Skip to main content
Log in

Understanding Changes in Teacher Roles Through Collaborative Action Research

  • Published:
Journal of Science Teacher Education

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to present the design and findings of a collaborative action research study that involved five secondary science teachers as action researchers and me, as facilitator, collectively articulating the teachers’ changing teaching roles when the teachers taught with computer technology. Data included interviews, observations, and focus group discussions. Data analysis entailed thematic analysis of data to identify initial and changes in teachers’ roles. Collaborative action research context helped the teachers to perceive their changing teaching roles through collective negotiation. Implications for facilitators of action research include the need to articulate their theoretical orientation prior to the onset of facilitating action research projects and to acknowledge and accept action researchers as fellow active knowledge producers.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Altrichter, H. (2005). The role of ‘Professional Community’ in action research. Educational Action Research, 13, 11–25.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ardac, D., & Akaygum, S. (2004). Effectiveness of multimedia-based instruction that emphasizes molecular representations on students’ understanding of chemical change. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 41, 317–337.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bell, P. (2000). Scientific arguments as learning artifacts: Designing for learning from the web with KIE. International Journal of Science Education, 22, 797–817.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boyatzis, R. E. (1998). Transforming qualitative information: Thematic analysis and code development (2nd Ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bransford, J. D., Brown, A. L., & Cocking, R. R. (2000). How people learn: Brain, mind, experience, and school. Washington DC: National Academy Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cain, T., Holmes, M., Larrett, A., & Mattock, J. (2007). Literature-informed, one-turn action research: Three cases and a commentary. British Educational Research Journal, 33, 91–106.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Capobianco, B. M. (2007). Science teachers’ attempts at integrating feminist pedagogy through collaborative action research. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 44, 1–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Capobianco, B. M., & Feldman, A. (2006). Promoting quality for teacher action research: Lessons learned from science teachers’ action research. Educational Action Research, 14, 497–512.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Capobianco, B. M., Lincoln, S., Canuel-Browne, D., & Trimarchi, R. (2006). Examining the experiences of three generations of teacher researchers through collaborative science teacher inquiry. Teacher Education Quarterly, 33, 61–78.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clandinin, D. J., & Connelly, F. M. (1995). Teachers’ professional knowledge landscapes (Vol. 15). New York: Teachers College Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elliot, J. (2007). Assessing the quality of action research. Research Papers in Education, 22, 229–246.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fazio, X., & Melville, W. (2008). Science teacher development through collaborative action research. Teacher Development, 12, 193–209.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Feldman, A., & Capobianco, B. M. (2008). Teacher learning of technology enhanced formative assessment. Journal of Science Education and Technology, 17, 82–99.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haggarty, L., & Postlethwaite, K. (2003). Action research: A strategy for teacher change and school development? Oxford Review of Education, 29, 423–448.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hakkarainen, K. (2003). Progressive inquiry in a computer-supported biology class. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 40, 1072–1088.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hickey, D. T., Kindfield, A. C. H., Horwitz, P., & Christie, M. A. T. (2003). Integrating curriculum, instruction, assessment, and evaluation in a technology-supported genetics learning environment. American Educational Research Journal, 40, 495–538.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jorde, D. (2000). Knowledge integration environment: Reactions and comments. International Journal of Science Education, 22, 881–883.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kang, N.-H. (2007). Elementary teachers’ teaching for conceptual understanding: Learning from action research. Journal of Science Teacher Education, 18, 469–495.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kerr, S. T. (1996a). Toward a sociology of educational technology. In D. H. Jonassen (Ed.), Handbook of research for educational communications and technology (pp. 143–169). New York: Simon and Schuster Macmillan.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kerr, S. T. (1996b). Visions of sugarplums: The future of technology, education, and the schools. In S. T. Kerr (Ed.), Technology and the future of schooling (pp. 1–25). Chicago: The University of Chicago Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kerr, S. T. (2005). Why we all want it to work: Toward a culturally based model for technology and educational change. British Journal of Educational Technology, 36(6), 1005–1016.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Linn, M. C. (1998). The impact of technology on science instruction: Historical trends and current opportunities. In: Fraser, B. J., & Tobin, K. G. (Eds.), International handbook of science education (pp. 265–293). Great Britain: Kluwer Academic Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Linn, M. C. (2000). Designing the knowledge integration environment. International Journal of Science Education, 22, 781–796.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Linn, M. C., & Slotta, J. D. (2000). WISE Science. Educational Leadership, 58, 29–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Linn, M. C., Clark, D., & Slotta, J. D. (2003). WISE design for knowledge integration. Science Education, 87, 517–538.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McDonough, K. (2006). Action research and the professional development of graduate teaching assistants. Modern Language Journal, 90, 33–47.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nelson, T. H. (2008). Teachers’ collaborative inquiry and professional growth: Should we be optimistic? Science Education, 93, 548–580.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nelson, T. H., Perkins, M., & Hathorn, T. (2008). A culture of collaborative inquiry: Learning to develop and support professional learning communities. Teachers College Record, 110, 1269–1303.

    Google Scholar 

  • Patton, M. C. (2002). Qualitative research and evaluation methods (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ponte, P. (2002). How teachers become action researchers and how teacher educators become their facilitators. Educational Action Research, 10, 399–422.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Radford, M. (2006). Researching classrooms: Complexity and chaos. British Educational Research Journal, 32, 177–190.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rearrick, M. L., & Feldman, A. (1999). Orientations, purposes, and reflection: A framework for understanding action research. Teaching and Teacher Education, 15, 333–349.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Russell, D. W., Lucas, K. B., & McRobbie, C. J. (2004). Role of the microcomputer-based laboratory display in supporting the construction of new understandings in thermal physics. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 41, 165–185.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seale, C. (1999). The quality of qualitative research. London: Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sleegers, P., & Van den Berg, R. (2000). Building innovative schools: The need for new approaches. Teaching and Teacher Education, 16, 801–808.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Somekh, B. (2006). Constructing intercultural knowledge and understanding through collaborative action research. Teachers and Teaching, 12, 87–106.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tobins, K., & Tippins, D. J. (1996). Metaphors as seeds for conceptual change and the improvement of science teaching. Science Education, 80, 711–730.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Warrican, S. (2006). Action Research: A viable option for effecting change. Journal of Curriculum Studies, 38, 1–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • White, R. T. (2000). The knowledge integration environment: Commentary on research. International Journal of Science Education, 22, 873–880.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Karthigeyan Subramaniam.

About this article

Cite this article

Subramaniam, K. Understanding Changes in Teacher Roles Through Collaborative Action Research. J Sci Teacher Educ 21, 937–951 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10972-010-9217-9

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10972-010-9217-9

Keywords

Navigation