CLASSROOM ACTION RESEARCH: A PROFESSIONAL

DEVELOPMENT PROCESS

Prepared by Ida Bagus Nyoman Mantra, SH., S.Pd., M.Pd

Yayasan Karma Budaya Bali

karmabudaya@yahoo.com

1. Introduction

Classroom action research (CAR) begins with a question or questions about

classroom experiences, issues, or challenges. It is a reflective process which helps

teachers to explore and examine aspects of teaching and learning and to take action to

change and improve.

Classroom action research is used as one way to improve the quality of

teaching and learning. This is due to the fact that CAR is developed primary because

of the problems faced by the teacher in the classroom during teaching and learning

activities. It is very critical that more teachers understand the importance of CAR and

use this type of research as a tool to improve their teaching ability. CAR has a

tendency to give direct impact on the better teaching process and the development of

teachers’ professionalism in managing the class. In other words, through CAR,

teacher and educator gain “theory” which he builds himself, not by others “or given”

by other people – therefore the teacher becomes a implementer of a theory he builds

himself..

To achieve the objective of classroom action research, it is conducted in

cyclical process which consists of four phases, such as Planning, Action, Observation

and Reflection.

Figure 1: Phases of classroom action research

All the above phases of CAR is considered as one cycle of CAR which is

started from Planning, then followed by action, then observation and reflection. After

conducting reflection which includes analysis of the result of the observation process,

and the result of the action, usually problems occurred which need to be solved,

therefore revised planning, action, observation and reflection are needed. This revised

cycle phases is repeatedly conducted until the problem is appropriately solved. The

four phases of CAR can be shown in figure 2 below.

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Planning Action Observation Reflection

Cycle I Planning →Action → Observation →Reflection

Cycle II Revised → Action→ Observation → Reflection planning

Figure 2. The process of each cycle in classroom action research.

As Shown in the cycle of CAR in figure 2 above, a classroom action research

can be conducted in four phases as shown in spiral activity. The cycle of CAR is

started from planning, action, observation and evaluation, and reflection and

continuously conducted until the problem is solved and there is as significant

improvement of students’ achievement.

Based on the above explanation, it can be said that CAR is a bottom-up and

realistic solution and started from problem diagnoses and completed by doing a real

improvement and action to solve the problem.

Some importance points of classroom action research:

1. CAR is an approach to improve the quality of education through making

changes and teaching-learning as a consequence of the change occurred.

2. CAR is participatory, which involves someone who is doing actions to

improve his own practice.

3. CAR is developed through a spiral of cycles of planning, acting, observing,

reflecting then revised planning.

4. CAR is collaborative, which involves participants in understanding and doing

the action.

5. CAR develops self awareness of all participants in CAR.

6. CAR is a systematic process of learning. In this process, the researcher makes

use of critical intelligence to create commitment to carry out an action..

7. CAR develops the teacher’s ability to build a theory about his practice.

8. CAR give us possibility to give reasonable justification to teacher’s teaching

activity and develop critical thinking in analyzing problems (McTaggart, 1997

: p16-17).

2. Characteristics of Classroom Action Research

A very specific characteristic of CAR is that it is conducted in the classroom,

that the focus of the study is the interaction between the researcher and the

participants, and the researcher is involved as much as possible in the process and

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experience of the participants. An essential part of action research as well as CAR is

the collaboration with the research participants in each stage of the research project,

including identifying research questions, developing data collection procedures,

analyzing the information and sharing the results.

Classroom action research has three main characteristics: 1) reflective inquiry,

2) collaborative and 3) reflective.

1) Reflective Inquiry. A Classroom action research starts from problems faced

by the teacher during teaching-learning process in classroom. The purpose of

classroom action research is to improve the quality of teaching and learning

processes, therefore it focuses on solving a specific and contextual problem.

CAR is not intended to find out a new knowledge which can be generalized to

population of the research, that is why CAR is not similar to any other study

(Raka Joni, 1998).

CAR adopted ‘loose’ methodology. It means that it does not focus on

the validation of the instrument; however, this research maintains methodlogy

in collecting data which conducted objectively. The process and data finding

of CAR is well-documented to allow possibility of peer review. The data is

gathered through observation, evaluation and reflection (McNiff, 1992:9). Car

can be said as self-reflective inquiry.

In A Classroom action research, a teacher is committed to change

himself, the way to think, the way to teach based on what he has been found

from conducting a CAR in his classroom/school.. In other words, based on the

teacher’s self-constructed knowledge which learned from CAR, The teacher

will systematically learn to figure out alternative solution to the problem he

faced in carrying out his job as a teacher.

