Enhancing Practice Through Classroom Research : A Teacher's Guide to Professional Development

Enhancing Practice through Classroom Research is an accessible introduction to understanding and improving teaching and learning through a process of reflection, research and action. Written by teachers for teachers, it offers a straightforward guide to classroom research and considers issues central to effective professional development.

Including questions for reflection and illustrated with case studies and vignettes of the authors’ own experiences of undertaking classroom research, it offers a step-by-step guide to beginning your own research:

• identifying an area of professional concern or interest
• articulating your own educational values
• developing a better understanding of your practice
• thinking critically about educational practices
• depicting practice as it is and as it evolves
• finding a research methodology
• providing evidence of improved practice
• developing theory from practice.

Acknowledging the busy nature of classroom teaching and focussing on personalising professional development, this friendly, sensible text offers support and guidance for all student and practising teachers interested in research either for your own professional development or to pursue postgraduate studies in your area of interest.

Caitriona McDonagh is Learning Support and Resource Teacher in Rush National School, Co. Dublin, Ireland.

Mary Roche is Senior Lecturer in Education at St Patrick's College, Thurles, Co. Tipperary, Ireland.

Bernie Sullivan is Principal of St. Brigid's Girls' Senior School, Dublin, Ireland.

Máirín Glenn is Teaching Principal in Inver National School, Co. Mayo, Ireland.