My tips for conducting research in schools

I was flattered to be invited to return to ISQ recently to speak about my experiences in Action Research. Last year, along with two of my colleagues, I conducted an inquiry into how to best leverage 1:1 devices in upper primary classrooms and investigate the impact they had on pedagogical approaches and outcomes. 

The Action Research process is flexible, but in order to maintain momentum, researches need to commit to the ongoing process. Here are my tips to getting the most out of research projects in schools:

• Maintain regular team meetings - regular team meetings keep team members accountable and help push actions forward. 
• Work within a shared space - my team found a shared OneNote Notebook a fantastic place to document our findings, keep reflective journals, keep meeting records and share materials.
• Base your research and direction on data - It's well and good to research something of interest, but researching a solution based on a need identified through collected data is more valuable and will have a greater impact in your school.
• Set aside time for relevant academic reading and connect with other teaches online - there is a world of experience out there. Chances are that you are not the first teacher to experience a particular difficulty with something. There are great teachers filling social media spaces such as Pinterest, Twitter and Instagram with great ideas.
• Maintain an open mind about the direction of your inquiry - As you complete research cycles, post-data may change the direction of your inquiry. Be open to heading in a new direction and making new discoveries. Planning the road ahead can sometimes make for a boring journey!
• Promote your work and findings - Teachers rarely promote the great work that they do. Sharing your experiences can engage others in your research and pique curiosity.
• Use Action Research as a vehicle for change - conducting research provides you with data that can be used as evidence for proposals and changes in practice

Have you done any research projects in your school? Share your experiences below! Feel free to contact me if you would like to discuss conducting research in schools.