The lived experience of a primary physical education teacher educator engaging in action research: cycling into change

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis paper presents the lived experience of a practitioner researcher working as a teacher educator engaging in action research with primary pre-service teachers (PSTs). Aligning with the work of Cook (Citation2009) [‘The Purpose of Mess in Action Research: Building Rigour Though a Messy Turn.’ Educational Action Research 17 (2): 277–291] this paper aims to make visible the decisions and reflections that occurred during the multiple cycles of action research that were significant in the transformations that occurred throughout the study. We argue that embracing and acknowledging the chaos and messiness of the process is essential to initiating change. Therefore, in making visible the often invisible actions and discomfort experienced this paper hoped to contribute as a catalyst for greater articulation of mess across research.Employing a seven-phase longitudinal action research approach, this paper draws on data from the practitioner researcher’s reflective journal maintained throughout the research and field notes based on participant observation. The challenges, complexities, and benefits of action research are discussed including the impact on the research study and the practitioner researcher’s practice as a teacher educator in primary physical education. Making visible the challenges of being comfortable in the uncomfortable elements of data collection, in accessing the PSTs, and the multiple roles of the researcher throughout the research are discussed.KEYWORDS: Action researchpractitioner researchcomplexmessy Disclosure statementNo potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).Additional informationNotes on contributorsSuzy MackenDr Suzy Macken is a Lecturer in Education in Physical Education, early childhood movement development and Education and Sport at Marino Institute of Education Dublin. Her main research area is on assessment for learning, modelling and mentoring in primary physical education in initial teacher education, and action research for developing and interrogating practitioner practice.Ann MacPhailProfessor Ann MacPhail is the Associate Vice President Doctoral College at the University of Limerick. Her main teaching and research areas of interest and expertise reside within (physical education) teacher education, instructional alignment, curriculum and assessment.Antonio CalderónDr Antonio Calderón is an Associate Professor in Physical Education Teacher Education at the University of Limerick, where he is Course Director of the Professional Master of Physical Education. His main research area revolves around pedagogies of initial teacher education, with a critical focus on the use of digital technologies and programmatic approaches for teaching and learning.