Action Research Project on Transferable Skills
For my Applied Linguistics class I have to make an Action Research Project (ARP) as a final assignment. Most interesting is that different people perceive the term of ARP in a different way.
Typically, action research is undertaken in a school setting. It is a reflective process that allows for inquiry and discussion as components of the “research.” Often, action research is a collaborative activity among colleagues searching for solutions to everyday, real problems experienced in schools, or looking for ways to improve instruction and increase student achievement. Rather than dealing with the theoretical, action research allows practitioners to address those concerns that are closest to them, ones over which they can exhibit some influence and make change (Ferrance, 2000).
As for the steps of ARP the following can be very useful:
- Identification of problem areas
- Collection and organization of data
- Interpretation of data
- Action based on data
- Reflection
As a research topic, I decided to focus on students’ transferable skills that can be taught in the classroom. Specifically, I will focus on seven transferable skills:
1. Time Management and Organization skills
2. Multitasking
3. Written and Oral Communication
4. Teamwork
5. Leadership
6. Research and Analysis skills
7. Personal Development (Ferrance, 2000).
I chose this research topic because I have some students in my class who have great potential but they can’t perform well because they didn’t acquire transferable skills before. Furthermore, ARP involves people working to improve their skills, techniques, and strategies (Ferrance, 2000). So, it means by implementing this AR project I will be able to help my students by making the learning process interesting and efficient and at the same time I will sharpen my own teaching skills and strategies.
References:
1. Eileen Ferrance, Action Research, Northeast and Islands Regional Educational Laboratory at Brown University, 2000
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ReplyDeleteWow! This souns as a great action research project. I know that some teachers skip teaching those skills. However, from my point of view effective teaching cannot happen without fully developed transferable skills.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Alexandra. Sure, effective learning without transferable skills doesn't make any sense. And the most important is that these skills are portable.
DeleteThat's a great idea to teach students transferable skills! Unfortunately, high school pupils today concentrate on taking UNT and in their last two years of school learn almost nothing except for test-test-test. That is why they come to university and lack these transferable skills a lot.
ReplyDeleteHowever, these skills are important not only for students, but for teachers as well. In these articles writers talk about transferable skills that teachers have.
https://thosewhoteach.wordpress.com/2014/01/30/five-skills-teachers-have-that-employers-want/
http://www.tefl.net/esl-jobs/transferable-skills-teachers.htm
Would you like to check if you have all of them or not? ;-)
Olga, you are absolutely right. These skills are important not just for students but teachers as well. You know, making this ARPP I came to conclusion that I had no idea about these transferable skills and features of the habit. And the fact that it's connected with the brain and psychology makes me even more curious:)
DeleteThanks a lot for the links, Olga!
DeleteHurray for transferable skills and this research!
ReplyDeleteYour transferrable skills and the graphic you added at the end of your post are certainly accurate. I totally agree that tests take away from personality traits and personal strengths of students as individuals.
ReplyDelete