From everything I have read, action research is a valuable tool that allows an administrator to work collaboratively with other professionals to ensure that success is reached by all students, staff, and administrators on their campus and possibly in the district.
Action research takes a problem, concern, or “wondering” that an administrator may have regarding their particular campus, staff, or students and allows them to formulate a plan of action inquiry for themselves. Their inquiry will be one that is beneficial to their own campus. They will ask the questions and gather the needed data and resources based on this concern. Using this data, they can form a plan of action as well as a plan to monitor and evaluate the plan’s progress towards the goals set by the plan. Evaluation of the progress will allow the administrator to either rework or refine the goals if needed or plan for the continued improvement of the plan. (Harris, 2010, p.6) The action inquiry is a cycle of action in that it is continually monitored and evaluated to ensure progress and improvement towards the goals or it is fine-tuned or changed until does meet the needs of the administrator, staff, or students. (Dana, 2009, p. 5)
I can see this type of action research being beneficial on campus to improve student and teacher morale, uplifting campus climate, and making others aware of best practices being used to improve learning and growth for both students and teachers alike.
BLOG ANALYSIS:
Administrators or other educational leaders would benefit from using blogs as another form of communication with students, teachers, staff, parents, as well as the community to give and recieve information. A blog could be very general and act as a newsletter for all stakeholders or it could be for a more defined audience such as an information sharing spot for members of a professional learning committee. Either way, it is the sharing of information and the recieveing of information that is important.
Harris, S., Edmonson, S. & Combs, J. (2010) Examing What We Do To Improve Our Schools: 8 Steps from Analysis to Action. New York: Eye on Education.
Dana, N. (2009) Leading with Passion and Knowledge: The Principal as Action Researcher. California: Corwin.
