It has been an eye-opening experience to read and learn about action research in education. Action research is a positive activity in which teachers and administrators can become engaged in order to question themselves about their own professional practice or learn about an issue, conflict, or problem that is affecting their school. There are two major currents in research. The first current is “Process-Product-Research” where research results are implemented as a recipe and educators do not take an active role in the research process. In this research model, researchers are outside experts that do not take into account particular factors or variables affecting the administrator’s professional practice or the school environment.
The second model is Action Research or also called administrator’s Inquiry. In this kind of research, administrators or educators are active participants in the research process. They start the process by questioning themselves about the possible causes of a problem or issue. This issue or problem may be low school scores, low attendance, or any other that the researchers deem import for their own schools or districts and through a process of collection of data and information; they design an action plan to be implemented. If results of this action plan are positive, they maintain the improvement. The analogy of a doctor studying the causes of an illness in a patient described in the readings is very illustrative and a good example to clarify what action research is.
As described in Examining What We Do To Improve Our Schools, The 8 Steps For Action Research are as follows:
1. Setting the Foundation
2. Analyzing Data
3. Developing Deeper Understanding
4. Engaging in Self Reflection
5. Exploring Patterns
6. Determining Direction
7. Taking Action
8. Sustaining Improvement
Some of the benefits that action research brings to professional practice are:
- Action research is an opportunity for professional development and a means to avoid isolation. Through the sharing of experiences through meeting and conversations, questions are asked and reflections are presented to other educators, by doing this, administrators can learn from others.
- Action Research presents and opportunity to solve problems and issues particular to our own reality without the intervention of outside experts that do not know anything about our students or our community.
- Action research will contribute to administrator’s professional growth by giving an opportunity to analyze what we are doing and how we are doing it. It also gives us a pause to stop and reflect how our actions and decisions are affecting their schools.
- The constant self questioning and the search to identify areas of need improvement in their own practice give administrators an invaluable opportunity for continuous growth, avoidance of professional atrophy and the tendency to become reactive to the problems arising in a school year.
I really consider that action research presents an opportunity for growth, not only in education, but in any other profession. It helps organize reflections, data and information to create a plan to improve any organization. I can even see some personal benefits if we apply it to our daily life to analyze issues that need to be corrected. I am looking forward to learning about the phases to create an action research project.
Blogging and Action Research
Blogging and action research have become two powerful allies for administrators and teachers. Blogging is the web 2.0 tool that revolutionizes how information is delivered and sheared online. As I mentioned in number 1 of the benefits of action research, the shearing of information, reflections and personal experiences become instrumental for the professional growth of an administrator. Blogging will support this sharing of information with other educators outside the school or district boundaries. Blogging also serves as a diary where administrators can record new information, results of research, or new ideas in process of development. Blogging will expose your ideas to an audience that can also contribute in its development. When administrators write in a blog, the web serves as an online archive where their ideas and reflections reside for future reference, analyses and for potential changes. It also serves as a collaboration tool where administrators can participate in an action research project for the district without leaving their schools, but reaping the benefits of collaboration and exchange of ideas.
