Practitioner Research and the International Baccalaureate

1. Practitioner Research and the International Baccalaureate About the IBRU Project 2004 – 2006 and how the IB seeks to encourage and support research in schools

2. Contents • What is practitioner research? • Who are practitioner researchers? • Practitioner Research Project (PRP) • The IBO and practitioner research • Difficulties and challenges • Open forum • What could be done next

3. Practitioner Someone who practices a skill or occupation Inclusive term Terms used Research • Investigation • Enquiry • Reflection • A question to be answered • Different levels and kinds of research

4. The use of research • Instrumental research use – where there is a concrete application of research • Conceptual research use – where research can change thinking • Strategic or symbolic research use – where research is used as a tool to legitimise Estabrooks, 2001 (283-4)

5. What is Practitioner Research? Practitioner research is any school-based research undertaken by individuals or groups working in schools focusing on professional workplace activity. It can include the following and the list is by no means exhaustive: • Academic research • Professional development • Reflective practice • School improvement

6. Quotes about practitioner research - definition In its broadest sense, I take practitioner research to refer to forms of enquiry which people undertake in their own working contexts and, usually, on their professional work, in whatever sphere they practice. (P41) Supporting Practitioner Research: a challenge Marion Dadds Educational Action Research Vol.6, No.1, 1998

7. Quotes about practitioner research –defining parameters Practitioner researchers would agree that a benefit for learners must be the ultimate aim, but to suggest that research is limited to what might be referred to as first level, that is, research on what happens in the classroom itself, excluding second level, that is, practice which creates structures and support for what happens in the classroom, risks impoverished development. (P26) Jacky Lumby in David Middlewood, Marianne Coleman and Jacky Lumby Practitioner Research in Education: Making a Difference Paul Chapman, London, 1999

8. Quotes about practitioner research – institutional climate So research teaching which supports innovative methodology is best served by institutional values which are consonant with divergence and healthy, generative debate. Such values ought to help foster an institutional climate that encourages the growth of new possibilities in practitioner research, as well as in the institutional practices supporting it. (P172) Doing Practitioner Research Differently Marion Dadds and Susan Hart Routledge Falmer, London, 2001

9. Quotes about practitioner research –social context While the sociological view on work does not reject the existence of the psychological inner-self in people’s worklife, it does suggest that not only are individuals’ subjectivity influenced by the existing social structure and norms, but people’s options are often limited by the social context they are in. (P451) Understanding Career Development: a convergence of perspectives Charles Chen Journal of Vocational Education and Training, Vol.50, No.3, 1998

10. Quotes about practitioner research –improving and developing Practitioner research is one way which people can take on the challenge of that job of work by studying practices carefully with their communities and coming to the wisest decisions they can about how to improve their situations. (P42) Supporting Practitioner Research: a challenge Marion Dadds Educational Action Research Vol.6, No.1, 1998

11. Who is a practitioner researcher? Practitioner researchers are any school staff engaged or having the potential to be engaged in research. For example: • Teaching staff • Management • Administration • Librarians • Support staff • Board and governors

12. The IBO and Practitioner Research • Developing research capacity in schools • Supporting research and reflective practice • Collaboration with universities • Enabling research culture • Disseminating research findings

13. The Practitioner Research Project – The IBO, research and practical outcomes • A research project investigating the needs and concerns of practitioners working on research, both academic and professional, in IBO and international schools • The research will include school practitioners such as staff, managers, support staff, and librarians • Outcomes will assist in the formulation of practitioner research support systems and networks • The investigation will also look at what systems exist already and the possibilities of e-learning, the internet and research groups in distance research

14. Aims and Objectives of the Practitioner Research Project Research • Investigating what is meant by practitioner research and how practitioner researchers see themselves • Finding out what practitioner researchers need and want as support Post research • Investigating and developing networks, support groups and online systems • Supporting practitioner research • Encouraging practitioners to become researchers • Reflection on research methods and methodologies within IBRU

15. Timeline • Sep 2004 Project initiated • Nov 2004 Pre-pilot questionnaire • Jan 2005 Review of pre-pilot and project • Feb 2005 Telephone interviews • May-Jun 2005 Main pilot questionnaire • Oct-Dec 2005 Main research phase • Jan-Feb 2006 Collection of data • Mar-May 2006 Collation of data • Autumn 2006 Report

16. Themes within practitioner research • Collaboration • Support • Communication • School research culture • Mentoring • Dissemination of research • Developing school research capacity • Leadership, initiation and control of research • Use of research • School-university link and relationship

17. Methods Pre-piloting • Informal discussions • Pilot questionnaire Telephone interviews • Small sample size (up to 20) • Identification of issues to inform main research instrument Quantitative questionnaire • Main research instrument • Differentiated questionnaire • Pilot questionnaire for main research instrument (72 schools) • Large sample size (600 schools) • Use of computer research systems like SNAP or Questionmark Perception Triangulation through follow up discussion and interviews • Follow up to the questionnaire in schools or at courses • School visits or qualitative interviews (small sample for in-depth research)

18. Practitioner researcher Management Non-researcher practitioner Challenges, needs, support necessary, profile, location Role, views on research Profile, interest in research, location Use of differentiated questionnaires

19. Areas of focus in the PRP questionnaire • Profile of practitioner researchers • Research being undertaken • School research cultures • Support • Concerns of researchers • Communication • Use and effectiveness of IB support systems

20. IBRU Questionnaire & database development | Case studies | Research support Regional Office Research contact IBCA: Technical support IB School | Coordinator | Research Practitioner Practitioner Non-Researcher Management Organisation of PRP

21. How the PRP will inform the IBO Dissemination • Conference presentation • Journal articles • IB publications Future • Database • Support systems for schools • Online support • IB Research Notes • Investigation of mentoring • PR in research throughout the IBO • Application of online questionnaires for research and feedback • Encouragement of developing questions within international education

22. IBO • IBRU • Regional offices • Research • Universities • Government • NGOs • Other HE institutions • IB Schools • IB coordinators • Practitioner researchers • Management • Non-researcher practitioners IBO and Practitioner Research

23. IBO support for practitioner research • Encouraging research and the investigation of all aspects of international education and the IBO • Supporting research through advice, dissemination of results, access to information and creating a research community • Developing strong links with schools, individuals, administration and universities • Discussing research methods and methodologies, thus encouraging quality research • Enabling access to research possibilities • Exploring online and e-learning systems of research education • Involvement of all aspects of the IBO especially regional offices in supporting and developing research within schools

24. Support Time Funding Cultural constraints Political constraints Threat Status Communication Isolation Access to other research-researchers Dissemination Forums for discussion Research as higher level activity Difficulties and challenges in practitioner research

25. Forum for discussion • What is happening in your institution with regards to research? • In what way is there a research culture within the institution or in a department? • How does management encourage research? • What support do you need in doing research • How do you get support? • What difficulties or challenges do you have in doing research and how do these affect your research? • How do you collaborate, communicate and discuss ideas with others? • How do you gain support from the IBO and how could the IBO support research more effectively? • What opportunities could there be for communication and collaboration between practitioner researchers?

26. Inventory of research topics • Topics being investigated by practitioners • Topics that should be investigated by practitioners

27. What to do • Email richardc@ibo.org • Look into what works in creating collaborative research groups • Send in to IBRU views and ideas about your own experience for the PRP • Structure a researcher database and forums for researchers to talk, discuss, meet and work collaboratively • Write for Research Notes about your research and research experiences