Utilizing Action Research During Student Teaching

Action research has been shown to be effective in a variety of waysfor teachers in the classroom setting. While the focus of the action research projecthas primarily been at the graduate level or tailored to the needs of workingprofessionals, we propose that it is possible to do much more for the student teacher ashe or she completes the program requirements through the student teaching experience.Through the incorporation of training in methods of data collection and analysis,student teachers will stand to gain a much greater degree of insight into areas of theirprofessional pedagogical disposition through active reflection. This will develop areflective habit of mind that is crucial for teachers to be effective in theirclassrooms and adaptive to the changing needs of their students, and allow for a greaterdegree of professional self-efficacy and satisfaction on the part of the teachersthemselves