College of Education and Human Development
21st Century Teacher Interactive Network GMU Graduate School of Education
Teacher Research
The Teacher Research Group

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Glossary
What is action research?
What is teacher research (TR)?
The development of local knowledge
Comparing TR to other forms of educational research
Comparing TR to other forms of professional development
Teacher research process
Question cycle
Casting a question
Types of data collection
Reflective practice
Data analysis
Triangulation
Drawing conclusions and implications
Writing a draft
Getting published
TR project examples
Reflective practice project examples
Group leader
Starting a TR group
Funding sources
Schedules for meeting
Bibliography
Conferences
Site goals
Credits
Site feedback

Establishing A Teacher Research Team

Getting Started- forming a group

The beginning of a new the school year is a nice time to begin a teacher research project. It is important to have a colleague(s) that you can work with. When establishing a Teacher Research Team (TRT) first review the purposes of the team. As a team you will:

  • develop research questions based on your own curiosity about teaching and learning in their classrooms
  • systematically collect data and research methodology
  • write about your own research
  • share your findings with students, colleagues, and other members of the educational community
  • discuss relationships among practice, theory, and your own research
  • examine your own underlying assumptions about teaching and learning
  • assume responsibility for your own professional growth

Once you have found one or more colleagues interested in forming a Teacher Research Team (TRT), set an agenda for monthly half day meetings. Some teams meet every other week for only a few hours. A supportive administrator or an administrative office may be willing to provide "start-up" funds for administrative leave that will enable you to meet during the school day. If funding to provide leave during the school day can not provided, your TRT may need to meet after school. Meeting after school with dinner out at a local restaurant is a nice way to end a school day and is something to look forward to each month.

See also:

Hubbard, Ruth Shagoury & Power, Brenda Miller (1993). The art of classroom inquiry. Portsmouth, NH: Heineman Publishers, p. xiii-xviii.

MacLean, Marion S. & Mohr, Marian M. (1999). Teacher-Researchers at Work. Berkely, CA: National Writing Project.

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Home | Teacher research projects | People involved with teacher research | Research about teacher research | Current issues in teacher research | Links | Search and site map |


Contact information:


Dr. Diane Painter

Coordinator,
M.S. in C & I Special Education
Hood College

ddpainter@gmualumni.org


phone: 301-696-3766



Dr. Leo Rigsby

Initiatives in Educational Transformation
Graduate School of Education
George Mason University

lrigsby1@gmu.edu
tel. (703) 993-8318
fax: (703) 993-8321

10900 University Blvd. MS 4E4
Manassas, Virginia 20110 USA


This web site is a dynamic representation of teacher research activity.
As such, it is constantly being revised, reshaped, and extended.
If you see confusing or missing material,
please contact us with your suggestions.
We do not expect this site to ever become static.
We need your help to maintain its dynamism.

Last updated:

08 June 2007 10:20