A Reflection...

Throughout the course there have been many things that I have gained further insight on and a deeper understanding of. I think the most pertinent idea is that of action research. Through the readings of course textbooks and class resources I have gained a clear understanding of what action research is and the steps that must be taken in order for it to be done correctly and thoroughly.  I think one of the more significant steps is determining the question to be answered or the statement to be analyzed. I like action research because it allows you to fit the process to your needs. You are able to explore and investigate topics that are going to be beneficial specifically to the population you are using. I must admit in the beginning I was a bit apprehensive about the blog. I wasn’t sure that it would be as beneficial as some other means of communication and sharing. However, I have found that the blog is one of the highlights of my week. I looked forward to the comments and suggestions that others have offered about my inquiry project. Some of the questions that others asked I hadn’t even thought about. It was good to get feedback and suggestions from people in different environments, who teach different subjects and grades. Their experiences and knowledge brought about different perspectives to the topic I chose.  I also enjoyed reading all of the other blogs and going over all of the various ideas and topics that everyone came up with. It was interesting to see the types of scenarios and situations that people are dealing with on their campuses based on their action research topics. There are many other students that were dealing with the same subject matter just in different ways. To me it showed just how common the issues we deal with in our different schools and in various districts are so similar and common. Our individual action research projects will not only benefit our schools and students but they just might help others. Each assignment has allowed me to look at the process of action research from the mind frame of a leader. In reading the course textbooks I understand the importance of leaders making time for action research and the impact it can have on the staff and students. This course has allowed me to expand on my skills. I now have planning an action research project under my belt.  I’m excited to get started on implementing the project and analyzing the end results.