Spring 2014 Research Seminar

Your course of action......

Practitioner research is action-oriented inquiry that takes place in the researcher’s own classroom, work or social setting. Practitioner research is seen as a way to explore questions that arise in one’s own practice and/or school; it is seen as a new approach to professional development, transformational learning and educational change. Because researchers are also participants in their own project, this form of research differs from more traditional quantitative and qualitative research approaches. Practitioners will read, analyze and synthesize research by other practitioner researchers as well as design and implement a project of their own. 

 

This capstone experience is not a testimony of intelligence but a processual documentary of yourself as an educator committed to the act of learning about yourself and your students. This capstone process involves authentic learning involving change, transformation, creative thinking, academic writing, learning alongside your students, challenging your teaching and learning paradigms, and risk taking.

Accept this new experience with the natural fascination of inquiry rather than with fear and anxiety. You are conducting your classroom research for your professional and personal self - not your instructor or your UNM faculty members. This research journey is yours and reflects your authentic, sometimes vulnerable self, as a practitioner trying to do something. It will be messy and please do not try to make it any prettier than it happens because it will be contrived and not an accurate telling of your students' story. As the author and storyteller of your teaching and learning, and that of your students in your classroom, this takes courage, conviction, dedication, integrity and ethics. The perspective of yourself as teacher practitioners invites new ways of thinking that will transform yourself as a researcher and educator. Welcome to your next challenge in your heroine's journey.

 

Writing Prompt:

·        Where are you in your implementation of your research project?

     ·        Questions milling around………

·        Emotionally I am……

     ·        How are you organizing yourself, data collection research, reflections……..

Feb. 3 Session #2 SJC Computer Lab

Lynne Lane-APA style & formatting

 1-2 minute UNM video journal about what your practitioner research is about and why you chose UNM for your master’s program to post on http://grad.unm.edu/current-students/video-journals.html