ACTION RESEARCH TO DEVELOP SUSTAINABLE SCHOOL
The
ability to think reflectively in order to identify problems is a very important
skill to increase school's quality, which is one of the indicators of teacher's
professionalism.
Classroom
Action Research (CAR) is one of the most innovative approaches in the education
field. It is conducted not only to discover effective teaching - learning
methods but also to train teachers to think reflectively of their profession
and performance. CAR as a form of research can also train educators to think
and act scientifically and systematically in solving problems or to assess the
effectiveness of certain education innovation.
In our Educators Sharing Network
(ESN), held on Friday, April 9th 2010, 40 participants attended the
event. The participants are from different backgrounds, such as Teachers from
kindergarten to junior secondary school, lecturers from both private and
government universities in Bandung
and Jabodetabek area.The sharing session, entitled ‘Action Research for Developing Sustainable School',
was led by Mrs. Nisa Felicia, M.Ed., one of SSE lecturers."CAR
is research conducted by teachers (in the context of classroom) or other school
components (principal, for example)
while they are conducting "action" such as teaching, implementing
policies, creating/ changing a system, etc. Most teachers still think that CAR is conducted only when
schools are facing problems, when it is actually not.
 
When schools want to move
forward by adopting certain innovations, there are two things that can be done
by teachers/schools; 1) assessing the efficacy of the ‘innovation'; and 2)
planning strategies to maintain the ‘innovation'," explained Ms. Nisa when
interviewed. In addition, Ms. Nisa Felicia also highlighted
the following:
- The difference between CAR and
other Action Research or other research is as follows: Pure research
(or common research) has different paradigm compared to that of action
research. For example, in common research, researcher Must Not be
"involved" with his/her subject of research, whereas in action
research, researcher "must" be involved, e.g. in research about the
effectiveness of a certain learning method. In common research
(experiment of a method) the researcher does not teach because it will
most probably involve his/her own subjectivity in the assessment. On
the contrary, in action research, it is the teacher who designs the
teaching method, deliver the method and assess the method. CAR
emphasizes "reflective thinking and practice". When we conduct a
research about one teaching-learning method and the result is
unsatisfactory in that it fails to increase students' learning outcome,
common research will stop at that stage. In contrary, CAR requires
teacher to conduct self evaluation (reflection) on why the method did
not work. And, when the teacher discovers the answer, he/she can
conduct the same research again, with modifications and repairs (called
"the next cycle"). Thus, philosophically, this research prevents
teachers from taking a rush decision to decline certain innovation just
because it did not work at first trial..
- Steps to conduct CAR :Because CAR is strongly related to "change" and
its sustainability, as mainly discussed in current ESN, the
implementation of CAR, consequently, begins with an orientation of a
"change", e.g. the needs for computer based instruction, etc. Afterwards,
when the change is carried out (using computers in every
teaching-learning activity), CAR is conducted.The steps exemplified above are
to illustrate the strong relation of CAR and innovation as mainly discussed in
the current ESN.
- Issues basing the importance of CAR: Problem solving in classroom/school, and also for
sustainability of a school. In order to maintain its sustainability,
school has to be innovative and creative, and keeps on changing. However,
often those changes happen only at the beginning and unsustainable
because of some factors, especially the ‘T-factor' (Read: Teacher Factor). Thus, school must design
certain strategy on how to keep the on-going innovation from being
disabled and this "strategy" can be implemented through action research
(either school or classroom research).Teachers tend to experience "burn out" or even get
bored at the condition when they have to do the same thing over and over
again. Thus, CAR can be a new alternative for teachers to gain a new
perception over their profession. Our government, who gives full support
for CAR, provides a lot of chances for teachers to obtain research grant,
presentation and publication of their research result. Of course,
government offers certain "incentive" for all of those efforts,
especially in terms of teacher certification program.
- Challenges and difficulties that might be encountered
during CAR planning and implementation:Some would most probably answer: time. Others would probably go
for ideas for writing and writing
techniques. One suggestion that can be offered to teachers is making
"research" as a part of their job description, thus they will not
consider CAR as an extra work that "waste" their time.
- People or parties that have the right to conduct CAR:Every part that do "action" at class/ school,
including Teachers, Lecturers, or even Students from School of Education
who are doing in-school teaching practices.
 
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