Research and Scholarship in English Education
This graduate seminar explores teacher research and scholarship as a means to curricular and pedagogical improvement, teacher empowerment, and educational reform.
Students read a variety of teacher research studies, examine models for classroom research, develop research questions, create a literature review, a human subjects protocal, and a research proposal, carry out research, and write up results with a view toward publication and dissemination. The course will feature experimentation, collaboration, revision, rewriting, and reflection.
Discussion of ideas and materials will take place in an interactiveNing environment, Teacher Researcher, shared with teacher researchers across the country. Component pieces of a teacher research project will be due and discussed at specific points throughout the course, yet these pieces should be considered provisionary. The final project will be a portfolio of these materials, revised and with an introducation and self-evaluation.
As the gateway course to the Masters in English with a Teaching Emphasis this course helps provide a framework for MA work and facilitating teacher professional development and leadership.
The class will be taught in a wireless laptop classroom and will experiment with a variety of new technologies. Our class will be organized by this on-line syllabus, which is subject to change and further development.
Students are expected to join the National Council of the Teachers of English and attend a professional conference, such as the MCTE Bright Ideas Conference, Saturday, April 4.
This semester Dr. Sheridan Blau will visit our department and students are also encouraged to attend his talk and workshop.
Class participation is vital in 6910, missing classes may lower the grade and missing more than 3 classes may lead to failing. This class will follow WMU academic honesty policies. If at any point in the semester if you feel stress, English 6910 offers free on-line therapy from Eliza!
Required Reading:
Chiseri-Strater, Elizabeth and Bonnie Sunstein. What Works? A Practical Guide for Teacher Research (Heinemann, 2006).
Many teacher research essays and other materials handed out inclass, available on the web or in packets.
Assignments:
Teacher Research Ning (~20%) (weekly posts)
Research Question Drafts 1/26 (~10%)
Literature Review 2/2 (~10%)
Research Proposal 2/16 (~10%)
Human Subjects Proposal 3/9 (~10%)
Research Data 3/16 (~10%)
Research Write-Up 4/24 (~20%)
Portfolio including Introduction and Self-Evaluation 4/24 (~10%)
Syllabus
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Introductions
Introduction to the course. Learn about each other's backgrounds, experience, and interests. Consider topics and approaches for the course. Brainstorm ideas for professional presentations for MCTE (Proposals Due: Thursday, Jan. 15) and NCTE (Proposals Due: Monday, Jan. 19).
Jan. 12
Overview of Teacher Research
1. Read: "Teacher Professionalism and the Rise of "Multiple Literacies": How to Describe our Specialized Knowledge? in Methods of Research on Teaching the English Language Arts. Respond to discussion "Understanding Teacher Research" in class Ning.
2. Read: "Introduction" and "1: Prepwork" from What Works? Respond to discussion "Understanding Teacher Research" in class Ning.
3. Read: "Call for Manuscripts," "Doing Our Homework on Homework," and "Advanced Placement Courses Put the Squeeze on English Electives" from November 2007, English Journal. Respond to discussion "Evaluating Examples of Teacher Research" in class Ning.
Jan. 22, Thursday
Teaching About MLK, Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement
Sangren Hall 2304, 4-5:30
Jan. 26
Shaping Research Questions
1. Read: "Teacher Research Projects" by Burton and Seidl in in Methods of Research on Teaching the English Language Arts. Respond to discussion in class Ning.
2. Read: "Teacher Inquiry into Literacy, Social Justice, and Power" by Fecho and Allen in Methods of Research on Teaching the English Language Arts. Respond to discussion "Understanding Teacher Research" in class Ning.
3. Read: Chapters 2 "Scratchwork" Respond to discussion "Forming Research Questions"in class Ning.
4. Read "Are You Willing to Have Your Students Join Ralph, Piggy, and Jack" by Arver (EJ, Sept. 2007) and "Literature from the Modern Middle East: Making a Living Connection" by Webb (EJ, Jan. 2009). Respond to discussion "Evaluating Examples of Teacher Research" in class Ning.
