Leading Change: Action Research Project

Subject EDUC90674 (2011)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2011.

Credit Points: 25
Level: 9 (Graduate/Postgraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2011:

Semester 2, Parkville - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period not applicable
Assessment Period End not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol not applicable
Census Date not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail not applicable


Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 48 hours.
Total Time Commitment: 240 hours.
Prerequisites: None.
Corequisites: None.
Recommended Background Knowledge: None.
Non Allowed Subjects: None.
Core Participation Requirements: For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Coordinator

Dr Helen Stokes

Contact

MGSE Student Centre: PH: 8344 8285
Subject Overview: In this subject, students engage in an action research project with the intention of improving professional practice within their school or educational setting. Students will get first hand experience of working in a professional learning team, applying educational leadership theory and making data-driven decisions. Students will deepen their understanding of methodological perspectives, develop skills in appropriate research methods for data gathering and analysis, finalise their review of the literature and articulate the alignment of their project methods with their findings from the literature review, refine their analysis of existing data, prepare a report of findings from all data analyses and write a scholarly article that articulates the development and implementation progress to date of the professional project.
Objectives:

On completion of this subject, students will acquire skills in the following:

  • analyse and critique educational research
  • identify a researchable problem in their professional setting.
  • systematically collect and analyse school-based data
  • Demonstrate familiarity with methodological perspectives and appropriateness of methods chosen to address the research problem including assessment and evaluation strategies.
  • transfer theory to practice in the school setting
  • Develop the ability to work through the action-Learning cycle
  • Work successfully in a team
Assessment:

There are 2 assessment tasks spread throughout the semester, totalling 8000 words.

  1. Introduction to action-research report (2000-2,500 words, 30%). Due week 4
  2. Final action-research assignment (6000-6,500 words 70%). Due week 10.
Prescribed Texts:
  1. Stringer, E. T. (2008). Action research in education (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.
  2. Anderson, G., Kerr, K., & Nilhen, A. (2007). Studying your own school: An educators guide to practitioner education research (2nd Ed). Corwin Press
Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.
Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills:

On completion of this subject, students will acquire skills in the following:

  • Research skills
  • Team protocol skills
  • Self-monitoring and reflection
  • Individual and collegiate reflection
  • Report writing
Related Course(s): Master of School Leadership

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