This study sought to inform, guide, and facilitate improvements in organizational practice and the management of change at Northbrook College in the United Kingdom. Using an action research approach, it sought to develop a management culture which celebrates creativity and innovation and which recognizes the value of individual change agents and…

A self-study is reported in which the researcher explored the possibility of using a university course on action research to promote the development of professional community, an examination of power relations, and a sense of recognition among teachers enrolled in the course of their own expertise. Approximately 20 participating teachers in each…

This paper explores standards and criteria that can be used to judge the validity of qualitative data as evidence of educational improvement. The paper reports on a self study of the educative relationship between two teacher educators: Pam, from a university school of education, and Moyra, director of an inservice education program at a large…

This paper describes a program intended to motivate elementary students to read for recreational purposes. The targeted population consists of first-, second-, and third-grade students in a growing middle class community located in the south suburban area of Chicago, Illinois. The problem of students' attitudes toward recreational reading was…

This report details studies by eight researchers from five countries--Australia, Chile, the Czech Republic, Portugal, and Spain--that examine boundary-crossing issues between teachers and parents, between policies and school reality, between cultures, and between research and practice. All of the studies were based in elementary schools and…

In the context of a professional-development reform movement in Quebec, the Ministry of Education asked universities to participate in the training of school principals so that they could implement a culture of continuous learning in their own schools. The university researchers used a bottom-up approach to initiate collaborative inquiry with 37…

Faculty members employed at historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) should give priority to teaching and learning. The work of faculty members at such institutions is a way to reclaim individuals who have been discarded by society. Mission statements should be reviewed to be sure that college printed materials do indeed reflect these…

An action research study described and evaluated a classroom lending library that was rich in developmentally appropriate literacy material and was designed to facilitate communication between the child's school and home. The kindergarten classroom was located in the southwestern area of Baltimore, Maryland. The children themselves staffed the…

Action research begins with a question of interest to the researchers. Once the question is answered or progress is made toward answering it, action is taken. Data collected throughout the process are analyzed and conclusions are made. The process begins again with either a new question or a modification of the old question. Collaborative team…

A study looked at ways in which two New Zealand elementary schools responded to the interests of their multicultural communities through language programs. The schools developed Maori language instruction programs in response to community interest and recently-established national policy. The study's report begins with an overview of the major…

Having completed a study on the causes of stress affecting teacher education students during practice teaching, some members of the team who conducted the project wanted to ensure that the findings made some difference to the lives of students. Therefore, an action research approach was adopted to develop strategies aimed at lessening the stress…

This Action Research Project implemented a program for improving human relation skills intended to raise the academic performance level of students. The target population consists of kindergarten, seventh grade (regular/at-risk), and high school (regular/behavior disordered) students. Analysis of both research literature and problem evidence…

This paper summarizes responses of students in kindergarten and grades 1, 2, 4, and 5 to questions about Native Americans. The paper draws on findings from two studies, both done in a suburban school system deemed "average" on a variety of educational and socioeconomic indicators. In each study, samples of students stratified by gender…

This book discusses how second language acquisition (SLA) research can illuminate language pedagogy, and suggests four main roles for the SLA researcher: developing relevant theories; conducting classroom research; making research accessible to teachers; and facilitating action research. The first chapter outlines a number of different…

This report describes a program for using graphic organizers to enhance reading comprehension in the content areas. The targeted population consisted of middle school students in regular education classes at four different locations in a large metropolitan area. Graphic organizers will aid visually/spatially talented students as well as…