ACTION RESEARCH

Action research is looking into a problem or something you are curious about with the ultimate goal of making positive changes and sharing what you have found with others in your field.  You have to look at and analyze data, ask questions, read literature related to the issue, and review other information to help make those positive changes possible.  Action research has many benefits including self-reflection of one’s own practices, improvement of practices, improvements in teaching and learning, strengthening the self-confidence and self-efficacy of teachers, providing intrinsic motivation, and refining skills.  Action research can be a positive professional development tool for yourself and others.  Action research can be found in university coursework, meetings with the superintendent or school district, leadership teams, and professional learning communities as well.  Of particular interest to me is that of the professional learning communities because it allows you to work with a team that also includes teachers.  It is good to have extra input but it is even better to me when you can get input from those that are still in the classroom.  Although you can and should observe what is taking place in the classrooms, no one knows better about the inner workings of those classrooms than the teachers themselves.  I would love to, and hope to, use action research to investigate better use of integrating technology and learning in the classrooms.

BLOGS

One idea I thought of for educational leaders using blogs would be sort of like a newsletter to keep faculty, staff, parents, and others informed of what’s going on with the campus.