Teaching Action Research through Action Research at Higher Education in Pakistan: Experiences from the Field

Abstract

In this paper, I[1], as a teacher educator and researcher, present the findings of my action research with two teachers in facilitating them carrying out their action research projects in classrooms in the Northern Areas of Pakistan. The data for the study came from reflective journals, semi-structured interviews, field notes, lesson observations, and reports. The findings of the study show that action research is one of the most effective strategies for the professional development of teacher educators and teachers yet it is a challenging process. Field reality and dynamics make an action research project challenging yet responsive to the needs. A three stage-model surfaced from the project in the context of planning and executing action research in schools. The paper concludes with certain implications and questions for policymakers, schools, and teacher educators to use action research as a strategy in pre-and in-service teacher education programs in Pakistan or elsewhere in a similar context.