Joy of Learning wanted
to find out more about Professor Elliott's ideas about education. We began
our interview by congratulating him on receiving the honorary degree,
and noting that his name has become synonymous with action research in
education. This is what he said.
JE - Prof Elliott
DS - Dr Sankey
| JE: |
Thank you. It is interesting you associate my
name with action research, because I always think of myself as a
curriculum developer. That is what I set out to do many years ago
when I became a teacher. I started my career in a school that was involved in school-based curriculum development. As teachers, we wanted to change the curriculum and change our teaching methods to make the learning experience more motivating and engaging for the students. I know many teachers in Hong Kong feel that way, too. In my school, we realised we needed to do research, to collect data about students' experience of the curriculum, and observe each other teaching. We wanted to try to find out how we could establish the conditions within classrooms, and in the teaching and learning process, that would improve students' learning. |
| DS: |
So you believe that action research is a useful tool that teachers can use to improve what they do in the classroom. What matters is what practical effects it can achieve? |
| JE: |
Yes, and that is why I stress the words Education and Action in Research, but at the time I was working as a teacher I didn't even call what I was doing action research. I only realised when I became involved in a major curriculum development project, that what we had been doing in my school some people called action research. |
| DS: |
What did you mean by establishing the conditions
in classrooms that could improve student learning? |