Week 3 Action Research Reflections

The week of this week’s learning has been on the formulation of an Action Research Plan of Action. Focusing on the Plan of Action has helped me to clarify my direction of research, to narrow my focus from a global perspective to one that is focused and easily researched and studied.

The reading in Sandra Harris’ Examining What We Do to Improve Our Schools focused on Setting the Foundation with an emphasis on identifying barriers for school improvement: (a) the lack of a shared vision, (b) the lack of understanding the need for inquiry, (c) the lack of valuing improvement by not providing time for improvement, and (d) the lack of trust among teachers, administrators, students, and parents (p. 3). Two of the barriers caught my interest, shared vision and trust. I believe if there is trust and a shared vision, the other two barriers can be overcome. You have to be able to trust the people you work with, to share in the vision, that being student success and achievement. If you cannot overcome these, the possibility of school improvement and additional inquiry will be an exercise in futility.

Dana focused sharing the results of action research while identifying what needs to be shared. Four areas or critical tasks were identified that must be shared. These tasks were identified as (1) providing background information, (2) sharing the design of the inquiry, (3) stating the learning and supporting the statements with data, and (4) providing concluding thoughts. When I read these statements, it struck me that these steps are similar to those in the scientific method; identification of the problem, hypothesis, procedures, materials, analysis, conclusion, and communication.

I look forward to next week’s learning, how do I put all that I’ve learned this week into an actual “research” paper? The processes we are working through are a bit overwhelming and at times seem redundant, but I am certain that at the conclusion of week five’s lesson, all the missing pieces will be in place and the completion of the actual research will be a matter of organizing my thoughts and data.

Harris, S., Edmonson, S., & Combs, J. (2009). Examining what we do to improve our schools: 9 steps from analysis to action. Larchmont, N.Y.: Eye on Education.

Dana, N.F. (2009). Leading with passion and knowledge: The principal as action researcher. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.