Action Research

In this course I have discovered that action research is a useful tool for the school leader. It is a way to address concerns in a school that is focused on local improvement. Traditional research is based on outsiders looking in. With action research, the people who are in the trenches are the ones posing the question and attempting to find the answer. I like the fact that action research does not have to be as restrictive as traditional research. With action research, the principal can use the information gathered to guide the school toward collective goals. By gathering and analyzing data we as leaders can decide which strategies are working and which ones are not. We can use this information to keep a close eye on how the staff is responding and using the information. Action research is flexible enough that everyone can be involved. As more people are involved, it will be easier for improvements to the process to be made. As a principal, I think that action research will be a useful tool for me as a leader. I think that I can use it in my school to help keep all of the teachers on the same page as far as student learning. By gathering information that is specific to our situation. I think that teachers will respond to it better than if I just give them another one of those standard staff developments. It will be easier to get buy in from the staff if they feel that the information is geared toward our situation. Also, by getting the staff involved in the research process they will have a say in what we focus our research on.