Learning to inquire together, to generate knowledge and action simultaneously-that's action research. This book provides practical guidance for conducting schoolwide action research to improve student learning. Emily Calhoun, a co-author of the ASCD book, The Self-Renewing School, provides detailed instructions for conducting schoolwide action research. School staff should begin with a broad assessment of the health of the school or with the perception of a problem in one area, such as students' achievement in mathematics. Staff should obtain input from parents, community members, and students as the school begins the 5-step cycle of action research:

• First, seek agreement with others in your school community on what to study.
• Second, collect and share information about students' knowledge, skills, and attitudes.
• Third, search your own experiences and examine educational research for strategies and programs that will improve your students' math understanding.
• Fourth, collaborate to improve curriculum and instruction in math.
• Fifth, collect data on results, study effects, and begin the cycle all over again.

Calhoun provides background information on the origins of action research, examples of data-collection forms and results of data analysis, and answers to commonly asked questions. (ASCD E-Book, 1994) Downloadable PDF file.

Please note: This is an electronic product, available for download only.