Action Research

Throughout this week, I have learned that action research is actually a very personal and insightful tool.  It can be used in a variety of ways and makes you an active participant in your own professional growth and development.  Action research can be used on the smallest activities that a teacher might want to self-reflect on in the classroom to very large, campus wide activities that a principal may want to evaluate, change and reflect upon.  Action research is an excellent professional devlelopment tool that allows a teacher or administrator to learn from themselves.  Self-reflection is a key component to change.  I think it provides insight into how a person teaches, learns and provides a more clear picture on how effective change can be implemented.  Action research seems to be more effective than traditional research since the people doing the action research are the ones that are actually impacted by the situation.  In traditional research the people conducting it may or may not be directly impacted and have a full understanding of what is occurring.  In that scenario, the teachers or administrators may or may not be willing to change or implement the suggestions given to them.  I think that if action research is used consistently it is a way to make more effective decisions that will lead to greater long term success.