What I have learned about action research!

I have discovered that action research is actually something that most people do internally every day.  However, we don't think about it in terms of "action research" and we don't write it down so that we will remember what we have learned. 

By simply following the steps of action research and taking the time to reflect on what we have learned we will increase our potential for success and for the betterment of our campus and students.  The effects of good action research can be profound on the results that we obtain through our projects and teach us what things that we are doing properly and what things that we need to change.  I think that the most important part is probably the first part.  We can discover what things that we are doing properly and are working on our campus.  Many times it might be things that we think need to be changed or re-worked that need absolutely no attention at all.

Action research also forces us to reflect on things that we have done.  I think that many times we do this but we avoid reflecting on things that we know maybe didn't work out so well for us.  By following the structure of action research we can be forced to review things that we might otherwise put on a back burner because we "know" that there is still something wrong with an issue that we addressed.  I will begin using action research immediately in my lesson planning to make sure that my lessons are reaching the students.  I hope to use it in the future as a principal.

Educational leaders can find a wealth of information by becoming a blogger and reading blogs that other people post.  By blogging educators will receive comments and suggestions from like minded educators.  By reading other people's blogs they will gain insight into what other educators are doing.