Valenzuela City Polytechnic College

Kamagong St. Fortune Village 6, Parada, Valenzuela City

Field Study 2
Learning Episode 3: Understanding Action Research Concept,
Processes, and Model
Objectives:
At the end of this episode, students must be able to:
1) Identify issues that can be starting point of their Action Research (AR)
2) List possible topics for AR based on practice and inquiry.

Action Research means different things to different people, and some

writers hold limited views as to what counts as action research (Creswell, 2008).
It addresses a specific, practical issue and seeks to obtain solutions to a problem.
Thus, action research is a systematic procedure done by teachers (or other
individuals in an educational setting) to gather information about, and
subsequently improve, the ways their particular educational setting operate,
their teacher, and their student learning (Mills, 2000). Lucas et. al. (2021) stated
that action research bridges doing (practice) and learning (study) and reflection
(inquiry).

Part I:
Inquiry begins with situations that are problematic, confusing, uncertain and conflicting and so
does Action Research. Sometimes it helps to use a variety of questions as starting points to identify an
issue you would like to research (Caro-Bruce, 2000):

I would like to improve

I would like to improve the way I communicate with the learners in order to have a
better and a mutual understanding about the lessons I taught. I would like to improve my
communication skills because the nature of my profession is the constant interaction with
students, colleagues, parents other part of an educational institution, being understood quickly
and accurately by the students is one of the challenging part of teaching, it is a success not only
in students but also to the teacher because you guaranteed that you established an effective
communication.
 Valenzuela City Polytechnic College
Kamagong St. Fortune Village 6, Parada, Valenzuela City

I am really curious about

Something I am curious about is the other different strategies to use in order to make
students more engaged in learning.

Something I think would really make a difference is

Something I would like to change is
______________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________.
How can I
implement_____________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________________?
How can I improve
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________?

Theory
All research, at its core, is for the purpose of generating new knowledge and contributing to the
knowledge base of educational research. Action researchers in the classroom want to explore methods
of improving their pedagogy and practice.

So, what types of classroom action studies that I can engage in:

 Creating changes in the classroom practices.

Example: What changes will mathematical empowerment have on my students?
 Establishing effects of curriculum restructuring.
Example: Will the use of mother tongue enhance the reading skills of my learners
 Enhancing new understanding of learners.
Example: What happens when students get demotivated?
 Teaching new process to the students.
Example: How can I teach third graders to do reflection?
 Valenzuela City Polytechnic College
Kamagong St. Fortune Village 6, Parada, Valenzuela City

Example on the Teaching Context

Planning

I am not comfortable with the textbook we are using. A lot of the material is irrelevant to the
students’ needs, but it is the only book available. What can I do? I can’t change the book. Shall I change
my way of using it? Perhaps I’ll try paired work with my students.

Acting

I show the students how to ask and answer questions with each other to make the material
relevant to themselves. We try this out in class.

Observing

I sit with various pairs and listen. I tape record their conversations (I got their permission to do
so previously). I keep my own field notes.
 Valenzuela City Polytechnic College
Kamagong St. Fortune Village 6, Parada, Valenzuela City

Reflecting

They seem to be enjoying this, but now they wander from the material in the text. I need to get
this material across.

Planning

I could get the students to develop an interview technique. A could ask B questions based on the
material. I wonder would that make the material more relevant? I need to involve them more actively.

Acting

They record their conversations. There are not enough tape-recorders to go round, so they work
in fours, taking it in turns to listen and talk. At the end of the two sets of interviews they listen and
comment on individual recordings.

Observing

They really enjoy this. And they seem to be sticking to the text in creating their questions and
answers.

Reflecting

I need to think whether I am right in teaching the content through the process. I think I am but I
need to check. I’ll ask my head of department who has agreed to act as my critical friend through the
research project. Should I aim to do this with other classes? I am worried about the practical difficulties
– too much noise? Not enough tape-recorders. Perhaps these questions are the beginning of another
aspect of my original enquiry