Assessing the Transformative Potential of Participatory Action Research (PAR) as a Catalyst for Empowering Mathematics Educators

This qualitative study explores the transformative potential of Participatory Action Research (PAR) as a catalyst for empowering mathematics educators. The study highlights the experiences of the ten (10) in-service teachers who engaged in a yearlong PAR community engagement project. The focus was e...

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Main Authors: Matshidiso Mirriam Moleko, Mncedisi Christian Maphalala
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Noyam Journals 2025-01-01
Series:Journal of Education and Learning Technology
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Online Access:https://noyam.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/JELT2025613.pdf
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author Matshidiso Mirriam Moleko
Mncedisi Christian Maphalala
author_facet Matshidiso Mirriam Moleko
Mncedisi Christian Maphalala
author_sort Matshidiso Mirriam Moleko
collection DOAJ
description This qualitative study explores the transformative potential of Participatory Action Research (PAR) as a catalyst for empowering mathematics educators. The study highlights the experiences of the ten (10) in-service teachers who engaged in a yearlong PAR community engagement project. The focus was empowering the senior phase mathematics teachers with skills and knowledge to innovate and transform their teaching practices. This study is underpinned by two theories, namely Critical Emancipatory Research (CER) and Community of Practice (CoP). Data were collected through focus group discussions and reflection sessions. Therefore, the study focused on how teachers perceived the PAR approach and its influence on their practices. The findings revealed that PAR can restore working relationships, reignite the passion for teaching mathematics, unlock teachers’ full potential, and foster a sense of ownership and contribution within the educational field. Furthermore, PAR emerges as a powerful tool for providing meaningful learning experiences for mathematics educators. These findings advocate the strategic integration of PAR in promoting the scholarship of teaching and learning mathematics (SoTLM) and underscore its role in driving transformative change in educational practices.
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spelling doaj-art-ad49c4bb25eb4b199da141ee84ca93692025-08-20T03:08:31ZengNoyam JournalsJournal of Education and Learning Technology2720-77302025-01-0161 2642https://doi.org/10.38159/jelt.2025613Assessing the Transformative Potential of Participatory Action Research (PAR) as a Catalyst for Empowering Mathematics EducatorsMatshidiso Mirriam Moleko0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1437-7218Mncedisi Christian Maphalala1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1078-1985Department of Curriculum & Instructional Studies, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa.Department of Curriculum & Instructional Studies, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa.This qualitative study explores the transformative potential of Participatory Action Research (PAR) as a catalyst for empowering mathematics educators. The study highlights the experiences of the ten (10) in-service teachers who engaged in a yearlong PAR community engagement project. The focus was empowering the senior phase mathematics teachers with skills and knowledge to innovate and transform their teaching practices. This study is underpinned by two theories, namely Critical Emancipatory Research (CER) and Community of Practice (CoP). Data were collected through focus group discussions and reflection sessions. Therefore, the study focused on how teachers perceived the PAR approach and its influence on their practices. The findings revealed that PAR can restore working relationships, reignite the passion for teaching mathematics, unlock teachers’ full potential, and foster a sense of ownership and contribution within the educational field. Furthermore, PAR emerges as a powerful tool for providing meaningful learning experiences for mathematics educators. These findings advocate the strategic integration of PAR in promoting the scholarship of teaching and learning mathematics (SoTLM) and underscore its role in driving transformative change in educational practices.https://noyam.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/JELT2025613.pdfapproachcommunity of practiceparticipatory action researchtransformation
spellingShingle Matshidiso Mirriam Moleko
Mncedisi Christian Maphalala
Assessing the Transformative Potential of Participatory Action Research (PAR) as a Catalyst for Empowering Mathematics Educators
Journal of Education and Learning Technology
approach
community of practice
participatory action research
transformation
title Assessing the Transformative Potential of Participatory Action Research (PAR) as a Catalyst for Empowering Mathematics Educators
title_full Assessing the Transformative Potential of Participatory Action Research (PAR) as a Catalyst for Empowering Mathematics Educators
title_fullStr Assessing the Transformative Potential of Participatory Action Research (PAR) as a Catalyst for Empowering Mathematics Educators
title_full_unstemmed Assessing the Transformative Potential of Participatory Action Research (PAR) as a Catalyst for Empowering Mathematics Educators
title_short Assessing the Transformative Potential of Participatory Action Research (PAR) as a Catalyst for Empowering Mathematics Educators
title_sort assessing the transformative potential of participatory action research par as a catalyst for empowering mathematics educators
topic approach
community of practice
participatory action research
transformation
url https://noyam.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/JELT2025613.pdf
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