Action research is a great tool to begin to answer questions or "wonderings" that I might have about how to make my school more successful. It is a systematic approach to begin the process of taking action on a subject of interest that is possible in need of some rethinking. This process begins by defining the question that you have about whether the most effective methods are being used in a particular area. Deciding what data would need to be collected and what the best way to collect that data would be is the next step. The data that is collected is what will then need to be analyzed to determine what the answer to your question will be. After the data is analyzed, you would need to determine if any changes need too be made and what the best way to make those changes would be. Lastly, the findings of the action research must be shared so that effective changes can be made, or so that other methods can be tried if that is in fact what the data showed. The data may show that your methods are sound and there may not need to be any change.
I can think of many ways that I might use action research. Helping students become more successful would be the first thing that comes to mind. That one area could give me enough action research to last for years. Using building data and targeting sub populations of students who have not been successful brings to mind many questions of how that could be changed and what method of change would be the most successful. Would after school, before school, or during the school day tutoring help? What about mentoring? Action research does not have to be used only to students success, it could also be used to analyze the success of professional development in my building. What is the best delivery method to get information to teachers? Are staff meetings more effective or would email be a good method? It seems the possibilities for action research are endless.
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