Week 1 It Has Begun!

This week I learned the difference between Action Research and traditional research. Action research or administrative inquiry - “focuses on the concerns of practitioners (not outside researchers) and engages practitioners in the design, data collection, and interpretation of data around their question….. (usually the) research (is) intended to bring about change of some kind” (Dana, 2009, p.5) process in which educators study their students’ learning related to their own teaching (Glickman, Gordon, & Ross-Gordon, 2004; Rawlinson & Little, 2004; Sagor, 2000).  Action research is deliberate, solution-oriented investigation that is group or personally owned and conducted. It is characterized by spiraling cycles of problem identification, systematic data collection, reflection, analysis, data-driven action taken, and, finally, problem redefinition.  Administrative inquiry is stemmed from the original practioner inquiry which is essentially research in the ‘trenches’ so you get immediate feedback and can change on the spot. 

From my experience it seems that ‘action research’ is the "real educator’s research". Action research is not from a random third party with no experience in the educational trenches.  Traditional research is usually in a ‘vacuum’ it doesn't consider things like changes in policy (building and government), transient population, curriculum, or time availability.  Traditional educational research is so protected that as a practioner in the field of education, we often see that these pieces of research cannot be applied in their purest sense or they will not demonstrate the overall effect.  Action research immediately sees the problem, states the problem, discusses and creates a possible solution and then if it doesn't work goes back to the drawing board and tries again. Action research brings the scientific method back to teaching as a whole. Using data in this way is a very powerful tool to changing schools and maintaining school success. Currently, as a second grade teacher, my team is using PLCs a vehicle for action research. We look at student achievement on informal assessments and design reteach lessons for areas where the majority of the students were not successful. After we meet, plan, and implement the interventions, students are given a formal assessment. Those assessments are then broken down by question and compared to the state objects they address. As a grade level, we are then able to determine if more reteach is necessary and if so, what instructional strategies will be used. By working collaboratively we have grown as educators and have increased our student achievement. Other grade levels on our campus use the PLC model as well. I'm hoping that by researching our campuses ability to reach diverse learners through various educational practices I will gain a wealth of experience to help me be successful as an administrator regardless of my campus, or districts, dynamics. 

Why Blog?

Blogging can be compared to electronic journaling. It provides administers and teachers with the ability to reflect or participate in self analyzation.  It allows the blogger to reflect on the mistakes they have made or document the moments of brilliance that they don't want to forget!
I feel like leaders can benefit most from blogging because it can provide a communication component between teachers and administrators. It should allow for more vertical integration and implementation of ideals which can lead a staff in the same direction.  A blog shouldn't just be a post of articles it should be a true exchange of thoughts and ideals in the staff that allows you to develop a shared philosophy and goal that you are all trying to meet. A blog can also be a great way for the staff to bring issues to the forefront without feeling attacked or for clarification.  Teachers can also implement blogging as a means to allow students to reflect on new knowledge and communicate with each other. For example, Students, with teacher guidance, could use blogs to collaborate and elaborate science learning.  For many students this will be the first time to use such a collaborative technological resource.