In this course, I was able to really dive head first into action research and be able to see all of the possibilities and positive outcomes that can arise from action research. When I began, I did not know what action research was or what it entailed. Nancy Fichtman Dana (2009) defines, “Administrator inquiry refers to the process of a principal engaging 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” (p.2). This taught me that if an administrator engages in the art of questioning and evaluating their practices, they will continually improve the quality of their leadership abilities, which in turn will translate into a more successful learning environment for their stakeholders. Inquiry is not just asking questions. It involves asking the right questions in a systematic way which includes: examining mixed data sources, asking questions, and then going back to request more information (Harris, 2010, p. 5). I then realize that this is the kind of educator and administrator that I want to become. I don’t want to sit and wait for information to come to me; I want to go out and find information and act on it. Action research can be found in many aspects of education. Administrators can explore many opportunities to engage in action research. Dana (2009) states that there are four areas in particular that facilitate the use of inquiry. These are university coursework, superintendent/district meetings, leadership teams and professional learning communities (p. 20-21). After reading through these areas, I realized that action research can be found almost anywhere in an educational setting. There are so many ideas and wonderings that can be found, and it even led me to thinking about my own classroom. There are many benefits to performing action research. One of the major benefits I have seen is the bottom line of improving student learning, which is the goal of any employee engaged in education. For the administrator, action research helps you to become involved with your colleagues and other fellow administrators. It gives you the ability to reflect on your actions and evaluate how they can be improved. Action research is also a hands-on way for administrators to lead by example and become a role-model for the teachers surrounding them. For many people, it opens up a world of professional literature which they might not have utilized otherwise. I have also learned that reflection is an important part of any action research project. Not only that, reflection is essential in any leadership position. Without reflection, you cannot properly ensure that you are providing the appropriate level of leadership for your faculty and staff. Dana (2009) adds that it is important for administrators to find time each week to engage in reflection, just as they would make time for any of their other instructional responsibilities (p.15). Until this class, I had never used a blog, or really followed anyone else’s. I didn’t think that anyone would be interested in my thoughts on education, but I have learned that regardless of anyone else looking about my blog, blogging each week has actually made me a better educator and has improved my action research plan. Having to put my thoughts in to words each week has enabled me to become more focused and more able to align all of the thoughts I have had from this course. It has also allowed my peers to assist me in findings ways to strengthen my action research project. I have taken all of their comments and used them to improve my action research plan. We also had the opportunity to view interviews of some administrators talking about action research. One interview that really caught my attention was Dr. Timothy Chargois, Director of Research, Planning and Development from Beaumont ISD. One thing I learned from Dr. Chargois is that teachers should be action research oriented in their classrooms. If teachers can learn to look at data and its effects in their classroom, they can become successful and touch many children’s lives, not just one. This introduction to action research has really opened my eyes to how effective teachers really can be in their classroom. There is so much information available, and an endless numbers of topics that can be addressed by action research. It all starts with a wondering. According to Nancy Fichtman Dana in her book, Leading with Passion and Knowledge: The Principal as Action Researcher, there are nine areas in education that might lead an administrator to wonderings for their action research project. These include staff development, curriculum development, individual teachers, individual students, school community, leadership, management, school performance, and social justice. Looking at each of these nine areas really helped me to see different action research projects that can be implemented. After coming up with my plan, I think the five quality indicators, mentioned above, were really the most beneficial in taking my action research project to the next level. Now that I plan to continue to blog about my plan. Sharing your plan, research, progress, and findings is so important in action research because it gives your colleagues a chance to collaborate and review your work. In her book Leading with Passion and Knowledge: The Principal as Action Researcher, Nancy Fichtman Dana states, “The four critical tasks you must perform when you share your inquiry include (1) providing background information, (2) sharing the design of the inquiry (procedures, data collection, and data analysis), (3) stating the learning and supporting the statements with data, and (4) providing concluding thoughts” (2009, p. 163). I plan to do all of these tasks throughout the duration of my action research project. This class has provided me with so much information and so many useful resources. I am excited to continue my action research project, and to continue to look at questions in education as wonderings and how I can use action research in the rest of my career.
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. Larchmont, NY: Eye on Education.