5. Bring drafts of 3 or 4 possible research questions to class.
Optional: Research Questions Teachers Ask
Feb. 2
Literature Review /
Participant Action Research International Persepective
1. Read: "On the Origins of Participant Action Research" by Jon Hale (AR, June 2007) & Chapter 2 of Pedagogy of the Oppressed by Paulo Friere. Respond to discussion "Understanding Teacher Research" in class Ning.
2. Read: Chapter 3 "Bridgework" from What Works? Respond to discussion "Literature Review" in class Ning.
3. Read "The Rules of the Game in an Introductory Literature Class" Ed Jones (Teaching English in the Two-Year College, 35.3, 3-08) Respond to discussion "Evaluating Examples of Teacher Research" in class Ning.
4. Write an annotated bibliography including at least 4-5 books/articles addressing your research question.
Feb. 9
Designing Research Plans
1. Read: Chapters 5 "Legwork" and Chapter 6 "Eyework" from What Works? Respond to discussion "Designing Research Plans and Drafting Proposals" in class Ning. 2. Read: "'Loud on the Inside': Working-Class Girls, Gender, and Literacy" by Pamela Hartman, Research in the Teaching of English (41.1, 8-06). Respond to discussion "Evaluating Examples of Teacher Research" in class Ning. |
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Drafting Research Proposals
1) Read: Chapter 7 "Homework" from What Works? Respond to discussion "Designing Research Plans and Drafting Proposals" in class Ning.
2) Read "On the Margins in a High-Performing High School: Policy and the Struggling Reader" by Judith Franzak, Research in the Teaching of English (42.4, 5-08). Respond to discussion "Evaluating Examples of Teacher Research" in class Ning.
2) First Draft Proposals Due
Feb. 23
Working with Human Subjects
1. Read: Chapter 4 "Headwork" from What Works?
2. Explore the WMU HSIRB website.
3. Complete the "Social and Behavioral Researchers" training modules, including the modules for "Working with Children," "Research in Elementary and Secondary Schools, and "Vulnerable Subjects" available at CITI.
4. Read Joe Haughey's HSIRB proposal.
5. Respond to discussion "Researching Human Subjects" in class Ning.
Mar. 2-6
Spring Break
Mar. 9
Data Gathering
1. Read: Chapter 8 "Footwork" from What Works? Respond to discussion "Carrying Out and Analyzing Research" in class Ning.
2. Write a statement about your plans to protect human subjects in your research.
3. Read: Intro to Gretchen Voskuil's Dissertation (in progress). Respond to discussion "Evaluating Examples of Teacher Research" in class Ning.
Analysis
1. Read: Chapter 9 "Deskwork" from What Works? Respond to discussion "Carrying Out and Analyzing Research" in class Ning.
2. Bring some data from your research to class.
3. Read: Sample research articles. Respond to discussion "Evaluating Examples of Teacher Research" in class Ning.
Mar. 23
Dissemination
1. Read: Chapter 10 "Handwork" from What Works? Respond to discussion "Publication and Dissemination" in class Ning.
2. Read: "Fictive Representations: An Alternative Method for Reporting Research" by Alvermann and Hruby in Methods of Research on Teaching ELA. Respond to discussion "Publication and Dissemination" in class Ning.
3. Bring to class a list of possible ways you might like to disseminate your research.
Mar. 30
Writing for Publication
1. Bring a rough draft of an English Journal style article to class about your research.
Saturday, Apr. 4
MCTE "Bright
Ideas Conference" Lansing
April 6
Redrafting
1. Bring a revised draft of a research article to class.
April 9-10
Thursday Evening Guest Lecture Dr. Sheridan Blau
Friday Morning Workshop with Dr. Sheridan Blau
Apr. 13
Pulling it All Together
1. Read: "Reflections on an Online Teacher's Writing Group" National Writing Project.
2. Respond to discussion "Metacognition on Teacher Research" in class Ning.
Apr. 20 6910 Final
Share Projects
1. Create a Powerpoint or Website about your project and present to the class.
2. Put revised pieces from your research project into a portfolio. Create an introduction to the portfolio setting describing what you learned about the research process and a conclusion including a 4-page self-evaluation of your work English 6910 and propose a course grade.
