It is a process in which participants examine their own educational practice systematically and carefully, using the techniques of research. It is based on the assumptions that:
- Teachers work best on problems they have identified for themselves.
- Teachers become more effective when encouraged to examine and assess their own work and then consider ways of working differently.
- Teachers and principals help each other by working collaboratively.
- Working with colleagues helps teachers and principals in their professional development.
Action research specifically refers to a disciplined inquiry done by a teacher with the intent that the research will inform and change his or her practices in the future. This research is carried out within the context of the teacher’s environment—that is, with the students and at the school in which the teacher works—on questions that deal with educational matters at hand.
Implicit in the term action research is the idea that teachers will begin a cycle of posing questions, gathering data, reflection, and deciding on a course of action.
Action research is not problem-solving in the sense of trying to find out what is wrong, but rather a quest for knowledge about how to improve. Action research is not about doing research on or about people, or finding all
available information on a topic looking for the correct answers. It involves people working to improve their skills,
techniques, and strategies. Action research is not about learning why we do certain things, but rather how we can
do things better. It is about how we can change our instruction to impact students.
Types of Action Research
A plan of research can involve a single teacher investigating an issue in his or her classroom, a group of teachers working on a common problem, or a team of teachers and others focusing on a school- or district-wide issue.
Individual teacher research usually focuses on a single issue in the classroom. The teacher may be seeking solutions
to problems of classroom management, instructional strategies, use of materials, or student learning.The problem is one that the teacher believes is evident in his or her classroom and one that can be addressed on an individual basis. The research may then be such that the teacher collects data or may involve looking at student participation.
Collaborative action research may include as few as two teachers or a group of several teachers and others interested in addressing a classroom or department issue. This issue may involve one classroom or a common problem shared by many classrooms.
School-wide research focuses on issues common to all. For example, a school may have a concern about the lack of
parental involvement in activities, and is looking for a way to reach more parents to involve them in meaningful ways.
Steps in Action Research
1. Identify a problem area
2. Collect and organize the data through journals, individual files, logs of meetings, videotapes, case studies, surveys
records – tests, report cards, attendance, self-assessment, samples of student work, projects, performances, interviews, portfolios, diaries, field notes, audio tapes, photos, memos, questionnaires, focus groups, anecdotal records, checklists
3. Interpret the data
4. Design a plan of action based on the data obtained
5. Reflect / evaluate the results
Now watch the following videos
and comment on it. What will your next action research be about?
Reflecting on our role as Teachers 
Hello teacher!! I read the document about action research and I saw the video.But I need to read it again and reread it in order to submit a good commentary. At first sight, I found it very interesting. It is an excellent way of improving our teaching. I´ll write you as soon as possible.
I saw the video part 2. It is really very useful in order to improvenot only our teaching but our students´results in the learning process. We can help our students to improve their life and we can involve parents and the community in this process. Teachers must work together and I think that the most important objetive is to help children to learn how to change their social context. I will see part 1 and 2 again.
When I saw these two videos I automatically related them to the previos one: “Reflecting teaching”. It’s interesting to see how action research can help develop a reflective practice since it alternates between action and critical reflection. Action research encourages our personal growth allowing us to improve our teaching and getting involved in the changes that we have to implement to get benefitial solutions for our students. It is true that action research connects classroom with community so, in my case, action research would be connected with students’ behaviour, their lack of interest in most of school subjects and what is there behind all that, I mean, social context, family involvement and students’ expectations for their future. Of course, it will be a hard work in which many teachers will have to get involved, but it should be a common issue which could help us look for a way to achieve better results. Will I be able to?
I like the phrase “The secret of success in the profession of teaching is to continually grow and learn”. I think it is true. We have to make a self evaluation, try to identify problems and try to work on them. It is important to learn new strategies and how to put them into practice. I found this article very useful because I could realise how important action research is. Of course, it is hard work but you are not only learning a bit more but also you are growing and improving your teaching.
Teachers can improve their own teaching by focusing on their teaching situation .They identify problems or aspects of their teaching that they would like to improve,assess the overall situation, come up with some hypotheses about their particular teaching context,and then, start focusing on the object of their research.According to the data obtained,they make different decisions and often new questions were made.The most important thing is that the results of their findings often encourage teachers to make changes in their teaching , and these decisions end up having and impact on their lessons ..
I watched these videos and like the phrase: ” Education is growth”, because action research is very useful for teachers to grow, to
improve in our profession identifying problems and solving them, choosing the best method according to each group,knowing our students better and encouraging them to integrate, to participate and to be envolved in projects related to their school and their community: helping them to grow too.
And always reflecting on our role and thinking about how we can make the difference, as teachers.