Areol, action research and evaluation
on line, as a web-based program
Areol, action research and evaluation on line, is a 14-week public course offered each semester as a public service by Southern Cross University and the Southern Cross Institute of Action Research.
Individual session are briefly described below (For a more detailed overview click here)
There are four orientation sessions. The first will give you some idea of the commitment in time that it may take to engage properly in the program. The second overviews the program. The third discusses the setting up of learning groups as an associated activity
Orientation materials 1: required commitmentOrientation materials 2: overview
Sessions 1 and 2 provide some context. Session 1 gives an overview of action research, and describes some processes which illustrate some of the features of action research and similar activities. Session 2 describes the overall change process
Session 1: Examples of action-research-like processes
Some action research is done more for the action than the research. Sessions 3 to 5 cover issues especially relevant here. They address the important issues to do with entry and contracting, and participation and involvement
Session 3: Entry and contracting
Session 6 addresses the issue which is relevant to the research aspects of action research, especially those issues that are most important in research-oriented action research
Session 6: Achieving rigour
Sessions 7 to 9 introduce the topic of process design. They illustrate it through a variety of processes which can be used for collecting and analysing data
Session 7: Collecting and analysing data
Sessions 10 to 12 deal specifically with an action research style of evaluation, using the Snyder evaluation process as a vehicle
Session 10: Evaluation as action research
Session 13 examines a different action research methodology, one which makes the systems-thinking aspects of action research more explicit
Session 13: Soft systems methodology
In conclusion, Session 14 suggests some further reading and activities suitable for follow up
Session 14: Where now?