Reflections Of The Scholars

Dr. Chargois: I hope I can keep up with the action research projects that Dr. Chargois is conducting in his district. Both of them are very interesting and beneficial topics to any teacher and administrator. I inherited several pieces of advice from his video. Some of the advice was action research oriented and some was just good advice for any teacher but advice in which we all need to be continually reminded. He reminded us that we should never stop learning. Teachers of today have to be action research oriented. He said “If you are green, you are growing. If you are brown, you are dying.” I think I will ask the teachers in my department at our first meeting this summer if they are green or brown. It will be interesting to see how they answer. Today’s teachers have to produce results. They have to increase performance. It is all about accountability. We can all still feel good about touching a child but the question at the end of the school year is did that student improve?

Dr. Lewis: I learned from Dr. Lewis that I don’t have to reinvent the wheel. There is most likely research that already exists that applies to my action research project. I need to make sure that it comes from districts that are similar to mine. What he said about research needing to be practical makes so much sense. That is some of the same advice that Dr. Jenkins had already given us. It caused me to change my topic from week one to week two so that it applies more directly to me.

Proposed Action Research

After listening to this week’s videos, I changed my original topic from last week. I took Dr. Jenkin’s advice that our research should be reasonable, something that we could accomplish, possibly something related to our jobs and in which we have a passion. Since my topic last week would require me to change a basic procedure of the Texas Education Agency, I thought I better go for something a little closer to home.
The purpose of my action research is to investigate teaching strategies used in secondary schools to close the math achievement gap between minority (specifically African American and low socio economic) and white students. I have seen many studies that talk about the fact that the gap exists and I agree that it exists in my school. I’m looking for specific educational methods that may have been used in other schools to help close that gap.
The significance of my action research is primarily for the advancement of the students. After learning new teaching strategies, the students will benefit with higher math grades, greater confidence in their math skills, and therefore being able to enroll in higher level math classes. Higher level math classes could lead to more career opportunities than they may have otherwise had. The school and teachers will benefit from higher standardized test scores and possibly a higher school rating.

How Education Leaders Might Use Blogs….

There are many ways that educational leaders might use blogs. They can use them for their own personal journaling use. Blogs are a great way to put thoughts and reflections in writing and have the entries arranged in reverse chronological order. Educational leaders can use blogs as an “online diary” where they can post news about any research in which they are currently engaged. (Dana, 2009) They can choose to share their blogging with other members of the school to receive ideas and feedback.

Dana, N.F. (2009). Leading with passion and knowledge: the principal as action researcher. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

What I Have Learned About Administrator Inquiry….

Administrator inquiry is the process of a principal engaging in a collection of information from a systematic study of an issue on their campus. It may be an issue in need of improvement that requires action for change based on the results of the study. (Dana, 2009) The principal uses a mixture of data sources in order to provide a more accurate picture of the issue in question and, therefore, leads to a better decision and successful solution. (Harris, Edmonson, & Combs, 2010) Traditional research is relying on someone else’s information, someone that may or may not have experience as a principal, an “outsider”. Administrator inquiry focuses on the concerns of the principal and engages the principal in the design, data collection, and interpretation of any needed solutions. Administrator inquiry has the goal of the principal examining a practice and better understanding it in an effort to improve it. The principal takes ownership in the new knowledge and is able to play a critical role in their own professional growth. (Dana, 2009)

Dana, N.F. (2009). Leading with passion and knowledge: the principal as action researcher. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
Harris, S., Edmonson, S., & Combs, J. (2010). Examining what we do to improve our schools: 8 steps from analysis to action. Larchmont, NY: Eye On Education.

How I Might Be Able To Use It….

I see myself primarily using administrator inquiry as a reflection tool. I spend a lot of time, especially in the summer, reflecting the previous school year and how to use those reflections to improve the new school year. Sometimes I get back to school and try new things by strictly trial and error. I feel as I learn more about administrator inquiry and experience the process through our new course that I will have found a tool to more substantiate my reflections rather than trying new ideas with no previous indication as to how they may turn out.