Teaching and Learning

Engaging in Action Research: A Practical Guide to Teacher-Conducted Research for Educators and School Leaders

Jim Parsons, Kurtis Hewson, Lorna Adrian, Nicole Day

Visit Brush Education to learn more and to place an order.

You don’t need a tweed jacket to be a researcher—in thousands of schools across North America, practising teachers conduct studies on best practices, alternative approaches, and effective learning strategies. Classroom teachers have experiences and opportunities unavailable to researchers in a university setting, and action research—site-based, teacher-conducted research—can have a valuable impact on the educational community.

Yet many teachers don’t see their work as real research, and many other teachers have great ideas for research projects but don’t know where to begin. For these teachers, Engaging in Action Research demystifies the world of educational research and provides support, guidance, and encouragement.

From creating a research plan to reporting findings, this book provides step-by-step instructions to help teachers conduct research projects in the classroom, using strategies that work. Get ready to investigate, analyze, and share!

Reviews:

Canadian Teacher Magazine
Canadian Journal of Action Research

Parsons, J., Hewson, K., Adrian, L. & Day, N. (2013). Engaging in action research. Edmonton, AB: Brush Education Inc.

Preparing for Teacher Research

Jim Parsons, Kurtis Hewson, Lorna Adrian, Nicole Day

Part 1 of a two-part series, with chapters focusing on Introducing Educational Research, Planning Your Research Project, How to Write a Literature Review, and Designing a Research Methodology.

• Buy Now ($10 - shipping included)
• Read the Preface

Parsons, J., Hewson, K., Adrian, L., & Day, N. (2012). Preparing for teacher research. Edmonton, AB: School Improvement Press.

Conducting Teacher Research

Jim Parsons, Kurtis Hewson, Lorna Adrian, Nicole Day

Part 2 of a two-part series, with chapters focusing on Project Management, Collecting Your Data, Analyzing Your Data, and Reporting Your Findings.

• Buy Now ($10 - shipping included)

A Happy Teacher Looks Back

Jim Parsons

Jim Parsons is a storyteller. His book A Happy Teacher Looks Back includes a series of feel good stories about teaching and the influence of teachers on students. Many stories are humorous, and many touching. Jim’s philosophy is that happiness in teaching emerges, as Erik Erikson notes, from a life well-lived.