What I have learned about Action Research:
My eyes have been opened to the effectiveness that action research principals and teachers can have on student achievement. Going into this course I had preconceived notions about “research”. I thought that I would be assigned a technology related topic and would have to produce a term paper in five weeks. After only a few days and a few pages of text, I am actually excited about the class. Through my twenty years in education I have had multiple “wonderings”. Now, I know what to do with those wonderings and how effective I can be on students and other teachers when I collaborate and reflect on the findings from an action research plan. As Dana points out in Leading with passion and knowledge: The principal as action researcher, research about school improvement, as we have known it up to this point has been from collegiate experts who are not in the day to day grind of school business (Dana, 2009). Because action research is going on by those who are educating or supervising the educators, it is real time and can make a real difference in student outcomes. The downside, if there is one, would be the time factor. Dana addresses this issue in her book and gives several examples on how to juggle action research within the role of a principal. The best advice Dana gives in regards to the time issue “is to make inquiry a part of your daily practice rather than a separate part of it” (Dana, 2009, p.16). In the readings from Examining what we do to improve our schools: 8 steps from analysis to action, the authors issue a warning concerning time as well. They warn not to rush through the steps of the action research plan as this may cause shallow results (Harris, Edmondson, Combs, 2010).
References:
Dana, N. F. (2009) Leading with passion and knowledge: The principal as action researcher. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
Harris, S., Edmonson, S., & Combs, J. (2010). Examining what we do to improve our schools: 8 steps from analysis to action. Larchmont, N.Y. :Eye on Education.
Hi Mary,
ReplyDeleteI like your noting how action research should not be rushed. We are so accustomed it getting everything we touch fast, it is a good reminder that action research is a methodical process that must involve some time. Congratulations on your decision to come back to school. I, too, am coming back after a lo-o-n-g time, and it is great!