Enhancing College Students’ Learning Through Action Research and Collaborative Inquiry

Abstract

What is action research and how can it be applied in the college course context? Per NCREL, "Action research is inquiry or research in the context of focused efforts to improve the quality of an organization and its performance... Action research can be done by individuals or by teams of colleagues. The team approach is called collaborative inquiry." What are the steps in this applied scholarship and how can it be implemented in the context of education at Mason? This process is presented with illustration from a new undergraduate capstone course in sustainability studies. Other examples may be provided or opportunities explored by participants.