Areol, action research and evaluation
on line, as a web-based program

  

 

To subscribe to the course offered twice a year by email, contact Bob Dick and ask for a subscription form.

Areol, action research and evaluation on line, is a 14-week public course offered twice a year as a public service by ALARA, the Action Learning Action Research Association Inc.

Individual sessions are briefly described below.  (For a more detailed description see the fourth orientation file: 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. The fourth lists the sessions and identifies the relevant resource files for each

Introduction 1: required commitment

Introduction 2: orientation

Introduction 3: forming learning groups

Introduction 4: program 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

Session 2: The change process and action research

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 4: Participation and involvement

Session 5: Achieving participation

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

Session 8: Convergent interviewing

Session 9: Focus groups

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 11: The Snyder evaluation process

Session 12: The Snyder process (2)

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?