Facilitating action research for curriculum development in higher education

Abstract

An action research approach to curriculum development was used within a national funded project in radiography education. Its particular focus was the development of a competence-based approach to the clinical education and assessment of student radiographers. This paper explores the role of a facilitator of action research in such a context through examining key dilemmas that are presented. These concern the need to balance the search for pragmatic local solutions with strategies informed by national debates in the field of competence-based education and training; the balance of time between reflection and action in action research; and the tension between local solutions and national recommendations.