Reflections+on+Others'+Research+Platforms

Reflection on Simon's Research Platform: **AR + KPM R to increase success for boys**

Thanks Simon for sharing this research platform with us. It is of particular relevance to me as my class of Year Four students is about two thirds boys. Although my students are nowhere near that important transition to high school, it is important to get it right as early as possible to create the best chance of success later on.

I also chose Action Research (or Participatory Action Research, as you have done) for my research platform, although I did not encorporate a Kaupapa Maori perspective as you have done (this is something that I have posted about in my reflection on my own research platform).

I completely agree with your statement on your first page about teachers being ideally placed to research the classroom context. It is such a shame that teachers' time is so in demand, so that the only ones who do engage in Action Research are those studying on part-time courses like this one. That is why I think we (as teacher-students) have an important role to play in developing this kind of culture. What do you think? Are many teachers who are not also university students also carrying out this kind of research?

I think you have summarised the key aspects of Kaupapa Maori research well, and reflected on the challenges involved in using this approach. You have taken its requirements seriously and respectfully.

As a former intermediate teacher I can relate to what you have written about the effect transitions can have on student achievement, motivation and behaviour. I currently work in a full primary, but intermediates have students transitioning in, and those transitioning out, making it all the more complex. You clearly have a genuine desire to make a difference for those at risk young people. It occurred to me as I read your platform, is there a definition of at-risk that you are working to? Are you thinking primarily of academic performance, social competence, behaviour norms etc? Also, is there a chance that 'at-risk' is a non-Maori category that needs to be challenged itself, as a key aspect of Kaupapa Maori research is the challenging of such norms and resisting their imposition. Interesting question!

Your platform mentions the criticisms sometimes made of Action Research, that it is limited by not being generalisable. I came to a similar conclusion as yourself, that in fact the context-bound nature of AR is its strength, because we are conducting research for some abstract academic community, but in order to improve the lived reality of members of our own community.

Another question I wondered about in regards to your research, was whether you remain an insider when you go outside of your immediate context and into secondary schools to interview and survey students, parents and teachers. I don't have an answer myself, because perhaps the fact that you are a concerned educational professional in that community is 'inside enough'. I suppose we are always insiders and outsiders to some extent in any research, and the key is the degree to which we recognise and acknowledge this.

Your project looks achievable in scale and ambitious in potential. I wish you all the best for conducting this research in the future, and congratulate you on a great research platform.

**Response from Simon:**

 //Thanks very much Craig, your feedback is very encouraging. I agree with the insider becoming outsider is an issue and a challenge.// //Cheers// //Simon//