My research plan

Research update

I just finised week 2 of EDLD 5301 Reseach, and I have learned more about "wonderings" in educational settings. It was refreshing to realize that wonderings can be large scale inquiries down to merely analyzing data that was already gathered and applying it to your schools situation. I still have a lot left to learn!

Blogging and Education

Blogs can be used in many ways. Educational leaders could use blogs to post wonderings and research information from other administrators. They could be used to share information on a campus base or nationally to learn from others. Either way blogs can be beneficial no matter how you want to use them as long as you understand that postings are generally the opinion of the poster and not always an unbiased opinion of the subject matter.

Action Research

Action Research

I am embarrassed to admit this, but I was not familiar with the term action research before I began this course. I now know that action research is the process of diagnosing a situation that needs improved or solved then creating an action strategy, followed by implementing the plan and lastly reevaluating the situation. Action research is described as being a continual set of spirals consisting of reflection and action. Which means once one situation or question is resolved another issue is being evaluated. According to Dana, in Leading with Passion and Knowledge, “… although the terms practitioner research, administrative inquiry, and action research are comparatively new, the idea of teaching as inquiry and the role of practitioners as enquirers are not. (pg 6) I believe that I would be able to use action research because of how practical it is. “Educational leadership and principal-preparation programs should incorporate instruction in the action research process as a model to improve instruction and student learning in learner-centered leadership” (Alford, Ballenger, & Austin, 2006).

“This process can be extensive, especially the first time, but it is a process that any good teacher follows when adjusting instruction to meet the needs of students. Facilitating the process as case studies, whole class, or whole school can be effective strategies for teachers’ professional growth and accountability. As this process is implemented time and time again it becomes second nature, yet effective in documenting the interventions addressing students’ areas of learning concerns that were addressed and implemented successfully.” (Ringler, 2007)

Work Cited

Alford, B., Ballenger, J., & Austin, S. F. (2006). Knowledge base: Use of action research to improve schools. Educational Leadership Review, 7(1), 49-55.

Dana, Nancy. Leading with Passion and Knowledge, California, 2009

Ringler, Marjorie. “Action Research an Effective Instructional Leadership Skill for Future Public School Leaders.” AASA Journal of Scholarlship and Practice 4.1 (2007): 27-38