Flynn, Bruce, Bennett, and Yearley

Collaborative Action Research as a ‘Design Research’ Process: Products that Bridge Research and Practice

Tara Flynn, Dr. Cathy Bruce, and Sarah Bennett, Trent University; Shelley Yearley, Ontario Ministry of Education, ON, Canada

Abstract

Collaborative action research in education is often defined as teachers and researchers working together in areas of mutual interest or concern. Our research team has been actively pursuing collaborative research for 7 years with small teams of mathematics teachers in Canada. In this work, we have engaged in cycles of action research with a secondary goal of developing field-tested products such as mathematics tasks and video artifacts, combined with knowledge mobilization strategies for making these products available for wider use. This type of collaborative product design, field-testing and refinement aligns closely with ‘design research’ methodology. In this paper we explore the overlap between design research and collaborative action research. In applying a design research framework to collaborative action research methods, we expand our understanding of the potential outcomes of action research with increased validity, authenticity, and impact on practice.

Keywords

Collaborative Action Research, Design Research, Classroom-Based Interventions, Knowledge Mobilization