This paper reports some findings observed in the course of an on-going study of some effects of an Organization Development (OD) intervention in a secondary level parochial school. Two types of data are reported. First, data commonly found in literature concerning OD in schools, those in the social psychological dimension. These included some…

Participant/observation is useful as a tool for gathering evidence about processes, circumstances, or other observable conditions. A participant/observer is an investigator gathering evidence. Observations are carefully recorded, prejudgment is scorned, and judgments flow from the evidence. In approaching a situation to be investigated, the…

Several of the most common approaches to the preparation of more reflective teachers during pre-service teacher education are described. Specific strategies include: action research, ethnographic studies, writing exercises, and the Ohio State reflective teaching exercises. Empirical evidence concerning inquiry-oriented strategies is also…

In conceptualizing the improvement of schooling, a distinction may be drawn between content and context. The applications of research to improve classroom practices is promising where teachers are viewed as problem framers and action researchers. These contextual shifts are necessary if research is to make a difference. (MT)

An action research project implemented musical strategies to affect and enhance student recall and memory. The target population was three suburban elementary schools near a major midwestern city: (1) a kindergarten classroom contained 32-38 students; (2) a second grade classroom contained 23 students and five Individualized Education Program…

Action research is designed with the intent of assisting educators in assessing the effectiveness of their building and classroom practices. Lesson study helps teachers use ongoing collaborative peer-insight and feedback about student responses to instruction to develop high quality lessons. Middle school teachers from an outer-ring suburb of…

This report describes a program for integrating the musical intelligence in a first-grade classroom curriculum in a primary K-2 school in a northern suburb of Chicago, Illinois. The utilization of the musical intelligence in the classroom is documented with attitudinal surveys, checklists, music journals and teacher observations. Music…

This report describes a program to enhance spelling word retention through the use of background music. The targeted population consisted of elementary students in three middle class communities located in the southwestern suburbs of Chicago. The problems for poor spelling retention were documented through data revealing the number of students…

This report describes a project for increasing student's ability to comprehend and respond in a reflective manner. The targeted population consisted of 2nd, 3rd, and 5th grade classes in a community unit district located in a suburb of a large midwestern city. The problem of a student's inability to comprehend and respond in a reflective manner…

The papers in this compilation are the result of K-12 action research projects and were submitted in partial fulfillment for a variety of degrees from Winona State University (Minnesota). The compilation contains the following nine papers: "Will Playing Background Music in My Classroom Help Increase Student Spelling Scores?" (Jonathan L.…

This handbook is a roadmap for action research facilitators to help groups as they work through the research process. It offers quotations, handouts, strategies, resources, and insights from actual experiences. The sections of the handbook follow the action research cycle, focusing on: "What is Action Research?"; "What is the Action…

The focus of this action research project was to find an effective method of reading instruction that lends itself to reading comprehension in kindergarten students. The methods that were used in this study were the picture walk, read aloud, and read along. These methods were chosen because they differed in their approach by the teacher. The names…

Action research is disciplined inquiry to improve the quality of an organization and its performance. It is a method for improving practice in which one collects data to diagnose problems, searches for solutions, takes action, and monitors how well it works. Action research is characterized by groups of colleagues working together for systematic…

This study explored the development of action research among 250 Korean elementary school teachers. Surveys examined their perceptions of the extent to which they conducted action research, problems encountered, benefits obtained, utilization of results, conditions required to conduct action research, ideal uses of action research results, and…

The research in this report was based on methodology of collaborative action research and was designed and implemented in three clearly distinct phases. This report includes the following sections: Research Background, Method, Research Findings, and Implication for Practice. (Contains 2 figures.)