Participatory Action Research in the Free State
In November 2014 District Teacher Development Centre officials engaged in a participatory action research (PAR) to analyse the impact of mobile libraries in the Free State Province.
The workshop's main objective was to equip participants with understanding and skills to do PAR and to discuss the first steps in the research process. After the workshop officials engaged in the research by way of conducting interviews with stakeholders (co-researchers). They transcribed the interviews and this was processed into a draft initial report compiled by the research facilitators and coaches from the University of the Free State.
On 17 June 2015 the second workshop took place. The first session repeated the essentials of Participatory Action Research and focused specifically on how to engage on equal level with the respondents, who are co-researchers. The second session showcased an action research that was done with teachers on reading in the Foundation Phase. A lesson learned from this experience is that the objective of the mobile library should be clear for all stakeholders. Looking into the teachers’ perspective is crucial as well as finding out which teaching strategies pertaining to reading are used or could be used.
Participants then reflected on the first cycle of their action research. How did they experience the first phase of the interviews? What was good about this experience? What challenges did they encounter? What were they uncertain about? If they had to start all over again, what would they do differently? A role play started a dialogue about how to improve the conversation with interviewees so as to be able to find the right information.
One of the biggest challenges so far picked up by the researchers is the fact that they do not really know how the books are being used in the classroom. The monitoring tool currently used doesn’t give clear information about that. Participants studied some observation tools and drafted a tool that they can use in classroom observations during the second cycle.
They then looked at the findings and conclusions of the draft initial report which shows some needs for further investigation. These topics will be the focus of the second round of the action research which participants will embark on. This will be further guided by the workshop facilitators.
The workshop was facilitated by staff from the School of Education, UFS: Dr Lynette Jacobs (team leader), Dr Juliet Ramohai, Mr Frans Kruger, Ms Annamarie du Preez, Ms Colwyn Martin, Prof. Sechaba Mahlomaholo and Dr Julia Ramabenyane.
Related articles:
http://www.vvob.be/southafrica/content/researching-molly
http://www.vvob.be/southafrica/content/loi-sapesi-vvob
http://www.vvob.be/southafrica/content/road-mobile-library