Moreover, McNiff (1992: 9) suggests that though CAR, a teacher will

get used to facing problem and challenges in doing his duty as a teacher,

consequently, the quality of teaching-learning process will be improved. The

teacher/s involvement and commitment to change and create improvement is

considered as change and improvement in a way of thinking of the educator.

Therefore, CAR can be said as a way to figure out a real technique to

implement an appropriate teachin-learning process.

2) Collaborative. CAR is conducted collaboratively with all parties to set up

required improvement. Therefore, These collaborative characteristics should

be consistently maintained, starting from problem identification, situation

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diagnose, action planning, reflection and data collection and data analysis as

well report writing.

3) Reflektive. CAR has a special characteristic that is a reflective characteristic.

It is different from other studies which emphases on experimental approach.

CAR emphases more on reflection of the process and the result of the study is

used to improvement and solution towards the problem faced by the teacher

and as a source to face the new challenge and problem in teaching-learning

process.

Action Research implies a long term commitment to interact with the research

participants. So the idea of just working with a group or going into a   classroom,

collecting data on learning is not consistent with the ideal of action research. Action

research as well as CAR is a straight forward practical approach to tackling issues of

substance (Kember, 2000). The following four conditions are necessary:

1.   It should be a form of strategic action susceptible to improvement

2. It should proceed through a spiral of circles: planning, actions, observing

and reflecting which are all interrelated.

3. It includes other parties.

4. It maintains collaboration in the context of research.

3. Principles of Classroom Action Research

According to Hopkins (1993: 57-61), principles of classroom action research,

those are;

1. The teacher's primary role is to teach and any research project must not interfere

with or disrupt this commitment. The teacher’s duty is to carry out an excellent

quality of learning –teaching process. The teacher should be committed to the

continuous improvement of the quality of the learning process which he carries out

in everyday teaching activities. Because the teacher’s main job is teaching, and the

focus of classroom action research is to maintain the quality of learning process,

therefore the activity of classroom action research will not be destructive to the

classroom activity. It will give a better classroom activity. Even the activity will be

more meaningful and more intensive, in term of the students’ active involvement

and creativity. In conducting classroom action research, there will be a possibility

of the failure of the chosen activity, therefore as a teacher, he should always make

an effort to figure out an alternative and appropriate solution or activity to solve

the problem he faced in his classroom. The implication of this principle is to give

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chances to the teacher to figure out a continuous solution to the problem until the

problem is really solved.

2. The method of data collection should not be too demanding on the teacher's time.

In conducting classroom action research, the teacher does not need a special time

allocation for the study; it becomes integrative part of the teaching and leaning

process. The stages of classroom study are equal to the stages of the usual learning

process, consisted of planning, action, observation and reflection. The procedure

of data collection can be gathered while he is actively teaching. All process of

learning and the result of the students’ achievement are recorded and reported

systematically, logically and objectively.

3. The methodology used must be reliable enough to allow teachers to formulate

hypotheses confidently and develop strategies applicable to the classroom

situation. This study which is integrated to teaching-learning process should be

conducted based on scientific approach. It should make use of reliable research

methodology, starting from problem identification, selecting actions which are

going to be taken, formulating appropriate hypothesis, preparing teaching

scenarios and determining the procedures of data collection and data analysis. The

reliability of the process and data collection should be determined and maintained.

4. The teacher should be committed to the research problem under study. The

problem which will be solved through CAR should be a real problem faced by the

teacher and it needs immediate solution in order that the learning process becomes

successful. The solution becomes a priority of CAR, therefore the problem being

diagnosed should have a real impact towards the success of teaching-leaning. The

problem should not be mainly based on literature based analysis, because the

authenticity of the problem will not be reliable since it is not based on reality.

5. Teachers must follow ethical procedures when carrying out research. The teacher

should be consistent in carrying out the ethical procedures of classroom action

study as well maintaining the quality of learning and teaching. It means that the

teacher should be genuinely interested in maintaining the procedure and the ethics

of teaching. This is very important so that the teaching-learning process is

conducted seriously. All components of the institution including the school

principle should know and understand the process of classroom action research.

Classroom action research where possible should adopt a perspective where all

members of a school community build and share a common vision

6. The scope of the problem to be solved through CAR is mainly based on the

problems of teaching-learning which occur in classroom activity, however it can

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be external problems which might occur outside the classroom providing it has

relation to the improvement of the quality of learning.

