The idea of blogging is very exciting. It is a excellent tool for any educational leader to have. A leader may use the blog in several ways, or they have have separate blogs designed for different purposes. A leader may want to use the blog to post their own ideas just for their own personal use, to come back to them at a later time and revise them, or to save them for use on another project. It could be used like a journal, or it could be used as a personal research tool.
A leader may use the blog as a way to air out their ideas and gather comments from respected peers. This is a way of getting different perspectives on one's thoughts. Sometimes we have a great thought, but don't know where to go with it; ideas from peers may be just the stimulus we need. Sometimes outside comments will give us the puzzle piece we have been missing!
A leader may want insight into problems they have encountered professional and seek professional advice or research on similar situations. For whatever reason we want to use the blog, it seems to be an excellent tool that you can use at your own time and in your own place. If you write it, they will come!
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Action Research and Its Opportunities
I just discovered a new phenomenon called Action Research. It's a systematic way of investigating problems, proposing solutions, researching related data, and implementing the results. It is much better than traditional research in that the researcher is the person who noticed the problem, the person who collects the data and analyzes it, and the person who evaluates the solution. So the researcher actually uses previous research and data in addition to her/his current data to solve the problem at hand. The researcher then shares their results. Since the researcher is actually doing the work, they are more likely to implement the changes. Also, this method is not a way of researching research. It actually uses current data AND past research on similar problems, so we are building our data bases.
One of the major concerns administrators have with Action Research is the amount of time it takes. Administrators have a lot on their plate; they have every day routines and every day emergencies to attend to. They solve site problems or supervise school issues or lead staff or community members daily. Most administrators agree that the only way to effectively conduct Action Research is to build it into their schedule, much like they build an exercise program into their schedule.
There are four key areas where this may be done. One is by taking college classes and doing action research with class members. Another is by breaking into small groups during Superintendents meetings and identifying areas each administrator needs to research, conducting a year long process, and sharing the results at the end of year meeting with other administrators. A third area is by styling your Leadership Team Meetings in the form of Action Research. Collaborative groups share issues, suggest solutions, collect data and implement changes. Lastly, the principal may join a PLC (Professional Learning Community) where they may meet or blog along a preset structure in a limited amount of time and establish collegial relationships while doing so.
I am excited about this new concept. It has introduced me to the idea that other teachers have experienced similar problems and have solved them. I look forward to solving some of my classroom issues using this technique. The paramount problem I have is apathy. Sounds like a real money-maker, doesn't it?
I look forward to using this technique as an administrator because it will help me grow professionally. It will keep me professionally connected with my peers. It will also let my staff and my administrators observe me modeling what I expect them to do. Scheduling it into selected meetings like department head meetings, or Safe and Civil meetings will ensure that it gets done one a regular basis.
I will also use it when I am considering implementing changes to my campus that need to be made only by me, not from a collaborative group. A well thought out decision usually stands the test of time over a quickly made decision. Research brings ideas to the front that we may have never thought of before.
Sounds like a winner. I look forward to using it in this course and beyond.
One of the major concerns administrators have with Action Research is the amount of time it takes. Administrators have a lot on their plate; they have every day routines and every day emergencies to attend to. They solve site problems or supervise school issues or lead staff or community members daily. Most administrators agree that the only way to effectively conduct Action Research is to build it into their schedule, much like they build an exercise program into their schedule.
There are four key areas where this may be done. One is by taking college classes and doing action research with class members. Another is by breaking into small groups during Superintendents meetings and identifying areas each administrator needs to research, conducting a year long process, and sharing the results at the end of year meeting with other administrators. A third area is by styling your Leadership Team Meetings in the form of Action Research. Collaborative groups share issues, suggest solutions, collect data and implement changes. Lastly, the principal may join a PLC (Professional Learning Community) where they may meet or blog along a preset structure in a limited amount of time and establish collegial relationships while doing so.
I am excited about this new concept. It has introduced me to the idea that other teachers have experienced similar problems and have solved them. I look forward to solving some of my classroom issues using this technique. The paramount problem I have is apathy. Sounds like a real money-maker, doesn't it?
I look forward to using this technique as an administrator because it will help me grow professionally. It will keep me professionally connected with my peers. It will also let my staff and my administrators observe me modeling what I expect them to do. Scheduling it into selected meetings like department head meetings, or Safe and Civil meetings will ensure that it gets done one a regular basis.
I will also use it when I am considering implementing changes to my campus that need to be made only by me, not from a collaborative group. A well thought out decision usually stands the test of time over a quickly made decision. Research brings ideas to the front that we may have never thought of before.
Sounds like a winner. I look forward to using it in this course and beyond.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)