The authors present preliminary insights from a qualitative action research project focused on refining the assessment practices of a first-year retention program at a large research university. Findings suggest the need for continued attention to the assessment cultures, especially interrogation and revision of current assessment attitudes,…

State-mandated, standardized testing can have negative consequences on classroom practices in the Northeastern United States due to significant pressure placed on classroom teachers to demonstrate student achievement. The purpose of this research was to examine how elementary classroom practices, in grades three through five, were influenced based…

This study explored the extent to which an educational debrief strategy informed by Carl Jung's psychological type theory -- that peoples' innate personalities influence the way they process information -- might contribute to the effectiveness of debriefing Christian experiential learning activities in a young adult ministry in Singapore. Drawing…

This paper reports the results of an action research project on improving students' learning from international service-learning. Participants were two consecutive cohorts of university students enrolled in nine international service-learning projects. Mixed-method findings from the first cohort reveal significant increases in their global…

As the number of racially diverse students on university campuses in Canada increases, so too do questions about whether and how postsecondary institutions are equipped to create a welcoming, respectful, and supportive learning community for a racially diverse student body. This research explored how a residence life management (RLM) team could…

Cohorts are student groups who begin and complete a course of study together over time. Though cohorts have been linked to positive outcomes, researchers note that many students report negative experiences, including scapegoating, irreconcilable conflicts, and strained relationships resulting in unlearning. This paper describes using arts-based…

This study designed a localized approach to working and writing action research suited for basic education. The researchers used multiphase mixed method research with three analysis stages focused on the identified problem. These stages include identifying the preferred approach in writing action research for basic education, designing a localized…

In higher education, inclusive excellence has become a buzz word as universities grapple with how to increase their diversity and inclusion on their campuses. Inclusive excellence is defined as, "active, intentional, ongoing engagement with diversity in interpersonal relationships, in the curriculum, in the co-curriculum, and in the…

Math anxiety is a problem in the United States which impacts 93% of the population including elementary teachers. Since elementary teachers can pass their math anxiety onto their students, it is important that they reduce their own math anxiety. If time were taken to develop the math identity of elementary school teachers, would it reduce math…

The purpose of this action research was to explore how incorporating choice boards as a tool for personalized learning in social studies influenced sixth-grade students to engage in the classroom. Engagement in the classroom is necessary for students to meet educational goals. In order to remain engaged in their learning, students need intrinsic…

This paper examines the impact of process mapping on the management of change in an academic library in a UK higher education institution. Book ordering has been highlighted by a group of subject librarians as being time-consuming and inefficient, detracting from their ability to respond to new challenges and opportunities. An action research…

This article introduces a video-based pedagogical action research model for primary and secondary teachers. The video-based pedagogical action research model incorporates video as a self-reflective tool to provide opportunities for teachers to utilize concrete artifacts in each phase of the pedagogical action research process. Sixty-seven…

This paper presents a small-scale Critical Participatory Action Research (CPAR) study, investigating school leaders' efforts to enhance families' engagement in their children's learning, through classroom teachers' use of social media. The study occurred within three Australian primary schools, situated within a culturally and linguistically…

It is important that children obtain not only academic knowledge but also skills to express emotion and sustain relationships. Fostering school communities that embody and teach compassion is increasingly recognized as an important component of many social and emotional learning (SEL) approaches. To generate SEL programs that are inclusive of…

Background: South Africa is beset with violent, antisocial practices and ways of life hindering peaceful co-existence and participatory democracy. This makes a targeted early education programme to develop a socially responsible generation imperative. Aim: Based on a larger research project, this study aimed to highlight the value of participatory…