EDLD5301-Reflection

Lectures-The lectures were very beneficial to me in this course and like all the other courses because that laid my foundation for the week. The lectures gave me a synopsis of how I needed to be thinking and what I needed to be thinking and gathering ideas from my reading to prepare for my assignment. The highlights of the lectures taught the importance of an action research towards professional development. Dr. Arterbury’s described how he used action research in his face to face classes and the benefits. Dr. Arterbury recommends, the Leading with passion and knowledge text for our class to understand what inquiry consisted of how it benefits the education field. The discussion emphasizes reading our text, doing some research on topic to choose 3 topics and discuss with our site supervisor. After selection the topics we are informed to focus on purpose and significance of our topic. We were introduced to the 4 elements that make an effective purpose for a research project. We were even given the opportunities to hear from 3 school leader discuss their interest in action research. Finally by week 4, I can honestly say that although I’m not a expert in action research, I have gained an in-depth and valuable knowledge and skills in conduction studies for a research plan. At this point, I will be fine tuning my project plan using feedback from my trusted colleagues. Challenges might arise and it is beneficial to foresee by sharing with others who can provide feedback on challenges I may not have considered. So it’s important to think about the project from beginning to end.
Readings- The reading helped me study two texts by Dana and Harris that allowed me to reference as resources throughout the program. I was able to incorporate the knowledge and skills needed to be an action research practitioner. The highlights from my reading that impacted me were the “eight steps that inform the school improvement process and boost student achievement”. (Harris, p. 100) First, Dana’s book taught me research and strategies that I will be able to use as a way of life. The 8 step from Harris book equipped me the framework to examine and evaluate school improvement. The readings and its examples helped be begin to identify my topic to research. The tools involved in this book also helped identify common targets of school-based action research. Some of the key goals in my readings were to demonstrate how to build an effective blueprint, how to conduct effective research and collaborate with faculty and peers.
Searches- The search on the internet helped me look at blueprint and research done by others. The searches reiterated everything I had learned in my readings, lectures, and assignments to restate how I could build effective research that would be impact my school.
Assignments/Activities- My assignments probably had the biggest impact on me because I learned by doing. Week 1 examined the variety of definitions associated with action research. We also reviewed action research in an education setting and how it would be beneficial to perform. Week 2 brought us real world experiences when we watched videos of interviews of three school leaders discussing action research projects and suggestions for conduction action research. This week we also reviewed Dana’s text, pp.29-68 to focus on nine areas of major wondering in the school environment. Week 3 assignment lead us to developing a more detailed plan introducing us framework for conducting research as well as introducing strategies that will empower us to conduct our inquiry. We used Dana’s text pp. 65-66 to identify nine common topics for research. We also used other various examples for action research questions and statements from the resource section of our class. From the Harris text pg. 85 we used the Tool 7.1 Action Planning Template and the SIP or PIP (School or Professional Improvement Project) Plan from our resource section of the course to develop our plan for action research. Week 4 assisted us in reviewing our draft for an action plan, confer with our supervisor and reach a consensus on the topic I chose. I realized this week that developing consensus just by addressing challenges can create more changes for the plan. To provide an effective blueprint and conduct effective research require collaboration from all those who will be effected. Again, some of the review strategies that guided me through my plan to review, revise and improve were Harris’s text, pp. 91-103 and pp. 94-97. These strategies introduced me to Force Field Analysis, Delphi Method and Nominal Group technique. Another tool from Harris text p. 99 was an excellent model for helping leaders provide a strong rational and framework of what works and doesn’t work while supporting future improvement. Finally week 5 we assessed the quality of inquiry in our action research. “What are some quality indicators for Practitioner Research, “pp. 179-186 showed up how to identify indicators that help assess our action plan.
Discussion Board-The discussion board has always been part of our assignments and a good element to ask question, comments and just enlighten us with colleague’s experiences. Week 1 discussion purpose was to share a problem or curiosity of interest to us that would be beneficial for an action plan research. Week 2 took the discussion a step further by asking us to discuss the purpose and significance of our propose action plan. Week 3 asked us to share the context of our study, the target population, how we selected our sample and a brief rationale of sample size. In posting my discussion I had several reservation of my plan. In meeting with my site supervisor, I was engrossed in an idea for a plan that was already in motion. The plan was a great plan but would take several initiatives in my part that I didn’t feel equipped with the knowledge to carry out. I posted my dilemma and the responses from my classmate were mutual with my feelings. They recommended making my project on research of a smaller scale but link to the big picture to assist in a smaller part of that big research. This really helped with my stress level, actually finding a way around something I was overwhelmed with. In the Week 4 we shared specific challenges that we foresaw in implementing our action research study and how we plan to address them. These discussions were very helpful in taking notice what other ideas we could change to resolve any conflicting issue. In Week 5 I felt the biggest impact or insight this action research class gave me several things like just understanding the nature and purpose of action research, but also the great benefits. Most importantly I think that this class has taught me that there are so many areas identified by school leaders needing research. Although many small areas of research can be complete many of the big issue take a group effort and consensus amongst key stakeholders is needed. With all the goings-on in a district it’s very hard to find time to research even the little things but time must be allotted.
Blogs- Blogging with our colleagues began with week 1, with focused on sharing information and ideas of the action research project. The idea of a reflective practice like blogging engaged us in sharing what we learned throughout our course. Having others evaluate and weigh in their ideas about our plans actually helped look at difference perspective that hadn’t been looked at. Week 2 asked us to discuss the purpose of our study in the blog. We discussed at least three topics of interest and how we went about introducing our assignment to our site supervisor. Week 3 asked us to submit an action plan draft of the PIP/SIP template and share with our colleagues. This was for receiving feedback on insights from others. Week 4 and 5 consisted of an agreed upon topic for action research and any progress and implementation of the plan.


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. (2009). Examining what do to improve our schools: 9 steps from analysis to action. Larchmont, N.Y.: Eye on Education.