Submitted by Patricia Akojie on
Using Action Research as a Capstone Assessment
Abstract
The purpose of this presentation is to share the pedagogy of using action research as a capstone to promote teacher disposition and professional development. While there are many types of capstone assessments, the presenter will share how action research is used as a capstone assessment to empower candidates’ professional development.
Description
This presentation shared how Research Action Plan (RAP) is used to guide candidates in completing action research projects. Creswell (2006) defines action research as “systematic procedures used by teachers (or other individuals in an educational setting) to gather quantitative and qualitative data to address improvements in their educational setting, their teaching, and the learning of their students” (p. 53). Culminating teaching activities include providing candidates with an overview of research methods, formulation of research questions, the generation of testable research questions, research design, data collection, and data analysis. Peer review of each other’s proposal is part of the strategy used in the teaching process.
Candidates are then provided hands-on experience walking students through the research process, culminating in written research report and blueprint plans for implementation. School systems, through a memorandum of agreement, work cooperatively with the University in providing candidates the opportunity to examine students’ assessment, sharing school profiles and other relevant data.
The findings are analyzed and shared through a written narrative. The projects are designed to enhance critical thinking about classroom or school-related P-12 issues and practices, and to generate appropriate actions for change and improvement. Candidates then implement their action research in the schools and share the results of their studies. The final project is evaluated using a rubric aligned to the Kentucky Teacher Standards. This final Capstone Project require a “satisfactory” performance on each of the ten Kentucky Teacher Standards using a rubric. Presenter will share materials and rubric used in the teaching process.
