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Action Research and Teacher Development: MA Students’ Perspective

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Classroom-oriented Research

Part of the book series: Second Language Learning and Teaching ((SLLT))

Abstract

Action research (AR) is a professional development option for L2 teachers that fits well into the paradigm of the teacher as a reflective and inquiring practitioner, a learner-centered curriculum, teacher autonomy, and life-long teacher professional education. Utilized by practitioners to identify and solve problems in their own educational settings, it has the potential to improve the processes of learning and teaching, as well as enhance teachers’ ability to reflect upon their own practices, and contribute to their professional development. The current study examined the opinions expressed by 51 MA students who were at the same time EFL teachers about their experience of conducting AR as part of the requirements of their MA course. The results indicated that the students positively evaluated the effects of AR projects on the development of their teaching and research skills. The participants were able to list a number of benefits that the experience had for their learners and for themselves as teachers. Although some problems and difficulties connected with the process of conducting research were also voiced, a generally positive picture emerged of AR as a teacher development option.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland

    Aleksandra Wach

Authors
  1. Aleksandra Wach
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Aleksandra Wach .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Zakład Filologii Angielskiej, Adam Mickiewicz University, ul. Nowy Świat 28-30, Kalisz, 62-800, Wielkopolskie, Poland

    Mirosław Pawlak

  2. , Zakład Filologii Angielskiej, Adam Mickiewicz University, Nowy Swiat 28-30, Kalisz, 62-800, Wielkopolskie, Poland

    Jakub Bielak

  3. , Zakład Filologii Angielskiej, Adam Mickiewicz University, ul. Nowy Swiat 28-30, Kalisz, 62-800, Wielkopolskie, Poland

    Anna Mystkowska-Wiertelak

Appendix

Appendix

The questionnaire used in the study

MA Research Projects: Students’ Reflections

Dear MA Students, each of you has recently conducted a study within your MA project. Now I would like to ask you to share your opinions and reflections on the usefulness of doing such research for your professional development as teachers.

Please answer the following set of closed-ended questions. Mark the answers that best reflect your views.

1. Are you a teacher? ……………..

2. How long have you worked as a teacher? …………..

3. Before you joined the seminar, had you ever conducted research before?

  1. a.

    yes (when and why? ………………………)

  2. b.

    no

4. Before you joined the seminar, had you ever heard about conducting research as a way of improving teachers’ skills and abilities?

  1. a.

    yes

  2. b.

    no

5. Are you glad that you had to conduct research for your MA paper?

  1. a.

    yes, definitely

  2. b.

    rather yes

  3. c.

    it’s hard to say

  4. d.

    no

  5. e.

    other answers: ……………………………

6. Do you think your students benefitted or will benefit from your conducting the research?

  1. a.

    yes, definitely

  2. b.

    rather yes

  3. c.

    it’s hard to say

  4. d.

    no

  5. e.

    other answers: ……………………………

7. Do you think you will ever conduct action research again, even if you don’t have to?

  1. a.

    yes, definitely

  2. b.

    rather yes

  3. c.

    it’s hard to say

  4. d.

    no

  5. e.

    other answers: ……………………………

8. Do you think that conducting classroom-based research should constitute a regular part of every teacher’s job?

  1. a.

    yes, definitely

  2. b.

    rather yes

  3. c.

    it’s hard to say

  4. d.

    no

  5. e.

    other answers: ……………………………

When answering the following open-ended questions, please share your honest opinions and personal reflections concerning your experience. Any comments will be deeply appreciated.

1. What did you like most in conducting the research?

2. What did you find the most difficult?

3. Was there anything in the course of the study that surprised you?

4. What did you learn from the experience of conducting the research?

5. Do you think this experience has contributed to your professional development as a teacher? Please justify your answer.

6. If you have any further reflections concerning your experience of conducting the research, please provide them here:

Sample core questions asked in the interviews

  • Generally, was doing the research an enjoyable experience for you?

  • Generally, was it a useful experience? In what way?

  • What would you say about it to another teacher who has never conducted research? Is it worth doing? Is it worth the effort?

  • In what ways has it enriched you? Do you think you might be a better teacher thanks to the experience of conducting this research?

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Wach, A. (2014). Action Research and Teacher Development: MA Students’ Perspective. In: Pawlak, M., Bielak, J., Mystkowska-Wiertelak, A. (eds) Classroom-oriented Research. Second Language Learning and Teaching. Springer, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-00188-3_8

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