Print this pageAction Research Conference
DATE OF ISSUE: MONDAY 15TH FEBRUARY 2010
UCY HOSTS FIRST ACTION RESEARCH CONFERENCE
On Friday 12th February 2010, the University Centre Yeovil (UCY) hosted the first Yeovil Action Research Conference, an opportunity for local educators to share their class room-based research and improve teaching practice.
The event featured presentations by nine Yeovil College and three Lufton College staff, who have all spent four months studying their own teaching practice and looking at ways to improve results and the learning experience. The conference was intended as a way of sharing their findings with an audience of nearly 80 other educators.
A broad spectrum of areas were examined, including using creative tools to enable younger learners to take greater control of their learning experience, teaching/learning styles and gender, alternatives to paper-based initial assessments, the use of digital technologies in the learning environment and a comparison of results from practical and taught classes. The presentations covered the education of a variety of students and classes, including Foundation learning groups, A Levels and Vocational courses.
The speakers’ research was funded by the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS), an organisation dedicated to encouraging the drive for excellence in the learning and skills sector.
The conference’s key note speaker was Marilyn Tartarkowski, an education consultant in Teaching and Learning Action Research with more than 30 years’ educational experience. “People often ask what action research is for. I say that, in my action research, I was able to listen and respond to my students’ needs. I may not succeed in my research aims, but the destination is the journey.”
James Hampton, Principal of Yeovil College, introduced the conference. He said “I have serious admiration for these staff for undertaking the research they are presenting here today. It is easy for us all to say that we undertake action research in our own teaching careers, but it is events like this that really show our lecturers’ commitment to developing our teaching skills for our students.”
The event was organised by Judy Maguire, Yeovil College’s Head of Teaching and Learning. She said “Good teachers are constantly searching for ways to better meet the needs of groups or individual learners. There are a significant number of ways to do this, but none is more rewarding or effective than working with current learners. The journeys of discovery described by the 12 speakers at this event are shining examples of what all educators should be doing on a regular basis and I hope this event has inspired them to look at their own day-to-day method with the same critical eye. I feel privileged to work with these teachers on their quest for best practice and we are very grateful to LSIS for supporting their research.”
It is hoped that this conference will become an annual event and continue to support classroom research and best practice development in the future.
