Professional Growth and Enhancement

Facilitator:
Jane Hoelker

I can do an action research project!

Action research is a buzz word in today's EFL circles. Yet, many teachers hesitate, even balk, at initiating an action research project in their classroom. Responsibilities limit their time. Also, the word "research" implies use of statistics, the principles of triangulation, reliability and validity to support the generalization of findings. Many teachers, experts in practical skills such as managing people so that they learn, might not feel comfortable working with theory, or research with a big "R". However, action research, or research with a small "r", enables teachers to apply these practical skills in a systematic way to a problem, issue, question or concern they face in their classroom.

In this workshop, participants engage in the process of inquiry. They apply Nunan's (1992) seven steps to their own classroom, and move a question into a research project. Participants leave this workshop with an outline of their own action research project. This practical presentation is intended for any teacher interested in getting started in action research projects.

Bio

Jane Hoelker teaches English at Zayed University. She is the EFL IS Chair for TESOL, Inc. in 2004 and the TESOL Arabia representative in Abu Dhabi. She has taught in Japan, Korea, Mali and Rwanda.

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Photo by Tony Quirke