EDLD 5301 Week 2 Reflections

In week two I read about other people's action research topics.  It makes me wonder if my topic is too broad.  My research topic is "How is Step Up to Writing being implemented in the classrooms at West Valley High School?"  I had also wanted to find out how the implementation of the program has influence test scores on writing conventions on state tests.

I hadn't considered the wide range of topics that could be dissected with action research.  I actually enjoyed reading about the things other people wanted to research from the readings as well as from the webinar and the facebook site.  I would really like to see a school that has action research as part of its professional practice.  All too often it seems that a handful of teachers or admin want to improve the school and the majority while unhappy professionally keeps plodding along.  I like the idea of action research as a way to energize the staff and confront problems at my own site.

How Educators Can Use Blogs

Educators can use blogs in several ways.  First, educators could work in collaboration using a blog to share opinions with each other.   They could also link to videos and articles about educational topics and then discuss them.  This allows communication back and forth instead of just from the original writer of the blog.

Second, educators could use a blog to communicate with their students.  Teachers could post homework, study guides, and readings for the class.  They could also provide a venue for students to communicate with each other on topics of their own devising.

What I've Learned about Action Research...

Action research is the means by which the school can examine its practices to measure their effectiveness.  Schools are filled with programs.  Both teachers and principals rely too much on their gut instinct to decide whether their programs are effective.  All too often we, as professionals, lose perspective.  Teachers only see the school from their classroom perspective while principals see it from a school-wide perspective.

Action research is a tool to quantify what they believe to be true or to discover that programs are less effective than perceived.  Teachers are often convinced that their way is the best way without any external evidence to prove their view.

Action research is an opportunity for teachers and principals to really get involved with the larger vision of the school.  This self-examination forces them to get out of the "classroom in isolation" to larger concepts of teacher collaboration, vertical teaming, and school-wide culture.  Action research is a way for the teachers and administration to work together to work towards the school vision.  Rather than bringing in some outside theory based on an academic study at a distant university, action research is observation based on the campus for the campus.  It is the most pertinent examination of school practice possible.  Teachers will have more buy-in because it's a study about them for them.

Effective action research can show whether programs or teaching strategies are worth while which can help the school pursue and remain within a continuing cycle of improvement.