'Action researchers' are practitioners who select an area of their work to look at more closely, for their own professional development and to improve the quality of children's experiences and learning. For example, Vivian Gussin-Paley, an early years teacher working in America, tape-recorded conversations she had with the children in her kindergarten to learn more about how children's talking relates to their thinking, and to improve her own skills in developing conversations with children. She wanted to know what she should say to encourage children into extended conversations with her, and what types of questions or comments she should avoid.
To do a piece of action research you need to:
* Choose an area of your work to look at more closely. It may help to choose something specific, like water play or the home corner.
* Have someone to support you. You could approach your manager, an early years advisory teacher, a development worker, or a lecturer based in a local college.
* Plan how you will collect evidence. You might make video or tape recordings, or keep written observations.
* Consider how people feel about your subject. This is also important evidence. You could talk to other members of staff. You could ask the children some questions, too, like 'What do you like best about water play?' If you share videotapes with parents and carers, you could include their reactions.
* Visit other settings, or read more about the area you are focusing on.
* Reflect on what you have found out from the evidence in your setting, and any other information. Have someone discuss it with you. What surprised you? When did you see the children engrossed in what they were doing, excited by their discoveries? What bored children? What did they find frustrating?
* Think about how practice in your setting could be changed to take account of what you have found out. How does this relate to the aims and principles of the Foundation Stage outlined in the new early learning goals?
* Take time to share your evidence and your ideas with the whole staff team.
