Action Research Topics

As I reflected on possible research topics I tried to draw from problems I have experienced in my own classroom where I see potential for improvement. One of the topics that concern me is the issue of departmentalization versus self-contained in sixth grade. Therefore, one of my proposed topics is researching the advantages of a self-contained classroom in upper-elementary grades. My principal offered several other suggestions in addition to mine at our brief face-to-face meeting. One of the topics she proposed was researching what role the principal plays in retention of new teachers in their first three years as educators. Because of my experiences since becoming a teacher I have worked under several different principals. She felt that this exposure to different administrative styles could help me in my research. Another suggestion she offered is to look at different inclusion models at the elementary level and find out the advantages to each. Inclusion is something our campus began last year and we are definitely searching for the most effective way to implement it in our classrooms. Ultimately, I believe we are both leaning towards researching the advantages of a self-contained classroom in upper-elementary grades and the relationship between them and student success on state tests. This is a topic that has been of concern to my principal and several grade levels on our campus for the last couple of years. Teacher opinions are mixed on the issue. Since my principal is highly encouraging several grade levels, including my own, to consider this more thoughtfully for next year she feels the data may be very useful for our campus.

The Benefit of Blogs for Educational Leaders

Blogs have several benefits to offer educational leaders. I will highlight just a few here. One of the perks of using a blog is that it allows educators to communicate with and learn from other educational leaders who may be hundreds of miles away. It instantly expands their scope of influence. These blogs allow principals to share learning, both successes and missteps, of their action research. Blogs can also be a benefit between principals, teachers, and/or other stakeholders. Principals can share learning with their staff members and get their feedback in a way that is non-threatening and convenient through the use of a blog. Teachers can share collaboratively with one another on a blog as well. The benefits seem to be many when blogging is done on a consistent basis.

Action Research - What's it all about?

I have to admit that action research is a new phenomenon to me. I had never heard of it until I began this class. I have found it to be an interesting concept based on our reading and I think it will be useful to me as a classroom teacher despite the fact that I do not desire to become an administrator.

Action research is a method of inquiry by a principal or teacher. It requires reflecting on one's own practices to discover areas of weakness and targeting those areas for improvement. Once you have decided on a topic for inquiry, action research requires reading about and gathering data on possible solutions. Then, based on your findings you begin to implement solutions you have found. Throughout the entire process you must continually gauge the progress of the things you have implemented. If these are adding value, then you will continue. If they are not, then you might discard them and try another possible avenue for the expected outcome. I think one of the most important aspects of action research is reflection. You must set aside time to reflect upon the changes you've made and if they are producing the desired results. Action research emphasizes lifelong learning and inquiry.

As an educator, lifelong learning and inquiry are very important to me. I feel that it is my responsibility to continually learn and stretch myself to be a better teacher and facilitator of learning in my classroom. This is one of the great benefits I will receive from action research. I also really like the idea that I get to be the one who is fueling the research and the plan for improvement. Because I am the one in the classroom everyday I like that I do not just have to rely on some professor or outside expert who really cannot relate to my situation at my campus with my students. While there is benefit to their knowledge, sometimes it tends to be irrelevant or unrealistic to accomplish in "real life". I know that once I become more familiar with action research I will be able to use it to better my teaching practices in my own classroom and hopefully serve as a help to improve certain aspects of my campus as well.

Course Reflection #5

I learned many things about myself throughout the five weeks of this course. One of the things that I mentioned in a previous post is how I must manage my time better. I tend to spend too much time over-thinking my responses or work rather than just having confidence and going with my instincts. I also allow myself to be distracted by other things that are going on and can lose focus, which extends the time I need for a particular task. Time management is a goal that I have in mind for improving in the next course and the others that follow.

Another thing that I realized about myself during this class is how little I really knew about technology and implementing it in the classroom. I tend to pride myself on being an educator who is "in the know" and is constantly learning. I by no means considered myself a technology expert before beginning this course, but I certainly felt like I knew more than I actually did. While I had some surface knowledge of many of the Web 2.0 tools we looked at, I did not fully understand how they worked or could be used in my class. I am definitely grateful that we were required to read a technology leadership book, since it probably wouldn't have been a priority if it weren't mandatory. The book I read offered a wealth of knowledge and resources that helps me be better equipped as I enter my classroom hoping to implement some of my new learning.

One other thing that I really acknowledged about myself during this course is how little leadership experience I have. I knew this of course, but when we actually had to put it on paper in our Curriculum Vita it made me think about it more. I don't typically consider myself a leader because I tend to be quiet and would much prefer staying in the background to being in the spotlight. What I've realized though is that I don't have to change my personality; I just have to be willing to step out of my comfort zone. I want to be the best teacher I can be and I also want to help other teachers be their best. This will require some new adventures for me, but I am excited to build my leadership experience through my Internship.

Course Reflection #4

Thankfully, I was successful in carrying out the course assignments. Was there room for improvement? Always! However, I am proud of the work that I turned in. Some weeks were definitely better than others. While I did manage to achieve success on all the assignments there was one thing that I learned quickly could stand in my way if I let it. That one thing was time management! When I began the course I think I started it a little naively and I wasn't aware of the magnitude of time and effort it would require. One of my weaknesses has always been procrastination. I learned in week one that procrastination was a recipe for disaster in this class. This program requires dedication and effort that I think outmatches that of a traditional classroom delivery. I easily spent fifteen to twenty hours each week completing the readings, discussion board, and assignments. I am not complaining. I am just simply stating that one of the learning curves in this class for me was realizing the requirements involved and managing my time accordingly. For that reason, I am very grateful that I started the program during the summer. Now I know what I have to do to be successful and I am hopeful that I can figure out a time management system that works for me in the upcoming classes once I am back at work full-time.

Course Reflection #3

When I look at my progress in this class as a whole I am definitely pleased with my results. I, of course, made mistakes and blunders along the way but I am satisfied knowing how much I learned. As far as learning outcomes, I feel that one area where I am still weak is that of acquiring knowledge for providing and supporting campus technology infrastructure and digital service. We had several readings that helped to better inform me and they did to a certain extent; however, I humbly admit that when it comes to infrastructure and all of the inner workings of what fuels technology my brain tends to wander. I'm sure that is shameful for someone who is seeking a Master's in Educational Technology Leadership to admit! It's not that I don't want to understand these concepts, it's just that I have a much harder time with them. As a teacher who loves her job and being the best she can be, I am always excited by the hands-on tools I can implement in my classroom. I find the infrastructure much more difficult to process and therefore much less exciting. This is something I hope to work on becoming more proficient at in my future courses.

Course Reflection #2

The learning outcomes of this course are undoubtedly very relevant to my work. The topics that were covered in this class will be invaluable to me as an educator. I feel better prepared to start another school year and hopefully implement much more technology than I previously have. Of course, the fact that we learned about digital natives and what they require will help me in this endeavor. Also, the practical tools that we learned about and became familiar with both through our assignments and our leadership book, are ones that I can take back and use in my classroom much more confidently than before.

Another learning outcome that is hugely relevant to what I do as a teacher is learning about ethical use, intellectual property, copyright, and cyberethics. I have to admit that I myself was a little ignorant on these issues, especially when it came to copyright. It is such a complex issue, but I feel that I received a few resources that make it much easier for me to understand more fully and explain to my colleagues. I also feel much more prepared to teach my students how to be ethical users of the Internet and how to protect themselves from predators. I always saw this as one of my responsibilities as an educator, but I didn't feel well equipped to do it. I am grateful that most of the learning outcomes of this class were directly linked to my needs as an educator and a leader of technology use on my campus.