinforcing personal connections learners have to community, history, and current events. Cheryl Jackson works as an independent consultant teaching workplace education classes for the District Department of Transportation employees. Her research topic focused on how computer technology could be used to improve reading comprehension and word recognition skills for low-level readers participating in a workplace education program. Chenniah Randolph works for Metropolitan Delta GED program. Her research was on the instructional gap between CASAS assessment instrument and GED instructional materials. University of the District of Columbia Researchers: Maigenet Shifferraw, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Coordinator of the Graduate Certificate Program in Adult Education, Department of Education, University of the District of Columbia Dr. Shifferraw is the Principal Investigator for the Action Research project in Adult Basic Education at the University of the District of Columbia. The actual researchers are the adult education teachers who are teaching in community based organization, but we (the team) is also responsible for evaluating the benefits of guided action research to enhancing the professional development of adult education teachers. Janet Burton, DSW, Professor and Director, Social Work Program, University of the District of Columbia As a member of the Action research team, Dr. Janet Burton provides consultation on research particularly related to social factors and adult education. She is conducting a study that examines how social factors impact participation in adult basic education. George W. Spicely, Adjunct Professor, Department of Education, University of the District of Columbia; and Education Consultant Professor George Spicely coordinates the work of the Action Research Project Team and provides support to the participating teacher-researchers. Specifically, he coordinates planning, implementation and follow-up of project activities, and leads research related discussion on administrative and research issues using Blackboard software. Supplemental Materials: Streaming Video: Action Research in Adult Basic Education in the District of Columbia http://www.nifl.gov/lincs/discussions/professionaldevelopment/webcast_ac tion.html (or try: http://tinyurl.com/krah5 ) (b) About the D.C. Action Research Project: http://www.nifl.gov/lincs/discussions/professionaldevelopment/action.htm l (c) "What is Research?" Focus on Basics, Volume 1, Issue A: February 1997, National Center for the Study of Adult Learning and Literacy: http://www.ncsall.net/index.php?id=166 Includes articles: "Research with Words: Qualitative Inquiry" http://www.ncsall.net/?id=468 "Knowing, Learning, Doing: Participatory Action Research http://www.ncsall.net/?id=479 (d) "Learning from Practice" http://www.pde.state.pa.us/able/cwp/view.asp?a=215&Q=110064 A Project of the Pennsylvania ABLE Lifelong Learning Shares information on Project's three Learning from Practice Models o Pennsylvania Action Research Network (PAARN) o Pennsylvania Adult Literacy Practitioner Inquiry Network o Agency Research Projects (e) New! The Action Research Topic Area of the ALE Wiki: http://wiki.literacytent.org/index.php/Action_Research ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ To Subscribe, Visit: http://www.nifl.gov/mailman/listinfo/Professionaldevelopment I hope you will join us! Jackie Jackie Taylor, Adult Literacy Professional Development List Moderator, jataylor at utk.edu National Institute for Literacy http://www.nifl.gov/ Association of Adult Literacy Professional Developers http://www.aalpd.org/
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