Pedagogic Action Research (PedAR) is a powerful research approach with the potential to change our ways of working, as well as our knowledge, values and relationships. It can help us to address our own individual practice-related questions such as ‘how can I support students to succeed in assessment?’ and ‘how can we support learners to learn online?’, and it can help us to come together to focus on shared organisational challenges.

This session will support participants to get started with their own action research projects. It will clarify what PedAR is, and what it is not. It will set out the steps involved in conducting PedAR and share some real examples of projects undertaken by colleagues in different settings. Participants will be encouraged to reflect on whether PedAR could be adopted as a way of addressing some of their own pressing issues in practice.

There will be space for questions and open discussion as we consider the practical and conceptual challenges of PedAR.

About Professor Lydia Arnold

Lydia Arnold is Professor of Learning and Teaching at Harper Adams University, Shropshire. Her broad role includes academic staff development, leading the PgC in Teaching & Supporting Learning in Higher Education and heading up the eLearning Department. Lydia is a National Teaching Fellow, Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, and a CMALT holder and assessor. She is a blogger (lydiaarnold.net) and is active on Twitter (@HarperEdDev). Lydia has a varied collection of publications including a guide to action research (written with Professor Lin Norton) and recent articles on feedback, exemplars and excellence in teaching. Lydia holds a first degree in Education Studies & Geography with Mathematics and a Doctorate in Higher Education from University of Liverpool. Before working at Harper Adams Lydia was based at Anglia Ruskin University.

Getting started with pedagogic action research