PRACTICE MAKES RESEARCHSean Yee
Assistant Professor California State University
Sohayla LajevardiMathematics Teacher
Culver City High School
Gilbert HernandezMathematics Teacher
Los Alisos Middle School
Layout
25 Minutes: Action Research and Practice25 Minutes: Sohayla Lajevardi25 Minutes: Gilbert Hernandez
15 Minutes: Roundtable Questions
What is Action Research?
“Action research is a form of investigation designed for use by teachers to
attempt to solve problems and improve professional practices in their own
classrooms” (Parsons & Brown 2002)
Common Myths
Addressing the Myths
I already know it works!
Define “works”
• For whom? For all your students? All classes?
• When?
• What if parents attack you on your method?
You want me to do MORE?!
Yep…
• If you do…• Master’s degree• National Board Certified Teacher• Present at Conferences• Be a Rock Star with Administration
Are children lab rats?
Nope…
• Strict IRB requirements.• Consent forms from
– Principal/Super Intendant– Students– Parents
How is this useful?
Good Question!
Research Literature
Teaching
Also…• Parental Attacks on your Curriculum
• Parental Encouragement with your Curriculum
Isn’t this just for the Ivory Tower?
Mathematics Education is Changing
• Keeping our jobs as professors has changed in Mathematics Education.
• We can’t publish theories in Mathematics Education without practice and evidence.
• My action research paper taught me to care.
What can and can’t research do?
• Jame Hiebert (1999) explained how research relates to NCTM Standards, and the same holds with CCSS.
Research Cannot…
• Determine standards for teaching.• Determine “best” teaching practices• Create new ideas• State whether CCSS is “good” or “bad” for
teaching.
Research Can…
• Influence the nature of standards• Document current situations• Document effectiveness of new ideas• Suggest explanations for success and failure
YOUR TURN(10 minutes)
Think Pair Share:
Your Research Question:_______________How would you figure this out?_________ How would you share your results?______
Action Research Design
• 5 Chapters1. Introduction2. Literature Review3. Method4. Results5. Conclusion
Let’s hear from Gilbert
Let’s hear from Sohayla
Questions? Answers?
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