Practitioner Research Proposal Essay
Description
*Please see attached for FAQs about the assessment (you may find it useful) and marking criteria*
In this essay, you are invited to deal with the broad question of how an educational practitioner can monitor an impact of
their work. This is of importance as practitioners steeped in understanding of their actual impact are in better position to
(1) modify their approach when needed and (2) demonstrate this impact to others (stakeholders, government, …)
Part 1 (max 1250 words): A critical analysis of the contribution of practitioner research to informing policy and/or
practice in education.
• Considering your interest as a practitioner (or as one entering the teaching profession), choose one particular approach to
practitioner research (e.g., action learning).
• Select and analyse several specific studies, relevant to your interest, in which this research approach was used. *You have to set a context. See below for some context and research questions examples.*
• Report how these studies advanced the questions of your interest, and which problems of practice are still wide open.
Part 2 (max 1250 words): Practitioner research proposal.
• Describe how you would use the practitioner research approach you chose in Part 1 to inform and grow your professional
practice. MAKE SURE TO EXPLAIN:
• What would count as meaningful change (impact) for you, and
• How you would know whether (or to what extent) you achieved the desired change.
Throughout the essay, remember to draw on (and demonstrate) your understandings of some of the issues from core
course literature, such as
• stakeholder voices,
• the purposes of education,
• audience for the practitioner research findings,
• equity and social justice.
Context and Research Questions Examples (Just examples):
1. How can I change my teaching of [subject that you’re interest in] so that I support my year 8 students in developing critical thinking skills?
2. How can I make maths more relevant for primary Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander students?
How can I empower primary students to learn maths through self-expression which values the students’ current cultural knowledge’.
3. How can I better include marginalised students in classroom activities in my [subject or area that you’re interested in] classroom?
