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Which topics would you include in your own action research?
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Wed, 04/01/2009 - 11:00
In one of the forums I found this wonderfully formulated phrase:
"(...) those who are sitting in front of us they come with hope that we educate them..."
If we suppose that action research can be used as a means to make our own daily practice better in order to come up to the expectations of those who are sitting in front of us (sic) then which topics would you consider doing action research on? Any contributions are very welcome. Helga
Fri, 04/17/2009 - 16:08
#2
Hi Helga:
In response to your question:
1. Which is the more effective technique for teaching a foreign language to beginners - learning by listening or learning by reading?
2. Which is the more effective technique for teaching L2 vocabulary to beginners - a written list of L2 words, their pronunciation (IPA), and their L1 meaning, or a recording of the vocabulary that relates sound to pictures? Why?
3. Why do learners who comprehend a written passage when reading it fail to comprehend the same passage when listening to it?
4. Why do learners who comprehend a passage spoken at a rate less than that of a native speaker fail to comprehend the same passage when it is spoken at a native speaker speech rate?
5. What is the criteria to be used in creating classroom activities for implementing task-based instruction? Why?
Dan Jenkins (Foreign Expert, English Department, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing, China)
Thu, 04/23/2009 - 16:05
#3
Hi Helga and All
To raise awareness of learner's types and learning styles both for teachers and students are essential at any course, no matter who are sitting in front of you (students, teachers, trainers...). This will contribute much to needs analysis of those who at the course and help much to choose learning strategies relevant to the specific group of learners. Besides, it helps much to design tasks and activities to be used with this or that group of students.
As soon as any problems appear in the classroom I'm doing my own action research to find the solution to them. Eg. If I face resistance to change, I'll do action research on it or if the students are not motivated, I'll research this issue etc. But the mentioned above I see to be essential, i.e. what to start with.
To improve my teaching and helping students to learn I'm practicing ongoing evaluation of the course that is also some kind of action researh, isn't it?
What do you think?
Hi Helga,
I can't agree more with this statement. I am currently involved in an action research using moodle as a VLE. I am trying to examine the benifits of the VLE on students' writing skills and autonomy. The research plan is ongoing and meant for improvement and development of the moodle courses produced and hopefully the quality of teaching and learning.
I hope that helps,
Ismail