More Thoughts on Action Research

Week two's assignment taught me that Action Research is a wonderful way to learn more about what is happening on your campus.  It involves the stakeholders, represents involvement rather than passive research or listening to what someone else suggests you do.  Action research can be a part of every aspect of running a campus, from management to school culture and community. Also, watching the videos of Dr. Kirk Lewis and Dr. Briseno confirmed what I have always felt about not having to "reinvent the wheel".  We have so little time, why not research what other districts are doing and see if any of their action research fits your needs.  Finally, I also agreed with their perspectives on researching something practical, then bringing results of your research back to your peers.

Action Research in Education

Action research involves defining a problem that needs a solution and/or a situation that needs improvement, designing a strategy or strategies to solve the problem or improve the situation, implementing those strategies and evaluating their effectiveness, and finally, bringing clarity to the situation while moving forward to the next set of situations and/or problems.  The whole point of action research is to bring about change while learning from others.  This method of research is interactive, reflective, and involves those who are directly related and affected by the problems and situations.  The decisions are not made by an outside source, but rather by those with direct involvement.  Action research allows for reflection and so often change is created by reacting to a situation rather than encouraging feedback, input, and most of all reflection.    Because of change being influenced by several, there would be more buy-in, therefore more success.


I see myself using action research as a member of my campus RtI committee.  This is an excellent example of a group of educators collaborating, using data and shared experiences to make good decisions, and hopefully create necessary success for students.




Educational leaders could use blogs to share educational information they have read or had shared with them in their administrative meetings.  They could also use blogs to obtain feedback from faculty and staff regarding certain campus issues.