Using a Framework to Manage Complex Change

• In Event: Roundtable Session (Wednesday V)
  In Refereed Round-Table Session: Managing complex change: promoting meaningful professional development using action research to support international educational reform

Proposal

Action research is beneficial to educators as they can identify problems that impact them directly because they are immersed in an environment where research and practice overlap. (Ferrance, 2000). This strategy for professional development is a valuable tool as the results of action research is an authentic experience. Teachers begin to recognize that the classroom is a place where change can occur. When action research becomes an integral part of professional development teachers recognize the value of their work and reflect on the benefits of the strategies they are implementing into the classroom (Ferrance, 2000). Through engaging in this process teachers can discuss the strategies they use in the classroom to impact students and build their own practice. When action research is well planned, it contributes to teacher learning as inquiry and to the greater body of knowledge in education (Stremmel, 2002).

The framework for the action research project was built on the premise that the Saudi scholars will develop the action plan at Arizona State University with the support of faculty mentors. The framework outlines the steps to identify the problem the scholars are researching, organize a plan of action and create a plan to collect data. Each step supports the scholars to reflect on practices and how the action research will contribute to change. Furthermore, starting points, guidelines, reflection questions and examples are provided throughout the framework. This helps to scaffold the planning for the action plan so that teachers have a comprehensive understanding of the steps involved in this process. When the scholars return to Saudi Arabia, they will implement the action plan, analyze the data and complete a plan for future action based on their findings.

Participants will explore using a framework tool and the steps involved in the action research cycle to address how this can support complex change. The framework will help participants deepen their understanding of how to design, consistently implement, monitor, and manage change. To put application to practice, the participants will explore this multifaceted approach to process how this framework can impact international professional development and educational reform.

Authors

• Ruhi Khan, Arizona State University

• Alejandra Enriquez-Gates, Arizona State University

• Rebecca Grijalva, Arizona State University

• Salah Meemar, Saudi Arabia Cultural Mission (SACM)