Analysis of data from 11 interviews with parents of children with disabilities, 3 focus groups, and parent action research logs yielded 5 themes: parents felt ill-prepared to help children with homework; parents wanted more information about teachers' expectations; parents wanted individualized homework assignments; parents valued family…

Explains how educators can create a living educational theory and improve their practice by reflecting on the improvement process. Reflection must focus on areas like acknowledging one's existence as a living contradiction, showing values in action, and determining which power relations influence the academic legitimacy of a living educational…

Describes findings of a study that examined teachers' attitudes toward educational research and their perceptions of themselves as researchers. Survey results indicated that teachers' attitudes toward research improved dramatically as a result of completing action research projects which were found to be an effective means of promoting reflection…

Offers a friendly critique of the efforts of the Parent-Teacher Action Research Project conducted by eight member schools of the League of Parents Reaching Out. Concludes that parent-teacher action research can empower parents, and suggests ways to improve the action research parent involvement process. (SLD)

Introduces a special issue that focuses on teachers and other practitioners undertaking research on their professional praxis. Discusses some experiences as a teacher-researcher, outlines the studies presented in the special issue, and considers questions of voice in the presentation of teacher-researcher studies. Contains 25 references. (WRM)

Describes four inquiry projects used to facilitate undergraduate student teachers' development as inquiring practitioners, examining participants' reactions and products they produced. Data from student teachers' field and interview notes, comments and feedback from panel and poster sessions at a conference, student teacher surveys, student…

Investigated how collaborative action research projects affected five pre-service teachers' professional development while working with on-site teacher educators within a Professional Development School. Data from interviews, conferences, journals, action research, student writings, and field notes indicated that these experiences helped…

Examines collaborative research and practice-oriented inquiry groups which facilitate the professional development of educators and the enhancement of student achievement within a middle-school Professional Development School (PDS). Small groups of university and school educators conduct action research and inquiry about school-based educational…

Forms part of a themed issue describing "Parent-Kid-Teacher Investigators," a program in which parents, children, and teachers gather regularly to use language and literacy for action research projects. Explains the philosophy, assumptions, and intentions behind the program, and research that supports it. Offers action examples of how each belief…

Evaluated an at-home planned play concept used to improve the quality of parental involvement at a preschool. Found children's learning was contextual, that teachers must be aware of the importance of culture and context in children's learning. Findings emphasize the crucial influence parents have on their children's culture and context which must…

One elementary school's ongoing process in developing an appropriate action research requirement for teacher candidates during their student teaching experience (internship) is described. The assignment has evolved from a pilot project with one intern and mentor teacher to a requirement for all interns at the school. Several issues that emerged…

This article presents the results of an action research study that sought to determine the most effective e-portfolio system for our teacher education programs. Three e-portfolio systems (LiveText, TaskStream, and a university-developed system called Epsilen) were implemented throughout a semester course in which students and faculty evaluated…

This writing is an investigation into the use of action research methods and tools as a means for preparing 26 preservice teachers to effectively link assessment to instruction. Two concepts emerged from the data: the importance of developmentally appropriate practice and documenting and validating student learning. This study suggests the power…

Community-based research has evolved in the field of HIV/AIDS health promotion as a distinct expression of participatory action research in adult education. The authors of this chapter reflect on more than a decade of local knowledge construction to organize and improve the practice of HIV/AIDS health promotion in a variety of contexts.

This chapter describes how an action research framework facilitates using evaluation and assessment results to improve programs and demonstrate institutional effectiveness. (Contains 1 table.)