Week #2 Reflections

This week as I was reading the passions I realized that research was more than just a thought or a person just saying hey let's do something.  Research is categorized and can be very helpful.  Watching the videos were also informational.  Two of the men suggested finding out what other people have already done concerning that same problem.  My head coach calls it being on the case(Copy and Steal Everything!)  You look at what they are doing and devise a plan to make it fit your situation.  I hope my action research turns out to be worthwhile and is a help toward school improvement.

What I have learned

I have learned that action research could be very beneficial to a principal if used effectively.  Action research is the process of a principal engaging in systematic, intentional study of his/her own administrative practice and taking action for change based on what he/she learns as a result of the inquiry (Dana text p. 2). The principal is engaged in the design, data collection, and the interpretation of data around their question.  Through this research the principal can benefit because theories and knowlegde are generated, they become collaborators in research by investigating their own problems, and they play a part in the research process.  Because of this the principal will be more likely to facilitate change based on the knowledge they generate.  Action research is not a hard process but it can be a time consuming one.  You must make time to reflect in order to grow and be successful.  Through action research the principal can learn from other principals that blog about their inquiry.  My first action research will be about why we do not have a tutorial program in the first semester of school?  But, I have another idea that sticks out in my head and that is about our school and it's discipline plan.  I think that using action research might be a better route to use when inquiring about some of the problems on our school campus instead of just asking and offending any of my administrators.  It is a more professional approach.

Use of Blogs

Educational Leaders can use blogs to share their inquires outside of their school or district as well as using it to write information for a new inquiry they will be soon doing.  The principal can share about their thoughts and experiences as being principals. The principal can also use it as a reflective journal or maybe a personal diary.  And lastly it can be used to ask questions and have conversations with other principals on topics to help better their school.