Action Research!

Action Research is a viable tool in school improvement. It is a great form of professional development where leaders can take control of their own professional growth. It is also validating and incredibly school specific. Instead of educational leaders relying on data from outsiders such as universities and outside programs they look intrinsically. Action research allows us to use the skills and opinions of the ENTIRE campus in order to promote change. What is particularly nice about this approach is that everyone has a stake in this game. We all are allowed ownership in the positive change on our campus. According to the Dana text this makes more fluid change possible with teachers and far less resistance when teachers are part of the decision making process. In my own experience I heartily agree and believe that as a staff if we were more informed of the "why" and "how" involved in our changes I would be more likely to accept radical or small changes. Action research also promotes a heavy amount of self and campus wide reflection. Instead of being reactive when a problem arises we could constantly be reflecting on our campus and then in turn become more proactive. Overall though I just like the fact within this type of research I can have a voice and one person does not make all the decisions that effect me and my school.