EDLD 5301 Action Research Wk2

Reflections in action research . . .

What has been impressed upon me the most this week, is how much I truly like action research! When reading about the different "Passions" as well as listening to our guest scholar videos, I realized that I tend to gravitate towards Professional Development and Leadership. Where this will lead and how it will evolve, who can tell. I do know, however, that the more I learn about action research, the more I see its relevance to all careers and professions.

EDLD 5301 Action Research Wk1

To me action research is the practical application of research. It is the product of the wondering or musings of a person on a particular issue and how that issue can be addressed in an effective and productive manner. I am intrigues by this type of research because it is action oriented, and not just an academic study on theoretical application by outside observers. This is a real world evaluation and systematic approach to any issue that could come up in any workplace. In some instances it is an internal review of the practitioner and how they have dealt with an issue in the past and how they can address this same issue in a more effective manner in the future. It can also be a tool for members of an organization to identify, evaluate, and plan for practical and effective solutions to the issues they face in their own work environments. By using this structured action oriented approach the participants feel that they are working towards a true solution that is tailored to their unique circumstances. This alleviates the process of implementing strategies that may have worked elsewhere, but will not be effective based on the new environment.

I believe that when working with people, especially in a committee atmosphere, that the participant’s time should be respected. This being said, effective action research is valuable use of their time and efforts and can bring positive results to their immediate work issues.

Educational leaders can use action research in the following ways:

• Determining the correlation between parental involvement and higher reading scores
• Identifying different learning styles and how implementing multiple instructional methods in the classroom.
• How an individual can effectively communicate with a particular segment of their school environment.