What is Action Research for ISEND

Action Research is generally understood to be a way for practitioners to engage in a ‘plan, act/observe, reflect’ research cycle. In this project, school and college leaders, teachers and tutors, and teaching assistants are invited to engage in a two-stage cycle of Action Research that will also incorporate a study phase (i.e., a time for participants to engage with the freely available research evidence); see figure 1 for a visual depiction of the Action Research cycle.

Action Research for inclusion and special educational needs and disabilities (ISEND) provides an opportunity for participating schools and colleges to develop a bespoke research project which is pertinent to each participating setting.

Participating schools and colleges will benefit from personalised guidance from leading academics in the field of ISEND (who are also qualified teachers). Each participating setting will learn how to set up and run their own Action Research for ISEND project.

To participate in this project, up to three members of staff from one setting will need to identify:

 

Figure 1 depicts the Action Research cycle. The Action Research cycle is illustrated as two circles (one drawn in the top half of the page, one below in the bottom half of the page). Cycle 1 (the top circle) has the words 'study, plan, do review' written on the circle. The word 'study' is written on the circle in the 1 o'clock position. The word 'plan' is written on the circle in the 5 o'clock
Figure 1: Action Research Cycle

Figure 1 depicts the Action Research cycle. The Action Research cycle is illustrated as two circles (one drawn in the top half of the page, one below in the bottom half of the page).

Cycle 1 (the top circle) has the words 'study, plan, do review' written on the circle.

The word 'study' is written on the circle in the 1 o'clock position.

The word 'plan' is written on the circle in the 5 o'clock position.

The word 'do' is written on the circle in the 7 o'clock position.

The word 'review' is written on the circle in the 11 o'clock position.

Starting from the word 'study' is an arrow which points to the word 'plan'.

Starting from the word 'plan' is an arrow which points to the word 'do'.

Starting from the word 'do' is an arrow which points to the word 'review'.

Leading off from the word 'review' is a long arrow which curves around past the words 'study' and 'plan', and points to the 1 o'clock position of the second circle where the word ‘study’ is written.

Circle 2 is identical to circle 1 in all ways, except the long arrow coming from the word 'review' points to a blank space which signifies the end of the Action Research cycle, or could be the start of circle 3.