Week 2 What I've learned from Action Research

I've learned that the aim of an action researcher is to bring about development in his or her practice by analyzing existing practice and identifying elements for change. 

The process is founded on the gathering of evidence (data)  on which to make informed rather than intuitive judgments and decisions. Perhaps the most important aspect of action research is that the process enhances teachers’ professional development through the fostering of their capability as professional knowledge makers, rather than simply as professional knowledge users. In an age of centralization and the proliferation of national guidelines and strategies, action research can help us feel in control of our own professional situation.

Ideas for my Action Research Study

I have some ideas that might work for my Action Research Study. I haven't decided on one yet.

Here there are:

• Supporting the needs of ELLs with SIOP
• Intervention and the Rtl process
• Teacher learning teams and the SMART goal process

For those of us that are working on our Action Research Study; a good advice would be to go for something that you are passionate about.

You might also want to think about something with an easily available data source (or you could collect on your own).  I will analyze my options and pick the one that I'm passionate about, but also one that is practical to work on.

On my next blog I will talk about an article that gave me ideas for my Action Research Study, it might help you too.

Happy Blogging

How educational leaders might use blogs

Blogs is an excellent way principal-researchers can capture their thinking as an inquiry unfolds (Dana 2009). Blogs allow authors to publish in a chronological order their thoughts. It could be used as tool for reflecting on their own though processes. (Dana 2009)

Action Research is a research initiated to solve an immediate problem or a reflective process of progressive problem solving led by individuals working with others in teams, in this case school administrators, principals and teachers as part of a community practice to improve the way they address issues and solve problems. Action research involves the process of actively participating in an organization change situation whilst conducting research. All schools have their own "Improvement Plan." In a school environment principals will aim of improving their strategies, practices and knowledge of the environments within which they practice. As designers and stakeholders, researchers work with others to propose a new course of action to help their community (schools)  improve its work practices. Principals will engage in systematic, intentional study of his/her own administrative practice and taking action for change based on what he/she learns as a result of the inquiry. They will seek out change and reflect on their practice by posing questions or "wanderings," collecting data to gain insight into their wanderings  analyzing the data along with reading relevant literature, making changes in practice based on new understandings developed during inquiry, and sharing finding with others. Administrator inquiry becomes a powerful vehicle for learning and school improvement(Dana 2009)