3. The Objectives of Classroom Action Research

Based on the above explanation, it can be stated that CAR is conducted to the

improvement of the quality of learning-teaching, which is carried out continuously in

line with the teacher’ professional mission in the educational field. Though the

development of modern technology, qualified human resources are really needed to

face the globalization era. This is due to the fact that the development of science and

technology is started at school; consequently, teachers are required to be competent in

teaching. Therefore Classroom action research is introduced to improve the quality of

teachers in teaching. CAR is one of strategic way to improve the teachers’ quality in

teaching. It gives the teachers’ ability to solve the problems they face and then it will

help the capability to achieve the school education objectives in a whole. Moreover,

McNiff (1992) explains that the main objective of classroom action research is to

improve the quality of learning and the success of the implementation of school

programs in general.

To achieve the above objectives, a teacher should evaluate several alternative

solutions then taken into action. The alternative solutions to the problems should be

previously tried out and the effectiveness of the solution should be continuously

evaluated. This process should be conducted in cycle until the problem faced by the

teacher is really solved.

The phases of CAR conducted by the teacher also gives impact to the other

teachers in doing their duty as educators. It is a good process of professional

development. Since CAR is internally driven scientific study, therefore it helps the

teacher to develop their teaching ability and the capability to tackle various learning

problems. In addition to the above statement, Borg (1986) explicitly explains that the

objectives of conducting CAR is to develop the teacher’ skill in solving and tackling

the problem he faces in a real teaching – learning process in the classroom without

doing explicit training. CAR is a real excellent study conducted by the teachers since

this study develop the teacher’s problem solving skill. There are three reasons why

CAR should be conducted by the teacher, such as; (a) Self driven study to carry out

the whole phases of CAR, (b) the process of the study is conducted in a real

classroom setting, therefore it is not artificial, and (c) if this study is properly

conducted, there will be a complete support from all components of the school.

If the improvement of the quality of education can be achieved, the benefits of

this research will give a significant effect to teacher or the researcher and also to all

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other teachers in the school. Then, the teachers will be more motivated to carry our

further and deeper study to improve their skill in teaching. If this study is

continuously conducted, the teacher’ competence and their professionalism will

improve consistently. The impact of it will be a higher quality of education that can

be delivered to the students and the students will be well-prepared to face various

challenges in their life in this globalization era. Considering, the important of CAR,

therefore, it is suggested that all teachers should have sufficient ability to conduct a

classroom action study.

4. Advantages of Classroom Action Research

Based on the above explanation that CAR has significant benefits to the

improvement of teachers in teaching and the improvement of education quality, we

will briefly discuss the significant benefits of CAR.

Conducting CAR as integrated part of the teaching-learning processes, it

develops the teacher’s ability in conducting scientific study and developing their skill

in solving the classroom problems. It also develop the teachers self confidence in

teaching and willingness to give the best education to their students. The teacher will

be independent in solving any problems he faced in the classroom. The teachers self

confidence will improve, because the theory and the solutions he used to solve the

problem, he built himself through his own experience.

Conducting CAR also will help the improvement of teaching curriculum. In

this case, CAR is also used to develop the teaching curriculum. The result of CAR

can be used as guidance to develop to strategic and useful teaching curriculum. This

is due to the fact that the development and the improvement of school curriculum

should be constantly taken into consideration. Moreover, Elliot (1992) explains that

the process of curriculum reformation is not neutral theoretically. The process of

curriculum reformation is affected by interconnected ideas which are related to

education, knowledge, and the process of teaching-learning. CAR can help the

teachers gain a deeper understanding through empirically-based activity, and not only

based on theoretical understanding.

5. Conclusion

Classroom action research is conducted as integrated parts of teaching-

learning processes. A teacher as an agent of learning should have the awareness and

willingness to conduct classroom action study to improve the quality of the teaching-

learning processes. The teacher should have a strong commitment to an excellent

quality of teaching-learning, therefore every teacher should have a good ability to

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carry out classroom action study so that the quality of teaching-learning can be

improved continuously.

By doing action research a teacher is actually developing him/herself. The

research is done in a series of planning, taking an action, doing observation and

administering reflection and evaluating the feedback of action. Therefore, a teacher

has to explore in his or her knowledge about how to act to solve a classroom problem.

In other word, he or she will make a quest to find out the answer.

Teachers who have experienced teaching for many years and for many

different levels will find it easy to cope with problems in a classroom. They already

have equiped themselves with various teaching techniques and methodologies.

Therefore, they seem to have confidence in their performance in class, to have

answers for questions asked by students, and to master the classroom entirely.

However, a novice teacher will have a hard time when he or she is assigned to teach a

class which requires him or her to be creative. By conducting classroom action

research, a teacher will have more confidence in his performance and he will be well-

equipped with various solutions to the problem he faces in class.

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