Ask the right question
Turn a concern into a focused, answerable research question, and choose the approach, methods and sample that fit it.
Online course · Leadership · 13-hour certificate of completion
Practitioner Research for School Leaders
Lead with evidence, not opinion. A practical, self-paced course for school leaders and teachers who want to investigate a question in their own school with rigour, whether for school improvement, an accreditation self-study or a master's degree. 19 lessons, a practical task in every lesson and a 13-hour certificate.
Secure checkout · 14-day refund · Start straight away · Certificate of completion
What you will gain
By the end of the course
Build tools that work
Write clear survey questions, pilot every tool, run fair interviews and reduce bias, including the bias of being an insider.
Make sense of the evidence
Analyse numbers and comments in an ordinary spreadsheet, check reliability and report findings carefully.
Who it is for
Is this course for you?
This course is for you if you lead a team or a school and want evidence before you act, if you are preparing an accreditation self-study, or if you are starting research for a master's degree. No previous research training is needed. You will finish with an inquiry plan to carry out in your own school over 90 days.
What you get
- 5 chapters of short lessons, at your own pace
- A certificate for 13 hours of professional development when you finish
- A Participant Workbook (your Leadership Journal) and a guide to the research behind each module, both to download
- Free access to the Leaders’ Circle, our online community for school leaders
- Watch on any device, whenever suits you
$75
Enrol nowSecure checkout · 14-day refund · Start straight away · Certificate of completion
Curriculum
What you will learn
5 chapters · 20 lessons and activities
Chapter 1: Why Evidence Matters
- Welcome and How This Course Works
- What Practitioner Research Is, and Is Not
- Asking a Good Research Question
Chapter 2: Designing Your Inquiry
- Two Ways of Seeing: Research Approaches in Plain English
- Choosing Your Methods: Surveys, Interviews, Observation and Documents
- Sampling: Who to Ask and How Many
- Ethics, Consent and Anonymity in Your Own School
Chapter 3: Building Good Research Tools
- Writing Survey Questions and Likert Scales
- Piloting Your Tools
- Interviews and Focus Groups
- Reducing Bias, Including Insider Bias
Chapter 4: Making Sense of the Evidence
- Descriptive Statistics in a Spreadsheet
- Reliability and Validity in Plain English
- Correlation, Causation and Results That Look Too Good to Be True
- Analysing Interviews and Open Comments
Chapter 5: From Evidence to Action
- Writing Up and Presenting Your Findings
- Using Inquiry for School Improvement and Accreditation Self-Study
- Your Inquiry Plan
- Knowledge Check
- Course Summary and Certificate
Your course leader
Why I made this course
I’m Jacques Tredoux. I’ve worked in schools for more than twenty years, led schools in three countries and chaired international accreditation visiting teams. Too many good teachers are promoted into leadership and left to work it out alone. I built this course from real situations in real schools, so every lesson gives you something you can use on Monday.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How does the course work?
It is a self-paced online course on our learning platform. You can start straight away and work through the 5 chapters at a pace that suits you, on a laptop, tablet or phone.
Do I get a certificate?
Yes. When you finish, you receive a certificate for 13 hours of professional development to add to your CPD record.
Can I try it before I buy?
Yes. Watch the trailer at the top of this page, or download our free sample lesson to see how a Northbeam lesson works.
Can I buy it for my team?
Yes. School licences give a group of staff the same course with one invoice and a certificate for each person. See our school licences page or contact us for a quote.
What if it is not right for me?
Email us within 14 days of buying and we will refund you in full.
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Self-paced, practical and certified. Enrol today for $75, or train a whole team with a school licence.
Secure checkout · 14-day refund · Start straight away · Certificate of completion