Assignment Week One-What is Action Research and how can it be used?

Action Research is a process of growth and discovery. It allows for progress and development through the use of data and other resources. This type of research when lead by a school administrator can help a school to develop and reach continued improvement while creating an avenue of professional growth by the principal initiating the inquiry.
This type of administrator inquiry helps the action researcher to first identify a problem or situation that needs to be improved, then figuring out strategies to help repair the situation, then assessing to see what is working and what needs to be changed or altered. These steps are spiral and ongoing.
Examples of Action Research can include many different avenues. These can focus on situations that are geared more toward administration but may also lean to the whole school or all shareholders. At many campuses Professional Learning Communities have been adopted. These groups help keep professionals in communication and networking together to keep learning constant. When staff are able to work together in this type of community inquiry can be made in an ongoing manner. These members can progressively study how to make learning more effective and how teaching can be improved. The possibilities to implimenting the benefits to Action Research are not limited to certain stakeholders.
Overall, Action Rearch is a useful strategy that helps encourage better methods. It helps to improve instructional leadership and promote inquiry. Action Reasearch can be used to help any administrator become better and more self reflective, thereby improving school performance, culture, and climate.