24th September
DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT IN YOUR PRACTICE
I need to choose a focus for this unit that relates to my teaching practise, research interests and disciplinary practice. I must consider both a philosophical and methodological approach, simultaneous involving both action and inquiry. Experiment with creative and innovative methods. Map my existing understanding & experience of my chosen subject. I must pose a research question and determine a well-defined scope & feasibility within the time frame of the unit – around 10 weeks for my project. Further my knowledge, planning, execution, documenting and reflecting on my intervention throughout this process. While referencing codes of practise for ethical research, considering my participants needs and make sure I meet their duty of care. I need to experiment with different methods such as observation, journaling, visualisation, narrative enquiry, enhanced interviews and ethical research. Consider the ethical implications of who will be involved and what they will be expected to do. Using innovation as a creative unsettling of my own practise, reflect on what my own positionality embodies and practise as a researcher. The purpose of the Action Research Project is dedicated to conducting academic research to enhance the student experience of Higher Education in a teaching and learning environment. We are asked to undertake a small-scale social / climate / racial justice orientated intervention with an emphasis on reflection and planning future iterations. At each stage of the project, we need to define the scope, identify appropriate action, document analysis and reflect on relevant reference resources to help narrow the focus of the fine detail in our projects, while addressing an issue I have identified in my teaching and learning practice. Throughout the unit, my tutor groups colleagues will support each other to develop our projects while mapping our coursework and teaching practice against the professional standards framework to support an application to gain a Fellowship of Advanced Education. I will present my work to my cohort to share my practice and stimulate contemplation on where this project could develop in the future.
Areas to consider for the ARP;
- Original context or background
- Rationale for the selected the topic
- Reflection on research methods used
- References to relevant literature using the Harvard method
- Documented research: journaling and presentation materials on your blog
- Presentation documents: notes, visuals and slides
- Blogs will be considered alongside the final presentation
- Summary of project findings
Question: As a lecturer in GB&I BA (Hons) How can I embed a sense of social justice particularly climate change into the culture of our course on multiple levels? Something craft based & handmade?
The first session in person will consider scoping workshop methods including question writing AND goal setting. I need to start something new. Start with the plan. Phrase your idea as a question. Consider visual forms of seeing as research. Art based methods such as creative writing poetry or even songs. Watch Helen Kara arts-based methods on YouTube. Read books on visual methods of collecting research. Explore ways of seeing, observing and reflecting. Doing a thing and seeing what happens. I need to put into place something I have planned.
Use your blog as a research journal for the following;
- Process notes
- Timings
- Show how your project has progressed
- Various reflections
- Notes on reading
- Ethical approval documentation
- Details of data collection methods & tools such as interviews, schedules, questionnaires
- A Harvard referenced bibliography reflecting on your reading into your both your topic area and your data collection methods
- Final presentation slides
ACTION RESEARCH CYCLE
‘There are four basic stages in the cyclical action research process: reflect, plan, act, observe, and then reflect to continue through the cycle.’ (Dickens & Watkins, 1999).
- ACT with purpose
- OBSERVE & document what happens
- REFLECT on events
- PLAN what to do next
- You can start anywhere
Consider arts-based methods for research;
Planning
- Mind maps
- Timelines
Reflecting
- Screenplay writing
- Poetic writing
- Metaphor analysis
Observing
- Maps / diagrams
- Journals
- Drawing / painting / collage
- Enhanced interviews
- Photographs
Create a critical path for planning such as a Gantt chart
A Gannt chart is a type of bar chart that illustrates a project schedule. Consider what tasks depend on another task. Planning, writing, editing, creating artwork, final changes, printing etc. Map a timeline of what I need to do and note the weeks of the unit. Consider reading that support these actions. I need enhanced intentions – more than just words, include images, maps, focus groups.
Reflection
Once you’ve done your thing, documented observations, what do you do with the data? Creative or fictional methods, say something new about it. Write a screenplay from some data you’ve collated – conversations with staff or students. Delete words so you are left with a poetic set.
OTHER IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS
Ethical research
- Look at guidelines
- Consent
- Transparency
- Right to withdraw
- Incentives
- Harm arising from participation in research
- Privacy and data storage
NB Look at the padlet for approaches and methods for research.
Action research is based on certain principles – those of justice and democracy. The right for all people to be heard and to speak, the right for each individual to show how and why they have given extra attention to their learning, in order to improve their work, the deep need to experience truth and beauty in our personal and professional lives. I read the Jean McNiff text – What is action research? Who does it? How do I ‘action research’? Action planning & research is good for social order, stimulating caring, creative, critical conversations. The power of sharing ideas to generate new ones and using technology to make those freely accessible to all. Look at www.actionresearch.net or www.jeanmcniff.com.