How I Might Use Action Research

Action research is a great tool to evaluate practices in the classroom and for evaluating an administrator’s practices. Action research can be used to help administrators grow in their professional development. It is not only for administrators but for teachers as well. As a teacher I could use it in my classroom at all times to find the best strategies to help my students learn. It would also help in my development of teaching strategies. In addition the action research project could improve collaboration between teachers and administrators through Professional Learning Communities (PLCs).

One way I might use action research is to determine what the best way to teach vocabulary to ESL students is. There has been research on the subject and we know these students need more visuals, but does it really help? Does implementing games such as memory games and interactive games really improve the student’s ability to understand the vocabulary?

I would like to do an action research project on discipline in the classroom. We have a lot of different behaviors in the classroom. It would be interesting to see how teachers look at discipline in their classroom. How often do they refer students to the office? At what point do they refer the students to the office?

How Educational Leaders Might Use Blogs

Educational leaders can use blogs to improve communication between administration, teachers, parents, and students. A principal can have a blog available for parents and students to access information regarding upcoming events. The principal could have the teachers in each grade level have a blog to upload weekly homework assignments. In the elementary grades possibly a mini-lesson could be uploaded to show the parent how to help their child with their homework.

Another way to use a blog is to upload his point of view on a policy change and ask for feedback on how the teachers and staff feel. Then he can review the opinions listed and determine if the policy change is something to further analyze and implement.