Book dossier

Enhancing practice through classroom research

by Caitriona McDonagh

"Enhancing Practice through Classroom Research addresses the growing trend in educational contexts for teachers to engage in CPD and develop as excellent practitioners. It a guide for teachers, by teachers, on how to improve practice - and understanding of practice - through a personal process of reflection, research and action.The book will provide much needed guidance for teachers engaged in postgraduate studies in reflective practice and professional development, and structured around real life examples of research undertaken by teachers, it will be highly supportive for teachers in the classroom interested in small-scale research projects. The book presents a framework beginning and developing research, in four key sections: Section one deals with reflection on practice, exploring concerns about practice and identifying values; section two examines ideas around why practitioners might be concerned about their practice; section three outlines how readers can develop a personal action plan and gather data to show any changes or possible improvements in their work; the final section shows how readers can draw on the evidence they have produced to develop their own personal theory of education. It covers key issues central to effective professional development and improving practice in the classroom: Understanding the concept of the professional and reflecting on how values inform practice Identifying critical questions such as why you teach as you do Deciding how to investigate the issues you've identified developing a research plan and collecting data Interpreting and making meaning from data writing up each stage of your research. Each section includes two chapters, the first describing real life experiences of researching and reflection in the classroom, giving the reader the opportunity to use the studies to think critically and reflect on their own practice. The second chapter explains a specific stage of the research process project and its rationale, and includes tasks throughout for readers to undertake to encourage reflection"-- Provided by publisher. "Enhancing Practice through Classroom Research is a quintessential guide for teachers, by teachers, on how to improve practice - and understanding of practice - through a personal process of reflection, research and action that is grounded in fulfilling one's educational values in practice with a view towards improvement. Written in the format of an action research report, it contains probing questions for reflection and critical thought, encouraging the reader to begin their own classroom research. It covers key issues central to effective professional development and improving practice in the classroom: - Understanding the concept of the professional and reflecting on how values inform practice - Identifying critical questions such as why you teach as you do - Deciding how to investigate the issues you've identified - developing a research plan and collecting data - Interpreting and making meaning from data - Writing up each stage of your research. Acknowledging the busy nature of classroom-teaching and focussing on the idea of personalising professional development, this indispensible text will guide practitioners towards formal self-reflection and self-evaluation for accreditation purposes. This book will provide much needed guidance for teachers, student teachers and practitioners interested in small-scale research projects"--