ABSTRACT

This paper explores the processes and outcomes of an action research project, which utilised action learning sets to explore the experiences of a community of academics, who promote pedagogical enhancement in a UK university. Five academics acted as participant action researchers in a longitudinal study exploring the issues they face within their community of practice. Action learning sets were used as the forum through which the participants could discuss the issues they face. The result is an interwoven fabric of action learning and action research, with participants utilizing their reflections on the action research process itself as a catalyst to achieve greater insight into the issues they sought to address through their action learning. This paper explores the themes that emerged from these reflections: choosing between seeking ‘solutions’ versus promoting discussion in the action learning sets, the complementarity of action research and action learning, the challenges of a collective mode of inquiry. Ultimately, we offer up the process of incorporating action learning sets within an action research project as a participatory approach that can engage colleagues in different roles to reflect on pedagogical practice. Our findings demonstrate both the potential benefits and challenges inherent in combining action learning and action research.

摘要

本文探讨了一项行动研究项目的过程和成果，该项目利用行动学习集探索了一群学术团体的经验，这些学者促进了英国大学的教学方法的改进。五名学者在纵向研究中充当参与者行动研究人员，探讨他们在实践社区中面临的问题。行动学习集被用作论坛，参与者可以通过该论坛讨论他们面临的问题。结果是行动学习和行动研究的交织在一起，参与者利用他们对行动研究过程本身的思考作为催化剂，从而对他们通过行动学习寻求解决的问题有更深入的了解。本文探讨了从这些反思中出现的主题：在寻求“解决方案”与在行动学习集中促进讨论之间进行选择，行动研究与行动学习的互补性，集体探究模式的挑战。最终，我们提供了将行动学习集纳入行动研究项目的过程，作为一种参与性方法，可以使扮演不同角色的同事参与到教学实践中来进行反思。我们的发现证明了将动作学习与动作研究相结合所固有的潜在收益和挑战。我们提供了将行动学习集纳入行动研究项目的过程，作为一种参与性方法，可以让处于不同角色的同事参与到对教学实践的反思中。我们的发现证明了将动作学习与动作研究相结合所固有的潜在收益和挑战。我们提供了将行动学习集纳入行动研究项目的过程，作为一种参与性方法，可以让处于不同角色的同事参与到对教学实践的反思中。我们的发现证明了将动作学习与动作研究相结合所固有的潜在收益和挑战。