The continuing journey...

Quality Indicator 1

Context of study refers to the context in which your research takes place (Dana, 2010). Does your audience get what you are doing, why, and how you are doing it?  Did you provide complete information for people involved in your study and do they understand the context? I will be able to use this indicator in improving my action research by evaluating my action research plan and providing clear information about the school, district, teachers, students, content, and curriculum. I can also evaluate my design to see if it matches the content. I can also use this to make sure my research stimulates thinking about teaching and learning as mentioned in the Dana text.

Quality Indicator 2

Wondering(s) and purpose explain the details of your research. The focus is inward, open ended, and shows a personal importance to the researcher. It makes a case for your research. It also is pertinent and includes appropriate findings from literature from the field. I will be able to use this indicator in improving my action research by making sure my wondering (s) and purpose are focused inward. I see the inward focus rather than trying to change others. My wondering is based on an area that I feel passionate about on my campus. Through my inquiry I will include ideas that are articulated, concise, precise, and free of educational jargon.

Quality Indicator 3

Principal research design (data collection and data analysis) focuses on the collection of data in different ways. Explanation is key when analyzing the data and relating it to your principal inquiry. I will be able to use this indicator in improving my action research by staying true to the data research outlined in my action research. By collecting, explaining, having flexibility, and truly learning from the different modes of data collected and implementing them across my research I feel improvements will be made. By describing procedures, changes and adjustments, and having a logical method of data collection my action research will be high quality in the area of principal research design.

Quality Indicator 4

Principal researcher learning includes backing up your findings with data, explanation, readings, and experiences. Your learning also includes reflection on what was learned in the process of inquiry (Dana, 2010). Supporting statements of learning with data is the key. I will be able to use this indicator in improving my action research by including data based findings in my presentation of principal inquiry. I will be able to present transferable information for others to use. I will inspire others through my inquiry by explaining with data, and those areas not supported by data. In my reflection I will explain how my action research evolved and was fine tuned along the way.

Quality Indicator 5

Implications for practice are based on changes that will be made because of the research and new wonderings that evolved from the research. Are the changes logical, informed and data based? I will be able to use this indicator in improving my action research by making informed statements and actions based on my principal inquiry. I will continue to be reflective and truly understand how action research is an important part of educational leadership. The changes made will be logically based on my findings.

EDLD 5301

I have learned a great deal from this course. The Dana and Harris texts, Blogging, interviews, TK20, the nine passions, and the action research plan were all highlights.

I was dreading having to set up a blog, and in the end I feel like it will not only aide in continuing reflections, but also keep my action research project current in its evolution. I enjoyed reading about the passions in the Dana text and felt like the exercises and resources they provided at the end of each of the passions will be invaluable to my career in leadership. I appreciated the professors and administrators that were interviewed emphasis on the fact that research can change through the process, and I feel like my research is evolving more and more as I delve into it.

I would like to learn more about literature review and how to draw conclusions about research similar to mine that has already been done.

I will continue reviewing literature and other action research studies. I will also read and inquire about possible a research rubric or guidelines or things to look for when reading other research studies.

Challenges

GOAL: Monitor reading progress and accelerate reading levels of students' who are not reading on grade level and provide intrinsic incentives and support for students' who are reading on and above grade level.

The purpose of the action research is to investigate student reading levels in grades 3-6 and measure the growth of reading levels from the beginning of the year to the end of the year for all students'.


Challenges:

- buy in from all stakeholders involved
- participation
- implementation

Ways to address the challenges:

- share findings & research about my action research topic
- survey teachers, have concise, precise and informative meetings as they relate to my action research
- be aware and open to changes and better ideas on the way