Engaging in Action Research: A Practical Guide to Teacher-Conducted Research for Educators and School Leaders

You don’t need a tweed jacket to be a researcher―in thousands of schools across North America, practising teachers conduct studies on best practices, alternative approaches, and effective learning strategies. Classroom teachers have experiences and opportunities unavailable to researchers in a university setting, and action research―site-based, teacher-conducted research―can have a valuable impact on the educational community.

Yet many teachers don’t see their work as real research, and many other teachers have great ideas for research projects but don’t know where to begin. For these teachers, Engaging in Action Research demystifies the world of educational research and provides support, guidance, and encouragement. From creating a research plan to reporting findings, this book provides step-by-step instructions to help teachers conduct research projects in the classroom, using strategies that work. Get ready to investigate, analyze, and share!

Jim Parsons, PhD is a professor in the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Education. His research and writing interests are in the areas of online education, student engagement, and instructional leadership. A teacher educator who has researched and taught throughout North American, China, and Scotland, Jim is the president of the Northwest Association of Teacher Educators and the former president of the Alberta Initiative for School Improvement.

Kurtis Hewson has been a teacher, vice-principal and principal in several Alberta schools over the past 13 years. A 2010 ASCD Outstanding Young Educator Award finalist, he is currently a faculty associate with the University of Lethbridge.

Lorna Adrian has served in a variety of teaching roles for nearly two decades. She is the past chair of the executive council of the Alberta Assessment Consortium and the Coordinator of Learning Services for the Livingstone Range School Division.

Nicole Day has been a high school English and Drama teacher for 16 years and an AISI Learning Coach with Wild Rose School Division. She is currently a graduate student in the Faculty of Education at the University of Alberta.