What I have learned about Action Research and how I might use it.

I have learned that action research is an invaluable tool for the administrator. It is different from traditional educational research because it includes the people that deal directly with the students. Traditional educational research relies on data or university professors and does not take into consideration the people that deal with the students on a daily basis.

Action research should not be thought of as one single event. It should be an evolving part of the leader’s daily routine. It is the process of a principal engaging in systematic study of his/her own administrative practices. The leader should also seek out change and reflect on their practice by posing questions, collecting data, analyzing data, reading relevant literature and making changes in practice based on new understandings developed during the inquiry.

 Action research can be used in many different ways in a school district. I am a part of the RTI (Response to Intervention) Team on our campus. My role is to take the data and identify the at-risk students. I try and pinpoint a common theme in their struggles and look for ways that might make them more successful in the school environment.