Action Research and How educators can use it

Administrative inquiry or action research is a process that administrators undertake to somehow improve a certain aspect of their profession. They can do this in a variety of ways- by researching literature, interviews, observations, or any other means that might shed more light on the area they are investigating. Another component of action research is the administrator or researcher takes action to make the necessary changes based on what they learned from their research. “Whether you are studying to be a school administrator or are a veteran administrator with years of experience but faced with new educational challenges every day, administrator inquiry becomes a powerful vehicle for learning and school improvement” (Dana 2009).

Something that I found interesting about action research is that it is something that has been happening in schools for the last several years. As teachers have moved from a more traditional teaching model of standing in front of a class and lecturing, to being a facilitator of learning, they have been teaching students how to use action research to further their own education. Teachers have also been using action research in their own professional development to improve the quality of their teaching. Now it has moved on to administrators to use action research in their world.

I might use action research in any area of the school that might need improvement. I would spend time reflecting on the problem to define the issue. I would then review the professional literature to see how other administrators deal with the issue. I would then formulate and implement an action plan for my school on how to improve this issue. Finally I would use and share the results.

Dana, N.F. (2009). Leading with Passion and Knowledge: The Principal as Action Researcher. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.