This course has provided valuable lessons in being an effective researcher as a school leader, and taught me new research techniques and other interesting information. I enjoyed learning about blogging, and better understood the benefits of action research. I learned great deal about using action research by reading Leading with Passion and Knowledge: The Principal as Action Researcherand Examining What We Do to Improve Our Schools: 8 Steps from Analysis to Action.This course also helped me ensure that I am on track for my research project through guidelines, valuable group discussion feedback, and key techniques.
I was not a big fan of reading blogs until this course required my creation of a blog and reading others’ blogs. I became intrigued because blogging is a great way for professional educators to communicate and give feedback especially in action research, and discuss general school topics. The blog can be used as a data feed and share results for action research activities and projects. The use of blogs to collect and extract data can be useful for decision-making and problem-solving processes, especially in relation to education and campus issues. This may provide the opportunity to receive feedback from classmates and colleagues or seek collaborative participants for advice and ideas.Blogging may fit with my inquiry into how the use of technology can be merged with professional development within campus environments.
I perceive action research as similar to scientific methods. Action research for addressing problems in schools is similar to hypotheses within science. The principal is akin to a scientist, exploring and identifying issues and problems in school atmospheres, such as policy, curriculum, schedule management, and cultural issues as part of the hypothesis process. Like a scientist runs a laboratory, the principal runs the school using similar systematic tools of examining the problem and then devising solutions. The principal then experiments with solutions by implementing policies and procedures and new teaching practices or programs. The principal then decides which method is effective for data collection and analysis, just like a scientist does. Different data collection methods can be used, such as force field analysis, the Delphi method and the nominal technique. Upon conclusion, the principal and scientist both have to disseminate the results, prepare reports, and so forth.
Action research is a great tool for enhancement and for increasing the success of educational leaders and schools. ”Expertise comes from the combination of action and reflection. Expertise is gained as one learns to adjust the performance based on the factors and one's experiences with them. Learning from one's prior actions (and mistakes) is basic to the development of expertise” (Harris, Edmonson & Combs, 2009, p. 104). Action research provides school administrators and instructors with ways to monitor the effectiveness and ineffectiveness of their work so that they can make changes in their immediate working environment (Dana, 2009).Action research can be used for so many different aspects within the school with numerous benefits School leaders should use action research when they see challenges or issues within their schools. I have gained insight into the fact that my action research was not where I wanted it to be, and action research will help me evaluate campuses for efficacy. Using action research can bring great benefits for my work, such as increasing collaboration between principals and stakeholders, helping effective practices thrive on campus, and slowing down the pace of a school leader's everyday activities.
Harris, S., Edmonson, S., & Combs, J. P. (2010). Examining what we do to improve our schools: 8 steps from analysis to action. Larchmont, NY: Eye on Education.
Dana, N. F. (2009). Leading with passion and knowledge: The principal as action researcher. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.
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