What is?

Action Research is making change through inquiry, research, analysis, and sharing. As a leader we are faced with many topics of concern and how we answer these concerns defines our leadership. Bring into play prior experiences and knowledge is something we expect from students on a daily basis, why not require this of ourselves. Action research is just that, with a more systematic approach. Action research is an effective tool that should be used by educational leaders to strengthen “teachers’ self-confidence and self-efficacy.” Find an inquiry or concern that is prevalent in your school community then begin collecting data and reading relevant literature. With this data and literature in hand begin analyzing the information. The literature is valuable because it saves you the time and effort of repeating someone’s work. “Someone somewhere had grappled with a similar area of study in a similar situation.” The literature will also help you find valuable resources that you may not have been aware of otherwise. With the analysis done make your changes based on your new insight. Finally share the results of the changes and your process to get to these changes with others. Sharing will open the door for professional discussions and possibly lead to alternative courses of action. Throughout this process of action research reflection is imperative. Reflection will allow revisions to the plan which will ultimately lead to successes.  As a leader I hope to make action research become second nature which should model the behavior I will expect of my faculty.  Do you know action research?

Ringler, EdD. (2007). Action Research an Effective Instructional Leadership Skill for Future Public School Leaders. AASA Journal of Scholarship and Practice, 4 (1), 27-37.