B.Ed. (Full Time) Action Research Syllabus - Mumbai University

Objectives

• To help the pupil in understanding the basics of Action Research
• To help the pupil in understanding the process of Action Research
• To help the pupil in applying the cycles of Action Research in the teaching-learning process.
• To help the pupil in analyzing the importance of validating Action Research at each step.
• To help the pupil in applying the methods of Action Research to the teaching learning process.
• To help the pupil in understanding various data collection tools of Action Research.
• To help the pupil in developing the skill of constructing appropriate tools while conducting an Action Research.
• To help the pupil in comprehending the components of Action Research Plan.
• To help the pupil in distinguishing between quantitative and qualitative data analysis in Action Research.
• To help the pupil in understanding the features of a good Action Research Report.
• To help the pupil in analyzing the ways of sharing and reflecting Action Research.
• To help the pupil in developing the spirit of enquiry in the students.

Module 1: Fundamentals of Action Research 2 credits

Unit 1: Basics of Action Research

• a) Meaning, Principles, Characteristics, Benefits and Limitations of Action Research
• b) Difference between Fundamental and Action Research
• c) Identification of Problem in Action Research – Locating, Delimiting Problem, Research questions

Unit 2: Action Research- Types, Approaches and Methods

• a) Types of Action Research –Individual teacher action research and Collaborative action research (Meaning, Rationale, uses and limitations)
• b) Approaches of Action Research: Qualitative and Quantitative - Concept and Need
• c) Methods of Action Research –Experimental and Case Study- Meaning, Purpose, Process and limitations

Unit 3: Process of Action Research

• a) Action Research Process –Stephen Kemmi’s Action Cycle, Kurt Lewin’s Force Field Analysis.
• b) Validation of Action research -Concept and types : Self, Peer and Learner
• c) Ethics in Action Research

Module 2: Action Research: Tools and Techniques, Plan and Report 2 credits

Unit 4: Data Collection- Tools and Techniques

• a) Tools for Data Collection – (Characteristics, uses and limitations)
• 1. Questionnaire –Open and Close ended
• 2. Artifacts: Documents, Records (Student’s journals, logs, audio, videos)
• b) Techniques of Data Collection-
• 1. Interviews –Structured and Unstructured
• 2. Observation- Participant and Non-Participant
• c) Role of teacher in Action Research, Action Research for Professional development of teachers

Unit 5: Planning, Conducting and Reporting Action Research

• a) Designing the Action Research Plan (research question, need, significance, aims and objectives, research team, research design, schedule and budget)
• b) Analysis of Data: Quantitative- Descriptive Analysis- Percentage, Mean, Correlation and Graphical representation (uses and limitations)
• c) Qualitative (Immersion reflecting, standing back analyzing; synthesizing; relation to other work; locating reflecting back; returning for more data Presenting disseminating and sharing).

Unit 6: Reporting Action Research

• a) Features of a good quality Action Research Report – Comprehensibility, Authenticity, Truthfulness and Appropriateness.
• b) Sharing and Reflecting - Locally, Action Research Communities, Professional Conferences and print and e- Journals.
• c) Reflection in Action Research

Module 3: Internal Assessment 2 credits

• Any two of the following tasks:
• a) Design an action research plan.
• b) Make a scrap book depicting TWO case studies related to professional growth of teachers while doing action research.
• c) Prepare a tool for data collection for an action research project of your relevance.
• d) Critically review any action research report for elements of good reporting.

References

• Crowder, N.A. (1959). Action Research to Improve School Practices. New York: Columbia University.
• NRC, (2001) National Research Council. Mathematics learning study: Center for Education, Division of Behavioural and Social Sciences and Education, Adding it up: Helping children learn mathematics. Edited by J. Kilpatrick et al., Washington, DC: National Academy Prehttp://www.edel.edu/pbl
• Lavin, R.E.(1995). Cooperative Learning: Theory, Research and Practice.(2 nd ed). Michigan: Allyn & Bacon.
• Sharma R. A. (1993). Teacher education, Theory, Practice and Research. Meerut : International Publishing house.
• Ebel, R.L. (1969). Outdoor Education. Encyclopeadia of Educational Research (4th ed.). London: The Macmillan Company, pp. 921-924
• Fitchman & Silva (2003). The Reflective Educators’ Guide to Classroom Research. California: Corwin Press.
• Moody, M. (2010). Teaching Twitter and Beyond: Tip for Incorporating Social Media in Traditional Courses. Journal of Magazine & New Media Research 11(2): pp. 1-9. National Commission for Protection of Child Rights . ncpcr.gov.in/
• Pandey,S,K and Sharma, R.S (2008 ). Encyclopaedia of Modern Techniques of Teaching, New Delhi: Commonwealth Publishers.
• A Special Education Research and trends (1986) - Edited by Richad J. Maris Burton Blatt, USA Pergamon PressA Special Education Research and trends (1986) - Edited by Richad J. Maris Burton Blatt, USA Pergamon Press
• Agrawal, J.C.&1968) Education Research. New Delhi : Arya Book Depot.
• Best. J.W. (1982). Research in Education. New Delhi : Prentice Hall of India Pvt.Ltd.
• Campbell, W.G.etal (1968). Form & Style in Thesis. Boston : Writing Houston Mifin Co.
• Coery,(1953). Action Research to Improve School Practices. New York : Teachers College, Columbia University.
• Gattertt, H.E., (1981). Statistics in psychology & Education Vakits Feffer & Simons Ltd.
• Gullford, J.P., (1950), Fundamental Statistics in Psychology & Education. McGraw Hill Book Company, Good & Scates, Methods of Research
• Fox, D.J., The Research Process in Education.(Holt).
• Kual, Lokesh (1988). Methodology of Educational Research New Delhi : Vikas Publishing House Pvt.
• Rober, M.W., Travers. An Introduction of Educational Research. New York: The McMillan Company.
• Sukhla, Mehrotra & Mehrotra (1970) , Elements of Educational Research : Allied. Publishers Ltd