Week 2 Action Research BLOG

This week in Lamar I learned a lot about action research within public schools.  The three principal interviews gave great examples of action research topics that were needed within their district.  It was very helpful to hear specific real world examples of the action research process being put into affect.

When I went in and sat with my site supervisor we discussed three main topics of research.


The first action research topic that was identified within my internship plan is the review of methods used to encourage student motivation in the classroom.  I would research articles from refereed journals on motivation strategies, and discuss with selected administrators and faculty.

The second action reasearch topic that was discussed from my internship plan was the development of a questionnaire to distribute to parents addressing school policy, instruction, homework, activities and discipline.  This questionnaire would be distributed, collected and analyzed trying to find opportunities for improvement within our current policies and their effectiveness.

The third action research topic that was discussed has been added to my internship plan.  It involves a study in the relationship between excercise, specifically athletics, and academic performance.  The need for the study is not just a local need but one that permeates across America.

I am looking forward to the action research process.

Analysis of how educational leaders might use blogs

Today's educational leader can use blogs in their daily activities in many ways.  They can be used as a form of communication and recognition for parents, teachers and students.  An administrator could keep a regular blog with all of these groups with many uses.  For example, a blog for the students could be used like a daily announcement and could be projected onto the screen at the teacher's discretion instead of the daily interruption of announcements over the intercom.  That way the teachers could project this when it is best for their particular class.  A blog to the teachers could be used to keep them updated on schedule changes and activities as well as recognize those teachers who are going above and beyond the normal duties of the classroom.  It could be used as a motivational tool.  With parents a blog could be used to disseminate information needed about field trips, upcoming games and activities as well as updates during hazardous weather or school emergencies.  All of these could be easy, quick and powerful tools to a modern administrator.

What I have learned about action research.

The week one assignment focused on defining and understanding action research.  Action research is a systematic examination of a principal’s tactics and daily activities.  Once the examination is complete, it involves implementing a plan for positive change based on the findings of the initial inquiry/research.  This process can be extremely helpful to the administrative since it gives constant feedback and evaluation at a local level.

Action research can come in many forms.  Some of those forms include university coursework, superintendent and district meetings, leadership teams and professional learning communities.  The first two forms happen outside the principal’s school building.  University coursework involves university study like we are partaking in right now and allows for the relationships that are developed in the interactive process of educational evaluation.  Superintendent and district meetings can be very productive forms of action research where the administrators come together periodically with the focus of group action research based on current issues within their schools. 

The final two forms of action research happen at the campus level.  Leadership teams are a common occurrence in schools today.  The most often consist of a group of classroom teachers and an administrator who meet regularly and evaluate daily issues and assess ways to resolve these topics.  It is a good way to have regular feedback from teachers to administrators and to quickly resolve issues on your campus.  Professional learning communities are larger than leadership teams and are more focused on developing instructional strategies within the staff.

All of these forms of action research will be applicable to me both now and as an administrator.  Some of them are already being done on my campus and are a daily part of our activities.  I am currently doing the university form with Lamar.  Part of my internship plan is to begin to observe the administrative meetings within my district so that I can see action research at that level and learn from it.  Our campus already uses both PLC’s and leadership teams to help gain a consensus decision on most topics.