Reflection on Action Research

Action research was a topic that I knew very little about prior to the start of this course. I have learned that administrative inquiry is different from traditional research. Traditional research is typically done at institutions of higher learning where teaching is viewed as a linear activity that depicts teachers and principals as technicians. These studies are highly complex and are intended for academic audiences. Action research can be utilized at every level of education. The information gained from these inquiries can provide very useful data for educators to base decisions on. Data can be used by teachers to evaluate the effectiveness of their teaching methods. Inquiries done by teachers can produce "by in" that can help kick start the implementation of change. This will be an effective tool for me to use in my current role. I can use action research to gather information about services provided to our special needs students. This information can be used to more effectively provide these services as well as the potential need for future services. I also believe that if a person makes time to conduct these inquiries they can keep their finger on the pulse of the school that they lead.