Possible Inspiration for Research
State and National Standards: NCTE/IRA Standards for the English Language Arts, the Michigan English Language Arts Content Standards, and the Michigan K-8 standards
Best Practice: Central iSchool and Charles Whitaker BP In Teaching Writing.
Teaching for Social Justice Links, Teaching for Change Catalog
Teacher Research Resources
George Mason University Teacher Research Website
International Reading Association: Teacher as Researcher Grant
Conference on English Education: James Moffett Award to Support Teacher Research
UC Davis Cress Teacher Research Program
Rick Beach's page on Teacher Research
Teacher Research Related Journals
English Journal for English language arts teachers in junior and senior high schools and middle schools, addresses teaching of writing and reading, literature, and language.
Voices from the Middle research and best practices in middle level reading, writing, speaking, and listening in the visual and language arts.
Teaching English in the Two-Year College for instructors of English in two-year colleges and teachers of first- and second-year composition in four-year institutions, theoretical and practical articles on composition, developmental studies, technical and business communication, literature, creative expression, language, and the profession.
Language Arts Journal of Michigan for language arts teachers in Michigan.
Rethinking Schools an activist publication committed to equity and the creation of a humane, caring, multiracial democracy.
Networks: An On-Line Journal for Teacher Research a place for sharing reports of action research, in which teachers at all levels, kindergarten to postgraduate, are reflecting on classroom practice through research ventures.
Research in the Teaching of English research and essays from a variety of methodologies on the relationships between language teaching and learning at all levels.
The Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy practical, classroom-tested ideas grounded in research and theory.
The Reading Teacher blend of practical classroom application and theoretical framework audience of classroom teachers, university researchers, literacy consultants, coaches, and policymakers.
English Education the education and development of teachers of English at all levels.
Educational Researcher scholarly inquiry related to education and evaluation.
College English for the college scholar-teacher, literature, rhetoric-composition, critical theory, creative writing theory and pedagogy, linguistics, literacy, reading theory, pedagogy, and professional issues related to the teaching of English.
College Literature links issues of literature, culture, politics and pedagogy.
Pedagogy undergraduate and graduate instruction in English studies.
Teacher Research Courses
Boston Writing Project’s New-Teacher Inquiry Syllabus
ED 718 Action Research in Schools, Allan Feldman, U of Massachusetts
ED 6550 Research for Classroom Teachers, George Hruby, Utah State
ED Y510 Educational Inquiry, U of Indiana
ENG 552: Research Methods in Rhetoric and Composition, Sharon McGee, S Illinois
ED 635 School-Based Inquiry in Literacy, Nicola Williams, George Mason U
ED 8010 Teacher Action Research, Deborah Tippins, U of Georgia
RE 5040 Teacher as Researcher, Gary Moorman, Appalachian State U
Additional Reading
Living the Questions: A Guide for Teacher Researchers by Ruth Shagoury Hubbard and Brenda Power Miller
Inside/Outside: Teacher Research and Knowledge by Marilyn Cochran-Smith and Susan L. Lytle
Reclaiming the Classroom: Teacher Research as an Agency for Change by Dixie Goswami and Peter Stillman
The Art of Classroom Inquiry: A Handbook for Teacher-Researchers by Ruth Shagoury Hubbard and Brenda Miller Power
A Teacher’s Guide to Classroom Research by David Hopkins
Teacher Researchers at Work by Marion S. Maclean, Marian M. Mohr and the National Writing Project
Teacher Research for Better Schools by Courtney Rogers, Betsy Sanford, Mary Ann Nocerino, and Marion Maclean
Good Day, Bad Day: Teaching as a High Wire Act by Ken Winograd
Qualitative Inquiry: Approaches to Language and Literacy Research by George Kamberelis and Greg Dimitriadis
created by: allen.webb@wmich.edu
updated: 1/09
