Action Research Conference 2013!!!

At the AR conference I attended the School Counseling Action Research Project Showcase and Learning and Teaching Showcase. Both were amazing and interesting in their own way. At the first presentation, I had the opportunity to hear from three ladies who were obtaining their masters degree in counseling. In hearing them present, I couldn’t help but to be overjoyed that they got to work with topics that are of high interest to me: women empowerment, body image, and goal setting. The fact that they brought them to the school setting is great. Schools sometimes get caught up with academics, which are important, that the student as a person gets left behind. What these ladies did was amazing in that they used the students interest and feelings to connect to their studies. The second presentation I went to had a focus on mathematics. I personally found this interesting since I wanted to see if I could take anything from their research and apply to my own. In the end, I ended up taking notes on what I could do in my future classroom and teaching tips in general.

One of the things that surprised me in both presentations was how it was more of a simplified explanation of their research and findings. In all presentations, I saw a common outline for everyone’s presentations. For example, context, literature, research question, phase 1 and findings, phase 2 and findings, legitimacy, new knowledge, and reflection. However, although it looked like a common outline each presenter said different things for each topic. The one thing I did leave wondering from each presentation was what was the survey and needs assessment they gave their students. In other words, what was it that made them realize the themes or conclusions? 

As a presenter I overall felt relaxed going into the conference. I had prepared before hand and knew my progress so far very well. I definitely felt over prepared for my presentation. Also, since I am only at phase one I didn’t have many things to remember as those who were presenting their entire action research. One of the things that worked and didn’t work was that the person who came to talk to me about my research was a friend I met last semester. It was good in the fact that he felt comfortable I asking me in depth questions about my research. For example, why did I chose to do a pedogocial approach rather than a motivation approach, what where the theories that guided my AR, and how is it that I am planning on comparing my three phases? I found this helpful in that it helped me further develop my reasoning/justification for my AR and what to include in my slides for next time. It wasn’t as great to have him for my AR presentation, in that I didn’t get to talk to other about my AR. We had a great conversation but I would have also liked to hear form others. Overall, this presentation experience was amazing. I felt the adrenaline of having to present. I got new ideas about what to do for my next phases and literature I could include in my AR.