2019 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
Creating a Professional Learning Network (PLN) for Japanese English Teachers
| Project/Area Number |
19K02986
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| Research Institution | Nanzan University |
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Principal Investigator |
TOLAND Sean 南山大学, 外国語学部, 講師 (60803864)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
CRIPPS Anthony 南山大学, 外国語学部, 教授 (20352437)
SAKAMOTO Fern 南山大学, 外国語学部, 講師 (30803887)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
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| Keywords | Learning networks / community of practice / online support / teacher development |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
Stage 1 of this research project has proceeded as planned, albeit with a couple of minor and unavoidable delays.
The researchers have completed the following: 1. An in-depth review of the current literature on virtual communities of practice and organic professional learning networks. 2. Face-to-face workshop & preliminary needs-analysis data. 3. Construction and distribution of a needs-analysis questionnaire for teachers. 4. Analysis of workshop #1 feedback and critical reflections. 5. Launched the Japanese Teachers of English Professional Learning Network website. 6. Designed face-to-face training session 7. Creation of a Professional Learning Network guidebook.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
3: Progress in research has been slightly delayed.
Reason
The COVID-19 pandemic has created a few challenges for the research team. The face-to-face training session and second workshop were cancelled due to the coronavirus. In addition, the research participants were extraordinarily busy with the demands of their jobs so the in-depth interviews have been rescheduled. The researchers planned on sharing the preliminary findings of their project at two international conferences. These events were cancelled due to travel restrictions.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
During stage 2, the second workshop and training sessions will be shifted to an online platform. These sessions will be offered to teachers of English at Japanese junior high schools and senior high schools. They will provide practical support to help improve educators’ professional competencies. The teachers’ online interactions will be monitored and materials will regularly be uploaded to the PLN website. A virtual ethnographic approach will be utilized to analyze the online data. The researchers will create and distribute a second online questionnaire. In addition, semi-structured interviews with the research participants will also be conducted.
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| Causes of Carryover |
Computer consumables will be incurred in order to document the study. The Nvivo and SPSS software packages will be purchased during the next fiscal year to house and analyze the digital data. In addition, monthly fees for the PLN website and online survey platform will be incurred. An ongoing literature review requires the researchers purchase books and journal articles to stay abreast on the latest developments in the field of technology-enhanced learning. There will also be travel expenses to international conferences and domestic interview sites as well as miscellaneous costs such as academic posters and conference fees.
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Research Products
(3 results)
