Week 1 Assignment Part 3--Building a Blog on Action Research

WHAT I'VE LEARNED ABOUT ACTION RESEARCH AND HOW IT CAN BE USED

As a future instructional leader and current teacher involved in action research, I find that this type research enables one to be involved in a details learning process that then be utilized to make a much more successful learning environment. It allows the individuals involved to become part of the solution by immersing one's self in the issues at hand while reflecting on the knowledge gained about your educational institution in regards to staff, faculty, administration school-wide that allows for fully effective implementation of a solution that best impacts your environment. Most importantly, this also allows for detailed review of past and present data based on changes as well as introspective reflection on those solutions in order to make the most appropriate adjustments to progress one's campus. Action research is effective not only on an individual level but also on a group level. Working in a collaborative fashion with colleagues can lead to various ideas that lead to more creative ways to reach solutions, much like the saying that "two heads are better than one". Many issues are addressed and problems solved best my utilizing action research that involves a community effort (socializing intelligence) partnered with constant campus wide teamwork, that can lead to useful examining of school related data/evidence and well informed decisions to address any overarching problem. Several uses can be addressed with action research such as the following: (a) team meetings focused research on solving the issue of  how to improve upon critical thinking and reading comprehension in Mathematics, (b) committees in individual schools comprised of teachers, parents, and administrators geared towards implementing initiatives to research effective solutions to school wide issues such as attendance, standardized test scores, and performance core classes representing critical need areas, as well as (c) committees and groups on the district level utilizing action research plans to aide in piloting programs to advance achievement in schools, after receiving/examining results and feedback from students, teachers, parents, and administrators, allowing evaluation of these programs and their effectiveness throughout the process.

ANALYSIS OF HOW EDUCATIONAL LEADERS MIGHT USE BLOGS

 Educational leaders can effectively utilize blogs by sharing information regarding trainings, higher education news, cutting edge ideas or technology that could be used in the classroom, as well as open courseware for those who would like to train themselves on more interactive tools that can be used to improve students' engagement and classroom insruction as whole. Blogging information between educational leaders and instructors on certain department or campus wide issues could be a way of disseminating information without having so many meetings with faculty, staff, and teams such that more time is allotted for administrators to be more involved in instructional leadership, while also possibly allowing teachers to have more time to create rigorous/engaging lessons for students.