Research circles Christer Ohlin Ph D Program Director

Research circles Christer Ohlin Ph. D. Program Director, Special Education, Kristianstad University

Research circle A creative meeting place between researchers and practitioners in schools

Research circle • can be regarded a new way for researchers and staff in schools to meet and learn about one another’s knowledge and experiences. • It is a method of continuing professional development

Research circle The starting point is the continuing dialogue between researchers and professionals which can provide the basis for the development of their own practice.

The research circle – a place for reflection on practice • by offering teachers time and a place to examine their own practice – to produce knowledge and action useful for teachers – to enable teachers to gain a deeper understanding of their own situation through organizing their own knoledge

The purpose • is to promote participation in the development of schools and universities by teachers seeking to resolve a problem which they themselves formulate.

The research Circle University School

Different kinds of research circles 1. With a given theme Cooperation with parents, second languages, intercultural learning 2. A subject linked to didactics Didactics for mathematics and languages and didactics for history etc.

Different themes 3. Based on questions What is the meaning of concept development? How can we develop students’ understanding of concepts 4. Certain categories of professionals circles for school leaders, assistants, related staff

Guidelines and preconditions 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Number of participants Time Personal research Outcomes A collective production of knowledge The task of the circle leader Resources

The research process 1. The problem formulation process 2. What do we already know? 3. How will the investigation be undertaken? 4. Analytical concepts for interpretation 5. Results and outcomes for school development

How to start? • • Framework Agreements with the employer Extra resources? Location for the cirle

Benefits of a research circle? Or? • What are the benefits of a research circle?

A concrete example The problem: the students do not understand basic concepts encountered in school books. What can you do as a teacher do to help the students?

A concrete example Step one: to formulate an overarching research question: What support do the students need in order to understand use concepts? Step two What do we already know?

A concrete example A model for concept-building which can form the basis of teachers’ pedagogical practice. “To make thinking visible – concept based education” Step three How will the investigation be carried out? video-recoding the students’ own diaries interviews a number of selected students

A concrete example Step four Analytical concepts for interpretation Step five Results and outcomes for school development

THANK YOU! christer. ohlin@hkr. se