Teacher research as professional development for P-12 music teachers

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the experiences of seven music educators who conducted teacher research in their classrooms and to document whether the teachers and the local school district considered the project as professional development. Research questions included: (1) How do these music educators describe the experience of planning and implementing a teacher research project? (2) What do the teachers choose to examine? (3) How do teachers consider teacher research in relation to their experiences of professional development? and (4) Does the project count for professional development in their school districts? If so, what procedures must be followed? And, if not, why not? Data included: (1) project start-up meeting; (2) e-mail survey; (3) observations; (4) individual interviews; (5) focus group interviews; (6) project artefacts; and (6) researchers' logs. Findings are presented in three categories: (1) participant profiles that describe the projects developed by the teachers; (2) perceptions of the participants regarding projects as a professional development activity; and (3) descriptions of school district responses as to whether the projects counted as professional development.

Keywords:

• teacher research
• professional development
• music education
• practitioner inquiry

Notes on contributors

Dr Colleen Conway is professor of music education at the University of Michigan.

Dr Scott Edgar is an assistant professor of music and music education coordinator at Lake Forest College in Illinois.

Erin Hansen is visiting assistant professor of music education at the University of Houston.

Dr C. Michael Palmer is coordinator of instrumental music at University Liggett School in Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan.

Notes

1. We have reported elsewhere on the motivation of these participants and tied that work to adult learning theory.

2. Ann's first interview was not recorded due to technical difficulties in the attempt to record.