Center for Collaborative Action Research

Action Research Projects with Communities of Practice

At Pepperdine University, the Master of Arts degree in Educational Technology centers around a year-long action research project. In addition to standard coursework, each student individually undertakes action research in their local environments, working collaboratively with co-workers and peers at home. In addition, the students work together to share their action research experience, identifying common issues and contributing to shared understanding. The following are exemplars of the quality and variety of work undertaken in the program over the past several years.

Action Research in Teacher Communities
	*Understanding The Nature of Science Through Primary Sources: Teacher Interpretation and Conversation* Action Research Portfolio \| 2006 Karen Elinich helped teachers develop their understanding of the nature of science by working with museum artifacts
	Cultivating a Community of Practice Among Itinerant Educators Action Research Portfolio \| 2006 Karen Connaghan developed a team with resource teachers who were separated in time and space.
	*Training to Induction: An Action Research Project in Technology Professional Development and Creation of a Teacher Induction Program* Action Research Portfolio \| 2006 Chris Bigenho developed a survey and then an induction program to help new K-12 teachers learn to use technology in creative ways.
	Discovering Technology Treasures: Making Best Use of School Technology Resources Action Research Portfolio \| 2008 Debby (Jones) Acevedo created a community of practice to support the use of technology resources which were underutilized in her district.

Action Research in Colleges and Universities
	*OneStop - An Integrated Approach to Delivering Student Services* Action Research Portfolio \| 2004 Hung Le worked to integrate school services so that they could be delivered from any point on campus

Action Research in Organizations
	*Effectiveness of Lay Leader Training When Supported by Online Communities of Practice* Action Research Portfolio \| 2008 Brad Poorman tackled the problems of how to use technology to prepare more lay leaders to participate in church services.
	*Action Learning at Shedd Aquarium* Action Research Portfolio \| 2006 Christian Greer developed a strong model of action research in learning circles in an aquarium setting.

Action Research in Corporate Communities
	Cultivating Communities of Practice Action Research Portfolio \| 2008 Tom Kuhlman created a community of practice around the technology trainers who used Articulate using Sharepoint community building tools.
	A Synchronous Solution for Amgen Action Research Portfolio \| 2006 Jim Kenney developed a way to move professional corporate training online.
	Working in A Collaborative Team Environment: The Individual as Part of a Greater Whole Action Research Portfolio \| 2006 Susan Tiss worked to understand the way communication style impacts work within a team and within a corporation.

Citations for these files: Last Name, First Initial. (date). Title of action research. The Center for Collaborative Action Research, Retrieved [date of retrieval] from http://cadres.pepperdine.edu/ccar/