Week 2 Reflection

This week started out very confusing to me.  I wasn't sure if I get my information from the:
1. Google Site
2. Blackboard
3. Assignment template
4. Assignment overview
5. Rubric
etc...
I think you get the point. I am sure you might have felt the same way. The good news is, Dr. Abshire put it best when she said, "you will be graded by the rubric. Your IA's will follow the rubric when grading."  This was like music to my ears.  I had an answer!! I will follow the rubric.  I will use the other sources as guides but the be all end all is the rubric!!  Feeling much better.

As for what I learned this week, I think I am excited.  I noticed through this action research study that there are many areas that I would like to investigate.  I want to know the answer to most of the topics introduced in the book.  IT also got me to look beyond the books and research some education research plans.  Wow is there a ton out there!!  I even found one that I will be able to use as a resource for my action plan.  This week took some time to complete but I feel I am better prepared for my action research plan!!  I look forward to your comments!!

Casey Gray

What have you learned about action research and how you might be able to use it.

Action research as a whole scared me when I first started reading about it.  I have always been a little worried about the word research because it can entail such a broad spectrum of learning.  As for this action research plan, it does cover a broad spectrum, but is not scary at all.  I started by reading The Principal as Action Research by Nancy Fichtman Dana.  This text comforted me with much of its description of what exactly an action research plan is.  In the text, Dana simple states, “administrator inquiry refers to the process of a principal engaging in systematic, intentional study of his/her own practice and taking action for change based on what he/she learns as a result of the inquiry.” (Dana, 2009)  This is exactly what we do on a daily basis already as teachers.  This is simply put as creating an assignment, giving the assignment, grading the assignment and then adjusting on the next assignment based on what your learned from your inquiry.  Now I am fully aware that an action research plan is in much greater detail and has much more depth to it, but in a sense, we are just extending what we normally do on a daily basis.  According to John Elliot, “action research is a continual set of spirals consisting of reflection and action.” (Elliot, 1988)  We have to constantly reflect on our learning’s and put forth an action plan to battle this new set of learning’s.  Lastly, I learned about the many benefits to action research.  Action research is, “a meaningful way to grow professionally… allows for principals become role models… and engagement in this process can help best practices to flourish at your school.” (Dana, 2009) Action research I believe is going to be an exciting part of my internship into Education Leadership and Administration.  

How might educational leaders use blogs?

I believe that blogging can be an effective communication tool for educational leaders.  According to The Principal as Action Research, "Thinking is a challenge for any researcher...Weblogs are another excellent way principal-researchers can capture their thinking. " (Dana, 2009)  One of the major problems in schools today is not only how to get the students thinking but how to evaluate it.  Blogging also is a way that you can voice your thinking based on facts you have researched along with receiving valuable feedback on your research.  Dana states, "The comment feature of blogs allows principal-researchers to receive feedback from anyone in the world..." (Dana, 2009)  With blogs, I believe the the Principal-researcher will gain more knowledge and have a great way to journal their findings.