This book provides an account of classroom observation in a historical and educational perspective. Drawing on extracts from classic studies in this field, Dick Allwright reviews the development of research and experiment since the 1970's. The book thus not only provides a background to recent research, but also identifies areas for future development. Stress is laid on the link to be made between practice and research and it is argued that policy-making. either at classroom or institutional level, is heavily dependent on descriptive accounts of classroom reality.

This book-length treatment of Exploratory Practice introduces five propositions about learners as practitioners of learning who are capable of developing their expertise through conducting research in and on their own classroom learning lives.

This book provides an account of classroom observation in a historical and educational perspective. Drawing on extracts from classic studies in this field, Dick Allwright reviews the development of research and experiment since the 1970's. The book thus not only provides a background to recent research, but also identifies areas for future development. Stress is laid on the link to be made between practice and research and it is argued that policy-making. either at classroom or institutional level, is heavily dependent on descriptive accounts of classroom reality.

If we want to treat learners as practitioners of learning, alongside teachers as practitioners of teaching, and therefore capable of reaping the developmental benefits of practitioner research, how can we best proceed? For Allwright and Hanks the answer lies in Exploratory Practice - an inclusive form of practitioner research developed largely in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and in Lancaster, England, that enables both learners and teachers to develop their own understandings of their learning and teaching lives.
After arguing that developments in the field of applied linguistics have fallen short of establishing such a perspective on learners, and reviewing current research models, the authors propose seven principles for a truly inclusive extension of practitioner research - Exploratory Practice.
Five full chapters document, through learner and teacher narratives from around the world, how Exploratory Practice can engage learners as developing practitioners of learning, and enhance the learning process by enriching human relationships in the classroom.