This week, teachers participating in our action research project - EPPE_Lab - completed their third training module and selected their research focus for Phase Two.
EPPE_Lab is a project developed by the Talent Research and Development Centre, together with the EPPE Network, which trains school leaders and teachers to implement school-based research projects grounded in Participatory Action Research (PAR) principles. All five of the schools involved in this programme - based in Antofagasta and Calama, Chile - serve communities characterised by high levels of disadvantage.
The programme is in its first phase, with teachers currently completing the third of four modules focused on research techniques applied to educational contexts. Participating teachers are beginning to define their research questions, learning about how to carry out a literature review and developing their research design (type of study, data collection strategy, etc.).
In previous modules, teachers had the opportunity to analyse and discuss the importance of critical reflection as a tool for improving their own practice, following an ongoing spiral of improvement. Also, the teachers learned about the Participatory Action Research framework, exploring the stages and implementation strategy of this methodological approach.
This week, four of the five groups selected their general topics for research, which will be developed in each school from August to December of 2019. The initial topics/questions to be investigated are:
What are the causes of the 2018 increase in dropout rates among secondary students at Oscar Bonilla School in Antofagasta?
Analysing the reasons behind decreasing mathematics attainment in the national SIMCE standardized tests (2018-2019) among fourth grade students at Valentin Letelier primary school in Calama.
Investigating language teachers' practices to detect opportunities to promote improved attainment among primary students at Republica de Chile School in Calama.
Analysing and detecting contextual obstructions to the learning-teaching process for permanent students at the Hospital School in Antofagasta.
The modules have been developed by EPPE Network Member and UCN Associate Advisor, Cristian Celedón. Alejandro Proestakis, an academic at UCN, also contributed to the third module, developing the session on 'Quantitative Research Methods for Educational Contexts'.
The participating teachers have been very enthusiastic about the course, and hold high expectations for the next phase of the programme, when they will begin implementing their research within each school.
The fourth and final module will be carried out in the first week of July. This module will be focused on research methods and how to present research findings in order to building strong analysis and conclusions. After this, the groups will present their research proposals and the EPPE Network team will allocate an International Advisor to each team, who will support the fieldwork and research process.
If you are an EPPE Network Member or Associate Fellow and are interested in acting as an International Advisor for EPPE_Lab, contact us on eppe.network@gmail.com to discuss possible vacancies.