Action research is a systematic way of bringing about change in your school or personal practice from the inside. Administrators are asking questions about their schools or their own practice and identifying areas of need, strengths, and weaknesses. This is a process that allows you to study what is happening in your school and make changes based on what you have learned.
Professional development is changing because of action research. The benefit of this process as opposed to the "sit and get" sessions we all love to hate is the ownership that the stakeholders have in the change process. Administrators and schools teams are tackling problems on their own campus in order to make needed changes for student success. By becoming the researcher, "question asker", "brainstormer", etc. teachers are feeling like a part of the solution. In the past, someone has told us strategies that will work without even really knowing the full situation. When teachers are the ones digging through literature, trying out new strategies, and reviewing data that is specific to their school, the change makes more sense and is embraced by the campus stakeholders.
A huge benefit that I see as a result of action research is that schools are coming together, as collaborative learning teams, to reach a common goal. It is imperative to make changes for the kids in our schools today. As action researchers, we are strategically looking for the best solutions, programs, and strategies for student success.
I too like the fact that we can do our own research and not have to be spoon fed the proper or best methods that were used in the past. I like the fact that we, as educators or administrators, can use action research to find the best methods for ourselves to increase student achievement. Teachers are on the front line of education and do tons of research for the benefit of our students. As administrators, we can teach our staffs the proper and most useful methods(action research) to get the most out of their students.
ReplyDeleteI think when teachers have a say in how to solve problems and finding a solution that works best for them, it is more meaningful for them. It's about "ownership" and a sense of accomplishment, because they are part of the solution.
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