Why Blogs?

Blogs are an effective instrument in publishing information for access to a broad audience.  In this light, they are an effective tool in providing a vehicle for administrators to participate in action research amongst a global community.

Thoughts on Action Research

The concept of action research does not necessarily seem new in its nature, however, its utilization in education has been rather innovative.  I for one would be the first to support a process in which the primary source and subject of the research is myself, as opposed to an “expert” panel of outsiders who haven’t been in a classroom for the better part of a decade.  That is not to say that the work of external educational researchers is not valuable, but in order to improve instruction and student achievement, the onus for reflection falls squarely on those individuals who are operating on the front lines.  The implementation of action research in education is an incredibly productive method of professional growth for teachers and administrators alike.  Though the specific practices being evaluated may differ between teachers and administrators, the model for continuous improvement across these disciplines, as well as the results, are consistent.  Action research is a process I have been involved in for the last several years, without fully being aware of it.  Professional Learning Communities, or PLCs, are a widely implemented vehicle for action research in school districts across the country.  These collaborative groups of teachers allow for reflection of best practices in teaching and finding correlations between teaching practices and student achievement.  The implementation of PLCs allows for action research to be conducted on a daily basis.  I look forward to increasing my understanding of the role of action research for school administrators in the months ahead.