ECI 523: Teacher as Researcher
In Teacher as Researcher I completed an action research study based on cooperative learning groups and authentic intellectual work in the social studies classroom. I really wanted to understand how collaboration worked and whether students were deeply synthesizing information and relying on one another for support. I began by looking at how student collaboration could be designed to support students’ learning and understanding of the social studies curriculum.
The study helped me discover that teachers must take time to create cooperative learning assignments that are highly structured in order for authentic intellectual work to take place. Teachers must also be prepared to take time to model to students the appropriate collaborative etiquette. When used appropriately, cooperative learning can be a powerful learning tool and can engage students in higher order thinking. I now realize that I can create social studies lessons that require students to partake in authentic intellectual work by requiring that students construct knowledge, practice disciplined inquiry, and participate in activities with value beyond school.
Completing the action research project allowed me to grow in numerous ways as an educator. The research project showed me that there are many areas of my teaching that I need to develop and action research can help me accomplish this. I learned that I am continuing to grow as an educator and need to listen to what my students are telling me vocally and through their work. Most importantly, the project taught me that I was not appropriately using cooperative learning as an instructional tool and made me aware that there may be other areas of my practice that I need to work on and learn more about. Learning does not stop simply because you become a teacher. My students showed me that every one of them is capable of quality work. I also learned that my higher achieving students are capable of great patience when it comes to working with lower achieving students and students with special needs. I realized that students can often bring out the best in other students and can therefore serve as valuable resources in the classroom.
Read more about my action research study below:
The study helped me discover that teachers must take time to create cooperative learning assignments that are highly structured in order for authentic intellectual work to take place. Teachers must also be prepared to take time to model to students the appropriate collaborative etiquette. When used appropriately, cooperative learning can be a powerful learning tool and can engage students in higher order thinking. I now realize that I can create social studies lessons that require students to partake in authentic intellectual work by requiring that students construct knowledge, practice disciplined inquiry, and participate in activities with value beyond school.
Completing the action research project allowed me to grow in numerous ways as an educator. The research project showed me that there are many areas of my teaching that I need to develop and action research can help me accomplish this. I learned that I am continuing to grow as an educator and need to listen to what my students are telling me vocally and through their work. Most importantly, the project taught me that I was not appropriately using cooperative learning as an instructional tool and made me aware that there may be other areas of my practice that I need to work on and learn more about. Learning does not stop simply because you become a teacher. My students showed me that every one of them is capable of quality work. I also learned that my higher achieving students are capable of great patience when it comes to working with lower achieving students and students with special needs. I realized that students can often bring out the best in other students and can therefore serve as valuable resources in the classroom.
Read more about my action research study below:
action_research_report.doc | |
File Size: | 55 kb |
File Type: | doc |