Ateneo - UPO

From teacher to teacher-researcher.
The course introduces to the different methodologies used in educational research offering instruments to to design and monitor educational interventions in various contexts. Activities include both classroom lectures and participation in educational experiments planned in collaboration with local schools.
The workshop is dedicated to students interested in teaching or educational research.

The workshop is based on participants’ research interests. Readings and materials will be made available on D.I.R.
Reference materials
Consultation of resources, notes and/or handouts provided in class

Guided consultation of the following volumes or essays:
Bartolini Bussi M.G. & Ramploud A. (2018), Il lesson study per la formazione degli insegnanti, Roma, Carocci.
Erickson G., Bardel C., Little D. (2023), Collaborative research in language education. Reciprocal benefits and challenges.
Dornyei Z. (2007), Research Methods in Applied Linguistics: Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed Methodologies, O.U.P. Oxford, capp. 1, 2, 4, 8, 12,18

Gass S. & Mackey A. (2007), Data elicitation for Second and Foreign Language Research, London, Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

Pallotti G. (2016), Qualitativo/quantitativo: ripensare la distinzione, in Gatta F. (a cura di), Parlare insieme, Bologna, Bononia University Press, pp. 105-118.

Knowledge and understanding: Acquisition of the knowledge needed to observe learners' acquisitional pathways, critically read an educational context and identify objectives for action-research, design instructional or educational interventions.

Ability to apply knowledge and understanding: Acquisition of the skills to develop a research project consistent with the context of reference; ability to select and use the main techniques to elicit, analyze and interpret data from L2 and LS learners, ability to develop an action-research project.

Expression of judgments: ability to analyze teaching contexts, learning needs, development, teaching materials, scientific articles.

Communication skills: ability to discuss learned concepts in an orderly and clear manner, using appropriate language and moving independently between topics.

Study skills: ability to read scientific or educational research articles; ability to select and use teaching materials; ability to produce a research report.

Previous attendance of a general linguistic, applied linguistics or language teaching courses.

Group activities, simulations, guided experimentation in educational settings; data analysis; workshop

Due to its practical nature, attendance is strongly recommended.
Students are invited to register on the DIR platform.

Educational research project (research report).
The workshop final test involves the design, implementation and evaluation of an educational experiment collaboratively conducted in a school context dedicated to the teaching of a foreign language or Italian as a second language, with the subsequent preparation of a research report.
A report that demonstrates an organic vision of the issues addressed, ability to analyze and synthesize, and good expressive skills will be evaluated as passed. A paper that demonstrates: major formative gaps, inappropriate language, inability to contextualize, lack of orientation within the syllabus will be evaluated as insufficient.

The course aims to provide the theoretical knowledge, skills and practical competence to design and manage empirical research in the field of language education, with special reference to action research in the classroom. In particular, students get to know the main research techniques and develop the skills needed to define research protocols for educational experimentation, collect and analyse data, and prepare research reports.
The workshop fosters the development of knowledge and skills from real research experiences. In particular, topics such as: interlanguage observation, classroom interaction, development of pragmatic skills, use of tasks for teaching and assessment, and language uses in bilingual contexts will be explored.
Activities include both classroom lectures and participation in educational experiments planned in collaboration with local schools, thus fostering an integration of theory and educational practice.

Main teaching units:
- Experimental research and classroom research
- Organizing a research project
- Methodological approaches
- The research questions
- The research protocol
- The fieldwork
- Data analysis and interpretation
- Planning a research report

Ability to develop a research project consistent with a given educational context; Ability to select appropriate research methodology; Ability to organize a fieldwork; Ability to manage a research report. Ability to expound clearly and with appropriate language the content and methodologies learned.