Action Research

Like others in this course, the term "Action Research" was both new and intimidating to me. I envisioned spending countless hours by myself, pouring over volumes of texts to learn about a problem or subject that was assigned to me by a professor or mentor. Fortunately, this is not what action research is about!

I was excited to learn that action research, or inquiry as it is also called, is a process that puts you in the driver's seat of your own learning. Action research starts with a defining a problem or a wondering. Once you have identified the question, data is collected and analyzed. It is important to reflect on the data to develop a deeper understanding based on previous experience. At this point, an action is taken based on the results of the analysis. You can take your inquiry a step further by sharing what you have learned with others.

I can use action research to improve my practices in the classroom. By continually analyzing and reflecting upon the data I collect from my inquiries, I can continue to grow and learn as a professional and share my learning with others. I can also become part of my school’s leadership team and help my administrators to make important decisions about the campus. Taking part of the action research process on this team will help to build my experience and help make me a better administrator.

By starting to use action research as a teacher, I can make it part of my daily practice. This will help to ensure that I can find time for inquiry as an administrator!