When I first read the question "What is action research?", I wasn't exactly sure. After reading I found action research is the hands on process professionals complete to gain a deeper understanding of what he or she is inquiring about. This process allows the researcher to identify a problem that needs to be changed, and then to actually go through the steps to makes those changes happen. While in the process of researching, the researcher can see the outcome and make changes if something is not working as it should. Once the process is complete the new insight gained leaves behind a stronger educator and hopefully improved school.
Traditional educational research gives the researcher another "expert" opinion or finding to implement. While the research given could be the most credible findings, the researcher did not go through the entire process to find what works. Therefore the researcher did not gain a deep understanding of how the results were founded. I relate the importance of doing the research yourself to the Chinese Proverb that states, "Give a man a fish and feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and feed him for a lifetime." Knowledge in doing something for yourself is much more powerful than someone handing you their knowledge.
Perhaps the most powerful part of the action research process is reflection. In action research your reflection is an on-going process, from the creation of your question to the outcomes in the action. As a teacher I have learned reflection is an important part of my daily routine. I may reflect a hundred times before lunch everyday without knowing I am, just because of its importance to the education process. During the research process, reflection allows the researcher to gain a clearer picture of the experience and provides the ability to make a connection with the results. Reflection can also connect experiences and allows the researcher to continue researching new inquiries which arose during the original research.
Everyone has asked "Why?" about a topic, found the answer and had a new question that arose from the previous result. Humans are curious by nature, and the action research process allows the researcher an outlet to "quench the thirst" for unending knowledge. Perhaps this is the reason why professionals in the education field have taken to this process. Educators are after all forever students.
As a student of education and its ever changing foundation, I will use action research to help improve my theories and strategies. The use of action research will also allow me to focus on what the most important improvements are and "tweak" smaller improvements along the way. Once taught, my students can also begin to research their own inquiries and learn to become better problem solvers. Action research, if used to its full potential, could be the clue in giving the field of education a new makeover.
References
Dana, N. F. (2009). Leading with Passion and Knowledge: The Principal as Action Researcher. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
That is exactly what I came out of what I read. The administrator is the commander in chief and they teachers his cabinet. The administrator reflects and looks at the vision and makes inquiries for improvement.
ReplyDeleteThat's a great way of looking at it!! I agree with you 100%! Thanks for the feedback on the font and coloring!! =) Hope this is better!!
ReplyDeleteJackie, I appreciate your dedication to bringing the concept of action research to the children you teach. I can assure you that one of the big challenges we face in improving success at the college level is that so many students come to us with underdeveloped critical thinking skills. When I discuss these skills in my college success course for first time college students, they often have the "stunned" look that lets you know they are thinking about thinking for the first time! The more we can do to get this process started earlier in the lives of learners, the better positioned they will be to get the most from their life (in and out of the classroom).
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