About Action Research

Action Research is an effective way for an administrator study the instructional and organizational practice at his or her campus site. The initial process begins with the examination of current practices and the identification of a need that requires action. It is important that once the need is identified, that inquirer begins a thorough study of literature that correlates with the topic of inquiry. In addition to the literature review, campus data should be reviewed to determine the associative connection to the research contained in the texts read. Using the campus and the relative components from the literature review, the leader can then determine the course of action needed to address the need raised in the initial examination. The course of action is developed through a collaborative effort that involves the school community leaders. Since teachers are integral part of the organization, it is important to include them in the planning of changes that will impact instruction. It is t this point that all resources for successful implementation need to be determined and allocated. Also, the team needs to determine what tools will be used to assess the effectiveness of the implementation. During the course of the implementation, the administration need to review and revise components of the plan to adjust to the conditions of the campus.

I can use this process to research the role of writing workshop in secondary classrooms. In effort to cover the literature required at each grade level, writing sometimes is relegated to the backseat of language arts instruction. As a result, students are not fully exposed to the modes of writing that will adequately prepare them for a world outside the four walls of their middle and high schools. Through the literature review and the collaboration of several secondary English teachers, I hope to create an action plan that will address this concern and improve the written communication skills of secondary students.

Education leaders can use blogs to gather feedback from the school community about topics of inquiry. It provides a way to publish one's thinking and learning to others within and outside the organization. Blogs offer a way to establish a two-way collection of data that is directly related to the inquiry process. In addition, it will once illustrate how important learning is to the instructional leader of campus by reinforcing the skills being taught in the teacher's classrooms.