Five weeks ago when this class started I had no
idea what an action research study was. I did not even know how to put the
plan together to make sure I stayed focus and finished it in the eighteen
months that this program takes to complete. Earlier in my educational career
I have done research papers where you simply read the research about a
specific topic and regurgitate the information into a paper and turn it in.
This is a whole new way to find solutions. It is based on data collected
throughout the timeline established in my action research plan. In Leading
With Passion and Knowledge Nancy Fichtman Dana states that “administrator
inquiry becomes a powerful vehicle for learning and school improvement.” (p,
3) By taking this cores and understanding the importance of the action
research, I now can have a better understanding of how the action research
can improve students, teachers, and schools. My school district has in the
past encouraged teachers to do action research but there was not true
understanding of how the research could impact both students and teachers.
Each week during this class we dug a little bit deeper into the meaning and
practice of how to do an action research study. Now I am a little nervous as
the school year is about to start and I am going to involve the core teachers
and support staff in this endeavor.
As I was looking for specific literature that involves
my research question, I found that there is not a lot written on how to
improve TELPAS rating on the written part of the test. However there are a
lot of strategies on how to help an ELL student developing their writing and developing
writing in the core subjects. I will be using those academic journals to help
me develop my own teacher toolbox.
Last week’s assignment stretched my thinking. It introduced
four different strategies to get me to look at my action research study from different
perspectives. The Force Field Analysis was the easiest for me to write about because
it focuses on “bringing about a change begins with understanding the
circumstances surrounding the needed change”. (Harris, Edmonson, and Combs,
2009) I was new in my position last year, spent a lot of time listening and
gathering information about the ELL program at my campus and realized that a
change was needed to ensure that the ELL population is progressing at the
same rate as their same age peers. The
CARE strategy was the hardrest for me because it wanted me look at concerns
for making sure positive change continue happening in the future. Look at
affirmations in the present to keep the action research process positive and
give recommendations of how to successfully launch and complete the action
research process. Last to evaluate the action research process often to determine
the outcome and adjust if necessary. This assignment stretched my thinking
about my action research study that I had not yet thought of.
Blogging and receiving feedback from my peers have
been helpful. I also enjoy reading others blogs and commenting on their blogs.
The discussion board is another useful tool to stretch my thinking and read
other students thinking.
This has been a great class I learned a lot.
Dana Fichtman, Nancy. (2009). Leading With passion and Knowledge: The Principal as Action
Researcher. United States of America: Crowin and American Association of
School Administrators.
Harris, Sandra. Edmonson, Stacey. Combs, Julie. Examining What We do To Improve our
Schools: 8 Steps From Analysis To Action. United States of America: Eye
On Education
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Sunday, August 18, 2013
Reflection Over Action Research Class
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