This report describes a plan to increase word recognition skills. The targeted population consists of first, second, and fourth grade students in upper middle, middle, and lower socioeconomic communities located in the suburbs outside of a large city. The problem of inadequate word recognition skills was documented through data revealing the…

This manual, prepared by the Distance Education Council (India) presents guidelines for action research in distance education, balancing practical research activities with a sound theoretical research base. Chapter 1, "Scope, Purpose and Design of the Manual," suggests several definitions of research; draws distinctions between academic…

This report describes a program for advancing reading comprehension skills. The targeted population consisted of second and fourth grade students in an affluent northern suburb of a large midwestern community. The problem of a lack of comprehension skills was documented through teacher observations, student and parent surveys, comprehension…

This action research project describes a program for improving literal and inferential reading comprehension skills aimed at increasing overall academic achievement. The targeted population consisted of third, fourth, and fifth grade students in middle class communities located in the Midwest. Evidence for the existence of the problem includes…

This report describes a program for improving students' reading fluency in order to become more proficient readers. The targeted population consists of first and second grade students in a growing middle class community located in the Midwest. The lack of fluent reading was documented through teacher observation and the calculation of how many…

This study examined the beliefs of six Virginia teachers (two elementary and four middle) about redesigning instruction to meet new state standards of learning through action research. It focused on how teachers reconsidered current teaching practices in order to reconcile the demands of higher stakes learning with progressive ideas about…

This report describes a program to increase sight/functional vocabulary to improve reading comprehension. The targeted population consisted of one 2nd-3rd grade and one 6th-8th grade cross-categorical self-contained class, located in an elementary school and a middle school. The schools were located in a northeast suburb of a major city in the…

Acquiring literacy is one of the most important elements in building a foundation for success in education and life. This study describes a program that was implemented from January through May, 2001, for improvement in phonological awareness, alphabetic awareness and reading readiness skills through explicit instruction of phonemic awareness with…

This report describes an effective instructional technique for advancing reading comprehension through a balanced reading program. The targeted population consisted of third- and eighth-grade students from three middle class communities located in the south suburbs of Chicago. Reading comprehension concerns were documented through data obtained…

A problem was addressed within the context of the action based research practicum model. The problem was junior high school special education students who read at or below the 10th percentile when compared to age appropriate peers on standardized achievement instruments; and who have had all manner of reading interventions and yet continue to fall…

This study focused on using technology to supplement a phonics based reading program. The research took place in a transition class (a class between kindergarten and first grade for students who are not mature enough for first grade but who do not need to repeat kindergarten) in Knox County (Tennessee) Schools. The class was divided into two…

The Australian Catholic University has developed a collaborative project for one of its personnel to move into a school to take responsibility for some of the school's professional development programs and to conduct action based research related to the project. One key aim of the project is to develop literacy skills across the curriculum for the…

This dissertation investigates action planning and plan goals, primarily from the perspective of the school. The principal research questions were the following: (1) Do principals plan and act locally to implement global policy strategically envisioned by district policymakers? Or (2) Do they plan and act locally in response to local needs and…

Reasons why teachers do not use educational research are summarized, and an interactive research and development project aimed at overcoming utilization problems is described. In the project, teachers, staff developers, and Texas Tech University researchers worked collaboratively to study problems and concerns of classroom teachers. (PP)

Action research refers to research activities carried out by educational field personnel with the objective of forming a link between researchers and practitioners. A study is described in which 133 Israeli students were trained to perform diagnostic action research. (Author/JN)