Sams Journey Eastern Arterial Cluster

Slide 1: Action Research Assisting teachers to engage in quality teaching and learning Presented by Tanya Thompson St Andrews Middle School

Slide 2: Action research is the study of a social situation with a view to improving the quality of action within it. Cardno and Piggot-Irvine, 1991

Slide 3: Feedback Feedforward quality Using data reading to guide teaching programme and learning Action Research Projects Sharing learning Questioning intentions Co-constructing The language criteria of Technology

Slide 4: No matter where you start… each component spirals into the others

Slide 5: Our Research Base • ATOL P.D. Action Research • Action Research: A Developmental Approach. Carol Cardno • Practitioner Research

Slide 6: First 3 years – What did we do? •Sharing classroom practice • Workshops with whole staff •Encouraging staff to maintain transparency in teaching and learning •Conference on ‘Talk’

Slide 7: •Set school targets collectively •Linked the formative practice process with our appraisal system. •Teachers gathered baseline student achievement and teaching practice data. •Teachers receive regular support •Teachers were provided with school time to read and discuss professional readings.

Slide 8: What did we learn? •Teachers need to see the necessity for change for themselves. •Teachers need to see hard evidence/data •Teachers need to be supported when modifying their practice.

Slide 9: What did we learn? •Allowing teachers to inquire about their classroom practice enables them to become better practitioners. •Workshops are often not the best way to modify teacher practice. •Deprivatisation of the classroom leads to higher teacher confidence

Slide 13: What are we doing now …? •Action research projects have transparent links with our appraisal process •Collegial discussions based on teaching and learning •A positive culture of change

Slide 14: What are we doing now …? •As a whole staff we have engaged in collective vision building and implementation project over the past year and a half •We listen to student voice more readily and act upon it •Clear curriculum design specific to our students

Slide 15: What are we doing now …? •A whole staff exploration of what quality teaching and learning looks like in each curriculum area, how students learn best •All staff take an active role setting clear targets using clear evidence from assessment •High use of the evidence based model when planning, assessment and evaluation

Slide 16: Student voice Quality Evidence must writing programme guide planning Action Research Projects Transparent Thinking skills learning Quality science ICT to enhance programmes learning

Slide 17: What evidence has there been of quality teaching and learning? •Student achievement - asTTle data

Slide 18: asTTle AR's Growth 120 AR's Score Growth 100 80 Average 60 40 20 0 1 2 3 4 Year of Project

Slide 19: What evidence has there been of quality teaching and learning? •Student engagement – student voice

Slide 22: What evidence has there been of quality teaching and learning? •Teacher engagement

Slide 23: We aspire to engage our staff, students and families in a community of learning

Slide 24: How can you engage your staff, students and families in a community of learning?

Slide 25: Internal Structures Clear School-wide Expectations •Trust established within the school culture •All staff complete projects •Whole school PD •Target setting in teams

Slide 26: Internal Structures Clear School-wide Expectations •Evidence based planning and assessment •All learning should be transparent •A professional culture of learning and teaching

Slide 27: Internal Structures Staff Meetings Staff meetings are specifically set aside for goal setting/assessment, discussion of professional readings and sharing and celebration of projects

Slide 28: Internal Structures In-Class /Professional Support •Modelling of best practice •Release time •Both in-house and consultant knowledge base of best practice •Individual/group support with planning and assessment

Slide 29: Internal Structures Appraisal Process •Staff set goals with projects in appraisal documentation •Staff collect baseline/comparative data •Teachers keep a reflective journal

Slide 30: Internal Structures Appraisal Process •In-class appraisal where teachers demonstrate changes made due to projects •Teachers must share projects with staff during staff meetings during the year

Slide 31: While teachers hold initial concerns about additional work involved in action research projects, these tend to dissolve as teachers realise the benefits these projects have on their practice and the enjoyment of their profession.

Slide 32: Action Research enables teachers to feel empowered and therefore empowering their students. All stakeholders can make real decisions as active members of a community of learning therefore increasing student achievement.