As of a week ago I had never even heard of action research or administrative inquiry. I just completed my ninth year in education and in one way or another I have actually used teacher inquiry but without actually knowing that's what I was doing. After completing the first week of this course I already feel like I can better serve my department and ultimately my campus by using inquiry to create a more productive and successful environment.
Action research to me is the process of putting thought, data, and action together to improve education for all stakeholders. Inquiry is an ever spiraling action. Once you finish you realize that you've just started. The process of administrative inquiry involves discovering a problem through reflection and active questioning, collecting and analyzing data surrounding the problem, putting the changes into effect, and observing the changes to ensure the problem is solved.
As I have gone through this first week, one issue continues to be on the forefront that would make for a great action research over time. My school board approved the purchase of an iPAD for all high school teachers and students for the next school year, 2012-2013. As most new ideas do, this caused quite a bit of talk among teachers, both positive and negative. The overwhelming discussion at the end of the year was how can we, teachers, monitor and keep students on task when we've now given them the same technology that we've been telling them the last few years to put away. As we approach the start of this process and begin to collaborate among departments on best practices to incorporate the iPAD into our curriculum, it will be important to collect data from schools having already gone through this. Once we have our own data to analyze we can continue to shape our own plan for incorporating this great technology into our school.
Action research to me is the process of putting thought, data, and action together to improve education for all stakeholders. Inquiry is an ever spiraling action. Once you finish you realize that you've just started. The process of administrative inquiry involves discovering a problem through reflection and active questioning, collecting and analyzing data surrounding the problem, putting the changes into effect, and observing the changes to ensure the problem is solved.
As I have gone through this first week, one issue continues to be on the forefront that would make for a great action research over time. My school board approved the purchase of an iPAD for all high school teachers and students for the next school year, 2012-2013. As most new ideas do, this caused quite a bit of talk among teachers, both positive and negative. The overwhelming discussion at the end of the year was how can we, teachers, monitor and keep students on task when we've now given them the same technology that we've been telling them the last few years to put away. As we approach the start of this process and begin to collaborate among departments on best practices to incorporate the iPAD into our curriculum, it will be important to collect data from schools having already gone through this. Once we have our own data to analyze we can continue to shape our own plan for incorporating this great technology into our school.
I am extremely interested in technology. I think it is amazing that all of your students will have the opportunity to have that kind of technology. I look forward to reading your action research plan and following you as this year progresses. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteI think you have chosing a great topic for your research project. The use of technology is a great way to engage students and I look forward to your research.
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