Lessons from week two have broadened my knowledge regarding action research. The interviews with the different scholars provided additional information and valuable suggestions for action research topics. Dr. Briseno made a practical suggestion for teachers to read in their areas of interest and conduct research on issues or problems they face in their own campuses. It is true that when conducting an action research one does not need to reinvent the wheel inasmuch as other researchers may have already found the answers to some of the issues or problems other educators face. The interviews made me think of faculty meetings as great opportunities for learning and professional development; teachers can share with one another information they have learned or certain effective strategies they have used in their classrooms which made a difference in the students’ learning.
Dr. Lewis helped me see action research as an integral part in the teaching-learning process. If we continually reflect on our practices and analyze available data, then we can easily identify areas for probable action research which could lead to the systematic and timely resolution of problems or issues in our campuses. The advice Dr. Lewis gives is, when conducting action research, to look for an issue that is practical to you, something that fits your needs and can be applied in your school or classroom. He also encourages looking at what other researchers have done in your field of interest to find what is applicable to your specific situation or environment.
Issues related to staff development, curriculum development, individual students, individual teachers, school culture/community, leadership, management, school performance and social justice or equity issues are some topics identified by Dana (2009) which school leaders might be interested in researching.
Work cited:
Dana, N. K. (2009). Leading with Passion and Knowledge: The Principal as Action Researcher. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
No comments:
Post a Comment