Action Research
I must admit when I first watched the video for this week’s lesson on Action Research, I was very skeptical. None of the current administrators at my school had ever heard of action research let alone tried to implement it. After reading "Leading with Passion and Knowledge" by Nancy Fichtman Dana, I realized that Action research was very different from what I think of, when I think of research. Action research, compared to ordinary academic research is more focused and intentional. Action research comes from within the situation, instead of outside. The researcher deliberately and intentionally researches the issue, reflects upon the findings and then takes action to improve the situation. Action research is a never ending cycle of research, reflection and action, always focusing on what is the best outcome for the issue at hand. It can be used in any educational, or for that matter professional arena. Reflection is a major goal in every step of the process. The overall goal is to establish a climate of study and reflection within today's ever changing school atmosphere's in order to achieve the most positive outcomes. Hopeful I will have the unique opportunity to introduce this process to my campus and possibly my district. I look forward to that challenge.
Analsys
As an educator it is my hope that this blog will help me do two things. First it will help me capture my "Thinking's". So often we lose much of what we brain storm. This Blog should help me to reflect upon them. I also believe this blog will help me get much needed feedback from other perspectives and view points. Educators can use blogs for both reflection and feedback.
Ok, I had a meeting with Mr. Brooks and Mr. Klutz and I have my action research narrowed down to about 5....Thousand topics. Every topic opened into about 10 different others. WOW. I did not realize the truly endless possibility of research.
ReplyDeleteOk, here we go.....I have decided to change my action research or Wondering. Circumstances have changed and an opportunity to research student attendance and truancy has presented itself.
ReplyDeleteOriginally I had done some work trying to create an action research on technology in the classroom. Then about 6 weeks ago I learned that I would be responsible for implementing a new attendance/ truancy program. Research shows that good grades start with students attending class. When a student is absent from class, they not only miss the instruction but they miss being a part of the learning community. Excessive absences can lead to an emotional and social disconnect with the truant student. Student truancy is a big problem in today’s schools. I was excited to learn that I would be implementing the new truancy program as part of my administrative duties. Sense that time I have spent about five hours in training and preparation in implementing the new program. It focuses on student and parent involvement within the truancy process. Basically when a student reaches three unexcused absences we are going to have a formal meeting with the student to conference and inform the student about his options. We will at that time contact parents about the possible repercussions of continued truancy. When the student receives their 4th unexcused absence we will then conference with law enforcement, students and parents. The 4th unexcused absence could if parents refuse to commit to the program places the student in law enforcement hands which ends at the local Justice of the Peace. In order to prevent this from occurring parents must attend the meeting. The meeting will be about an hour in length informing parents about what is at stake. Their child.
ReplyDelete