Action Research

As I read the book Leading With Passion and Knowledge: The Principal as Action Researchers and learned more about action research, I kept thinking in my mind "Am I truly a researcher?" in the back of my mind. I started to think about what it meant to be an Action research. The book tells us that an Administrator that participates in Action Research is one that is constantly thinking about how to go about improving their schools for the benefit of all involved.

The two books Examining What We Do To Improve Our Schools: 8 Steps From Analysis To Action and Leading With Passion and Knowledge: The Principal as Action Researchers have helped me understand what it means to be an Action Researcher. It defines Action Researcher or administrative inquiry as administrators who engage in a systematic investigation by examining data, asking questions, and requesting information. This investigation is done for the purpose of looking and reflecting on their current practices. It allows administrators to look closely at their leadership role and their school improvement efforts. Administrators will pose questions that will help them with reflection. These questions will help them gain insight by allowing them to critically analyze the data, and read literature on their "wonderings". Everything is done in order to make changes based on the information gained from the research.

Action Research can be used in several ways. I can use it in order to help in making the decision of what project will lead to the best solution and how to implement it into the school. We can use “wonderings” in order to further delve into the problems that are facing our school and how to solve them. The use of Action Research will help me become a better principal because it will keep me thinking and reflecting on the practices on my campus. Action Research can be used to develop Leadership Teams who share problems and decision making, which in turn starts to create a culture of collaboration within the school. You can also use Action Research to create Professional Learning Communities with your faculty The Professional Learning Community or the staff can use action research to better their teaching techniques by engaging in studying, learning, and reflecting on effective teaching strategies that work with students. Overall, Action Research can be used in a variety of ways. What is important is that we all not only conduct the research, but implement it and make any necessary changes. In the end everyone in the school should work together to achieve results that will show school improvement.