Reflection on Week Two

My action research plan is looking into new strategies to improve grades and prevent failures of frequently absent students.  When discussing possible action research topics with my site supervisor, he suggested looking into our current campus culture.  This principal felt that when there is a sense of belonging and pride, there is a willingness to try.  Upon further discussion, we felt there might be a connection between this our current climate and the topic I ended up choosing.  I think there is a link between a negative school culture and poor student attendance.  I find this very disheartening.  This is an opportunity for me to positively impact my those students who I have direct contact with in my classroom and extra curricular responsibilities.  This action research project is already bring up more questions to ponder!

How Educational Leaders Might Use Blogs

Web blogs can provide opportunities for posting questions, concerns, or experiences for educators.  Teachers can use blogging in their classroom as a tool for students to interact and reflect on the topic at hand.  An administrator can receive instant feedback on a problem he or she may be facing.  Over time, the blog can be used as a place of reflection when looking back at postings.  Even, this blog is designed to set up a space for masters students to discuss findings and support each other through the action research process.  Ultimately, blogs are useful in creating global learners and thinkers by opening communication to anyone in the world.

What I have learned about Action Research

Action research is investigating a problem and putting the solution into action.  Also termed, administrator inquiry, this tool is systematic with methodical steps to examine a problem.  The first step is to select an issue to study by developing questions or wonderings.  Then, the topic is researched with professionally sound educational literature that can help determine potential solutions.   Next, the solutions are put into action and evaluated (Ringler, 2007). The process uses those directly involved with student learning, not educational researchers or outsiders to daily involvement with students and teachers.  This gives teachers and administrators an opportunity to not only influence student success but improve their own teaching and leadership methods.  Educators gain a better understanding of behavior and make better decisions for their classroom and school or even validate current practices.  Action research is a more personalized tool where those involved take ownership of their learning and influence what changes occurs in the schools.  Administrative inquiry requires collaboration and sharing with other professionals experiencing the same problems which can provide support structures when facing future issues.  Engaging in inquiry enables the participants to do one thing well and not many things poorly.  Devoting time to one problem allows for school staff to be proactive rather than reactive to problems.  School staff become experts and utilizes each other and their own resources to improve student learning and cultivate successful campuses.  Eventually, action research can shape reform in the educational process (Dana, 2009).