Action Research

Action Research, a scholarly approach to improve teaching and learning, can be a central piece of professional development. This project-based research can benefit professors, counselors, and librarians by actively engaging them in the collaborative study of learning as it takes place day by day in the context of their own practices. Through this small-scale, practical research, faculty members can investigate questions regarding student learning that directly impact their practices. At Valencia, action research has become a significant aspect of faculty development, thereby reinforcing the College's community of learners and culture of evidence.

We offer many opportunities to support faculty members who are interested in exploring action research. These resources and courses help faculty members develop a best practices framework for action research and Valencia's Standards of Scholarship.

Action Research Tutorial
SoftChalk AR Tutorial
This interactive tutorial walks you through the elements of action research and provides opportunities to self-assess your knowledge of the action research process.
Note: The "Action Research Builder" section of the tutorial is no longer used and has been replaced by Canvas Commons.

Articles
 Teacher as Researcher
Faculty Inquiry Toolkit
International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning

Resources
Elements of an Action Research Project
Standards of Scholarship
Action Research Project Rubric
Courses to Support Action Research
Canvas Commons Upload Instructions (login required)
Valencia Institutional Review Board (IRB) Information
 Sample IRB Informed Participant Consent Form
Qualtrics Survey Tool
 Action Research Project Plan Template
          This template is for faculty conducting action research outside the tenure process
          Tenure candidates should refer to their Canvas Portfolio Template

Model Action Research Projects
Note: The competencies addressed in the following AR projects were effective prior to the 2016 update.
 Model Librarian ARP: TLA Graduate, Courtney Moore
 Model Psychology ARP: TLA Graduate, Derek Schorsch
 Model Nursing ARP: TLA Graduate, Wanda Stanek
 Model English ARP: TLA Graduate, Zachary Hyde
 Model Chemistry ARP: TLA Graduate, Diego Diaz