Sharing the results of action research studies has many benefits:
It can help reduce the gap that exists between research/theory and practical application in educational settings.
Sharing the results of research studies also provides an opportunity for teacher-researchers to gain additional insight into their study and ultimate findings.
The act of sharing and celebrating the findings of action research can be a very rewarding professional experience and can empower educators to take the lead on educational improvements.
Results can be shared locally, with fellow teachers, students, and your district’s administration.
Keep any local presentation brief and focused, highlighting the following: background information, purpose of the study, methodology, results, conclusions, action plan and time for questions and answers.
Action research communities can serve as outlets for sharing the results of action research. An action research community is a professional learning community made up of educational professionals driven by a common goal of practicing reflective teaching as a means of improving the educational process.
Results can also be shared at professional conferences.
Most professional conferences and journals are refereed, meaning that they use a blind peer-review process to determine the merits of a proposal submitted for presentation or publication.
There are typically three formats for presenting at a professional conference: paper presentations, symposia or panel presentations, and poster presentations.
Action research can also be shared in academic journals.
There are usually three types of recommendations after submitting a study for publication in an academic journal: (1) accept as is, (2) accept with revisions, and (3) reject.
When writing for a journal, it is important to keep your audience in mind, use a clear and reader-friendly writing style, and strive to keep your readers’ attention.
Results of action research studies can be shared electronically via action research websites, electronic mailing lists, and electronic journals.
The act of communicating the results of your action research provides yet another opportunity to reflect not only on the topic of your investigation but also on the action research process itself.
