What I Have Learned About Action Research

According to Dana (2009), action research is a process where an administrator engages in a systematic study of his/her own practices and takes action for a change based on what he/she learns from inquiry.  Throughout the action research process, certain practices are examined, questions are posed, and ideas are implemented in order to create a change.

One thing that I have learned about action research over this past week is that it allows teachers and administrators to have a voice in the decision-making within a school. For so long, we have allowed outsiders to come in to our schools and tell us how to run them. By using action research, the whole process becomes introspective and meaningful. I have learned that change is very hard for some people to carry out. When people implement change that is meaningful, it makes it easier to facilitate. Every school has different issues that need large amounts of attention. When we implement action research, we can target the high needs area for each school and make each one more successful.

According to Harris (2009), action research consists of 8 steps from analysis to action: identify the problem, gather information, analyze information and hold discussions with stakeholders, reflect on findings, formulate a solution, begin action research, monitor the project, maintain and make adjustments as needed. These steps seem like a lot of work; however, one of the great things about action research is its ongoing and collaborative nature. There is not one right or wrong way to do things. Through application of an intended action, you might find more answers than you actually thought you were looking for. Collaborating with other people, getting them on board, and making adjustments according to personnel will help make the process easier.  

Action research could be used in many ways in a school setting. One way that I have thought about using it is to research if we are truly preparing students for college and life after. Study skills and college readiness seem to be lacking tremendously in our high school, and I would like to try and implement ways that help our students be better prepared for life after high school. One thing my principal and I have thought about, is by possibly implementing AVID or something like it, and seeing if test scores, overall grades, and attitudes about education increase during their high school years. We could also keep track of the students who go to college. I believe this is an issue from elementary to middle school, from middle school to high school, and high school to college. If we could develop stronger students, and increase critical thinking and higher-level inquiry, we might be able to see a change in the number of students participating in class, as well as continue to be learners when they graduate.

Another way to use action research is to implement a reading program at the elementary and middle school. One thing I notice on my high school campus is the number of students who honestly cannot read and/or comprehend what they do read. I think this is a huge issue because if you can’t read and understand, then you will struggle in every subject. We need to make reading fun again for the younger students so they will continue to read and in return see more success in their classes.

Dana, N.F. (2009). Leading with passion and knowledge: The principal as action researcher.  Thousand Oaks,       CA: Corwin Press.

Harris, S., Edmondson, S., & Combs, J. (2009).  Examining what we do to improve our schools:  8 steps from analysis to action.  Larchmont, N.Y.:  Eye on Education.