This module introduces participants to the principles of action research and of how it can be used in developing professional practice. It will allow students to identify an area of their practice that they wish to improve, to establish a means of improving it; to collect data on the impact of these changes and to evaluate this impact in order to make further developments to improvement. The choice of subject will be framed by the PDP where participants will record areas of particular interest or relevance from previous learning to their personal practice.
Taught sessions will focus on aspects of action research such as methodological foundations, purpose, structure and processes. The work will be supported by group and individual tutorials.

Will comprise two components. 1. One written assignment that reports on the action research study including a literature review of the area of study, a presentation and analysis of findings and recommendations for developing practice. 6000 words weighted at 80% (assesses Learning Outcomes 1-4) 2. One presentation (indicative of 1500 words) weighted at 20%. This will outline their action research study and the reasons for their choice of subject (assesses Learning Outcomes 1-4)

University teaching sessions
Tutorials
University library
Materials and links on BA Education (Lifelong Learning) Blackboard

Bell, J. (1999) Doing your Research Project Maidenhead Open University Press
Bogdan, R.C & Biklen, S.K (1992) Qualitative Research for Education: An Introduction to Theory and Methods: Boston, MA. Allyn & Bacon
Coghlan,D and Brannick,D. (2004) Doing Action Research in your own Organisation¿ London:Sage.
Durrant,J and Holden,g (2006) Teachers Leading Change: Doing Research for School Improvement, London, Sage
Johnson,A.P. (2007) A Short Guide to Action research. Boston: Allyn and Bacon
McNiff,J. and Whitehead,L. (2006) All you need to know about Action Research. London, Sage

The learning strategies will require participants to commit 450 learning hours of which 45 hours will consist of contact time. Sessions will consist of lectures, seminars, workshops and tutorials, (45 hrs). These will provide participants with a broad theoretical overview and the conceptual frameworks which have underpinned the development of action research in education and training. They will also provide the opportunity to develop critical thinking skills to apply these methodologies to a small scale action research project intro an appropriate aspect of practice.

A further 405 hours of independent study will require participants to take responsibility for relating the issues addressed in this module to the development of a small scale action research project. In particular, it will require them to identify an appropriate research question and research plan which has to be approved by the module tutor before further work can proceed. This will form the basis of the dissertation. Participants are also required to organise and review their session notes and undertake preparatory reading in order to participate in, and lead, discussions individually and as part of a group.