Courses :: Module, PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS FOR TEACHING 4 : RESEARCHER IN SCHOOL

	Overview
	Through the enactment of a small-scale, narrow, action-research project during extended School Placement, students will enhance their skills as a critical, reflective, teacher researcher. Students will be supported to engage with educational action-research on a targeted component of their own practice, and plan in collaboration with the Treora� in their placement setting. The module will cover matters such as the principles of action research, ethical considerations, critical reflection, researcher reflexivity, strategies for data collection and analysis, academic writing, and many other topics designed to develop the necessary rigour required for enhancing practice through classroom-based research. Formative assessment on academic writing and preparation for a Viva Voce will enhance students� communicative skills. Students are required to attend a minimum of five meetings with their Tutor, contribute to structured formative feedback within peer groups, and work independently throughout the year in order to enhance their status as autonomous professionals. Drafts of the literature review, methods chapter, and overview of findings will be submitted at various stages of the year.

Overview

Through the enactment of a small-scale, narrow, action-research project during extended School Placement, students will enhance their skills as a critical, reflective, teacher researcher. Students will be supported to engage with educational action-research on a targeted component of their own practice, and plan in collaboration with the Treora� in their placement setting.

The module will cover matters such as the principles of action research, ethical considerations, critical reflection, researcher reflexivity, strategies for data collection and analysis, academic writing, and many other topics designed to develop the necessary rigour required for enhancing practice through classroom-based research. Formative assessment on academic writing and preparation for a Viva Voce will enhance students� communicative skills.

Students are required to attend a minimum of five meetings with their Tutor, contribute to structured formative feedback within peer groups, and work independently throughout the year in order to enhance their status as autonomous professionals. Drafts of the literature review, methods chapter, and overview of findings will be submitted at various stages of the year.

	Learning Outcomes
	On successful completion of the module, students should be able to: Develop an individual interest in a particular aspect of teaching and learning and deepen their knowledge of one specific component of their practice through action research in the primary classroom. Conduct and write up an action-research dissertation project, based on their fourth-year school placement experience and defend this research at a Viva Voce exam. Become familiar with a wide range of strategies for data collection and data analysis in classroom-based educational research and be supported to provide the rationale for these methodological choices. To consolidate a creative teacher-researcher mindset, and become confident in the infusion of creative teaching, learning and research methods into their action plan for school placement. Meet the necessary professional ethical standards required when conducting research with and about children, in keeping with existing policy and university guidelines on GDPR and statutory frameworks in relation to child protection. Engage in critical reflection on their practice and programme of study and how both inform and shape each other. Maintain high standards of academic writing, referencing and presentation consistent with Harvard protocols. Relate research to professional attitudes, beliefs and values with explicit reference to Froebelian principles.

Learning Outcomes

	Autumn Supplementals/Resits
	Are supplemental/resit registrations permitted? Yes Supplemental assignment or Viva Voce as required.

Autumn Supplementals/Resits

	Additional Reading
	Additional Reading: McDonagh, C., Roche, M., Sullivan, B. & Glenn, M. (2012). Enhancing Practice through Classroom Research: A teacher's guide to professional development. London: Routledge. McNiff, J. & Whitehead, J. (2010). You and your Action Research Project. London: Routledge Mills, G. (2011). Action Research: A Guide for the Teacher Researcher. Boston: Pearson Thomas, G. & Pring, R. (Eds). (2009). Evidence-Based Practice in Education. New York: Open University Press Sullivan, B., Glenn, M., Roche, M. & McDonagh, C. (2016). Introduction to Critical Reflection and Action for Teacher Researchers. London: Routledge

Additional Reading

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PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS FOR TEACHING 4 : RESEARCHER IN SCHOOL

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