Action Research

Action research is a vital component of an administrators role in today's education field.  Research is no longer just going to the library and looking for information that is an overall solution to a common campus problem.  Action research is a systematic process that allows a team to look at the problems or questions at a campus level and take certain steps to attain a solution.  The process involves everyone in that team working together to attain results that are specific to the problem or question at hand. This process has many advantages for the team. The team gains the opportunity to work as a team and resolve a problem.  They also benefit from the reflection piece that is part of the action research because it is going on continuously.  This gives the team the chance to discuss what progress they see and if there are any changes that must be made or if they are on the right track.  All of the participants of the research action plan will also greatly benefit from the learning experiences that they gain as a result of participating in this process.  Action research should be considered by all administrators even though they may think they do not have time because they will see the impact that it can have at their campus.

Education leaders can use blogs to mimic a journal of thoughts.  It can be used to help them revisit ideas or thoughts that they may have had and make a connection to what they are currently thinking about. Leaders can think of it as their own personal ISN (interactive student notebook) because it can also serve as their journal of learning.