Which action research topic fits?

     In completing my action research, I proposed the following three questions for consideration to my site supervisor:

1. How does the process of instructional coaching versus intervention pullout, impact student learning?
2. How can I use professional learning communities (PLCs) as a tool for our teachers to develop the reading program at our school?
3. What actions can our faculty take to improve the reading of our lowest quartile students?

     After discussing my possible topics with my site supervisor, she agreed that each of these would provide valuable information that would support student success.  The topic of coaching versus pullout is not only a controversial topic in our district, but also on our campus.  The traditional role of intervention teacher, pulling children in small groups, has been challenged this year by a new superintendent who feels that there is more benefit to coaching teachers to work with their tier II students and developing teacher’s ability to intervene in their own classrooms.  While the concept seems good, the application of coaching teachers on our campus has been met with quite a bit of push back.  To conduct this action research, am I going to have enough support and buy in from teachers to make the research data valid?  The idea of PLCs in our district is also new this year.  Administrators and teachers do not yet know how these times will be structured and how much input individual campuses will have towards the content of these meetings, however, it is very likely that reading strategies across the school could be affected by the collaboration and dialogue from these meetings.  The third option felt broader and more encompassing, although that may be wrong for an action research plan unless divided into sub questions.  The use of PLCs, as well as coaching could both easily play into this topic.  I could specify the grade level to study, making the topic narrower and data to collect more finite.  Ultimately, my site supervisor and I agreed that the third topic would be most suitable for our school given the circumstances and that narrowing down the parameters of the topic with sub-questions could help make the action research more beneficial towards the development of reading on our campus.

How Educational Leaders can use Blogs

     Blogs can be used by educational leaders in a variety of ways.  In addition to providing a platform for educators to post commentary about research they are doing, blogs are a powerful tool for documenting the process of inquiry as it unfolds.  Unlike plain websites, blogs allow people to post pictures, links to other blogs and have correspondence with readers.  Currently, you can visit principal blogs that cover some of the following topics:

• dealing with change
• schools going green
• responding to cultural diversity
• technology
• 21st Century teaching
• efficiency and productivity

     The ability to post thoughts, ask questions, and have a group of people to share ideas with, makes blogging an important tool for educational leaders.

Lessons Learned about Action Research

     Action research, or administrative inquiry is the process of a principal intentionally studying their own practices and behaviors in an effort to use the results to promote change.  This process is systematic, reflective, usually collaborative and engages people in the design, data collection, and interpretation of data surrounding a question.

     This type of research encourages stakeholder participation in the inquiry process to develop questions, investigate solutions, and then facilitate change based on their experiences and knowledge gained.  It is interactive, empowers participants to facilitate change, and it is designed around the needs of the specific school and students, not just theory.  The benefits of action research include more professional collaboration, effective modeling of desired behaviors, and an increase of best practices being utilized.
  
     As an instructional specialist, my uses for action research would include determining the effectiveness of an intervention program, or the effect of specific student services provided to at risk students.  I might also use action research to determine the effectiveness of professional development that I provide to teachers that would help determine future courses.  Action research provides an avenue to reflect on current practices, develop questions for further understanding that will provide valuable feedback, and conduct research that will help with decision making.