In the first tutorial, we were reminded of the basic action principle underpinning Action Research, the given outline being:

• identify an area of practice to be investigated – concentrate only on one part
• implement a solution
• evaluate the solution:
  1. how do you evaluate the success of your solution?
  2. what is the data in your project?
• change the practice in light of this solution

The area of practice I want to investigate is expanding my teaching of computer programs to be more effective when dealing with students who want to produce analogue work (books, screen-print, printed matter, laser-cut objects). Producing a class that will enable students to join the dots of the different processes, step by step, and will also enable a more inclusive linear learning.

I would like to make sure that the students who attend my classes to prepare their files and then go onto another technical area have the correct information and full awareness of the available resources and possibilities to develop their work.

I have identified an absence of experience. This intrinsic to the fact that technical areas are not linked and that we are all working in isolation. I am thinking about how to go forward, how to work collaboratively throughout the technical team. I believe it is important to establish communication between specialisms. I would like to create a community sense between technicians and for the students to engage with processes that are not limited to computers.

And for myself, I would like to improve my knowledge. Doing this project will allow me to be more confident with the information I disseminate. This project transcends the online world. This is relevant towards Action Research, as Jean McNiff discusses how the intention when going through this process is that one person improves their work for their own benefit and the benefit of others.

“If you can improve what you are doing (at least improve your understanding of what you are doing), there is a good chance you will influence the situation you are working in”.

Jean McNiff ( https://www.jeanmcniff.com/ar-booklet.asp)

“Student learning is deepest when the content or the skills being learned are personally meaningful, and this happens when students see connections and applications of learning.” (2014, p.6)

James, A., & Brookfield, S. (2014). Engaging Imagination: Helping Students Become Creative and Reflective Thinkers. Jossey-Bass, San Francisco

The importance of the skills learned being personally meaningful, as reflected on by James and Brookfield, leads me to think that one possible solution to apply to my Action Research would be to create a combined workshop where I share knowledge with other technician/s. A combined workshop could reflect on:

• Do we offer the students the correct information?
• Do students feel prepared so that they know what to do when they get to the technical resources?
• Will shared knowledge improve learning engagement?

These are the questions my tutor posed regarding evaluation:

• What are you measuring?:
  • The outcomes
  • An exercise and look at the outcome
  • An interview
  • The final object
  • A questionnaire?

I am also considering the kind of questions that will go towards evaluating the best solution for this disconnection between technical departments, and therefore with my colleagues:

• What can be done to facilitate team teaching within LCC technical structure?
• What do other technicians think about working in isolation?
• What are the reasons why there isn’t much cross-over? Is it because it is a tradition or because it is functional?
• Difference between team teaching and other teaching methods: discuss and evaluate which method is more effective and why.
• What are the disadvantages of sharing knowledge? Are there any?
• Does sharing knowledge give you a sense that you are enhancing your practice or diluting it?
• What aspects of team teaching should be approached differently?

I am still deciding on my Research Question and I have two different ones:

1. Will shared practice improve learning engagement?
2. What can be done to facilitate shared practice within LCC technical structure?

Reflecting on those questions I can see that I am talking about two different projects, one based upon attainment and the other one based upon collaboration.

I have a lot to think about…