EDLD 5301: Research: Reflection

When I first began this class, EDLD 5301 Research, I had no idea what action research or action inquiry was. “Simply stated, administrator inquiry refers to the process of a principal engaging in systematic, intentional study of his/her own administrative practice and taking action for change based on what he/she learns as a result of the inquiry” (Dana, 2009). I have been one who has sat for long hours in a library sorting through mountains of data in order to perform research and write a research paper. I had never though of developing an action plan from a question or wondering happening within my work area. The need for inquiry is an essential component in order to establish a firm foundation for school improvement. During this class, it was our objective to learn about and develop an action inquiry to implement over the course of our program.

Understanding what action inquiry is was my first obstacle. “Inquiring professionals seek out change and reflect on their practice by posting questions or “wonderings,” collecting data to gain insights into their wonderings, analyzing the data along with reading relevant literature, making changes in practice based on new understandings developed inquiry, and sharing findings with others” (Dana, 2009). Once I understood the purpose, I had to begin thinking of action topics that would eventually develop into my wondering. Being a new teacher, I don’t have any experience to bring to the table. I was able to think of a few wonderings I would have liked to explore, but they all had to do with administration. Since I am a technology student, my question had to be technology related. I began thinking about technology and how it is used in my classroom. We are participating in a pilot program to implement Explore Learning Gizmos into our Science curriculum. Since I teach Science, I thought this would be an excellent time to see if Gizmos increased student’s motivation in Science.

I took this idea to my site supervisor who is also my principal and asked her opinion. She agreed that studying the use of technology in the classroom was too broad of a topic. When she learned about my question involving the Gizmos, she became excited. She too, wondered if the students enjoyed using the Gizmos since it is a subscription based program. With the school district having to cut the budget, stakeholders wonder if the added expense of Gizmos is worth the money. Together, we decided to make Explore Learning Gizmos the focus of my action inquiry. So, my action question was formed. “Does using Explore Learning Gizmos for 7th grade Science students increase motivation and desire to perform Science lab activities?”

Once my action question was established, the next step was to develop the action plan. With the guidance of my site mentor, I created a template of activities and a timeline in order to implement my plan. During this process, I was also blogging and posting discussions on the discussion board to express concerns and developments along the way. Fellow classmates commented on my blog and discussion posts and remained encouraging as I developed my plan. Within my action plan, I arranged for teacher and student training of the Gizmos. I will also continue training and hold monthly teacher meetings in case any problems or questions arise. Data collection is important in order to support the findings. “Using multiple sources of data can enhance your inquiry as you gain different perspectives from different strategies” (Dana, 2009) In order to use multiple collection strategies, I plan to use a pre and post survey at the beginning and end of school, reflective journaling, random interviews, collect student work samples, and perform literature reviews. With my tentative action plan complete, I posted it to my blog and awaited comments from my classmates. The comments I received were very supportive in that the plan looks very efficient and the action research sounds very exciting. With this information in hand, I once again met with my site supervisor to reach a final consensus on my plan. With both of us agreeing on my question and plan, I posted my final SIP plan to my blog.

I have to admit, I am nervous about being able to complete this action plan. I know that I can become a better teacher if I continually reflect on how I am teaching in order to better benefit the students. “A major benefit inherent in the process is the improvement of teaching when focusing on improving student achievement” (Ringler, 2007). Between still being a new teacher, attending classes for my master’s degree, and being a wife and mother, I have a lot of demands upon me. I also have two other projects from my previous class, Principal Competencies and the Internship Plan; I will be responsible for completing within the next year. I will really have to use good time management and remember to blog weekly on the progress of my action plan. I want to be the best teacher I can possibly be to help better my students, and action inquiry can make that happen. “When we improve schools, we improve the lives of our students, and thus, we improve the future for all of us” (Harris, Edmonson, & Combs, 2010).


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

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.

Ringler, M. (2007). Action research and effective instructional leadership skill for future public school leaders. AASA Journal of Scholarship and Practice, 4(1), 27-42.

SIP Action Plan

EDLD 5301: Week 4: Questions and Revisions

During this week, I met with my site supervisor to once again discuss my action research plan. She still thinks I’m crazy. I am starting my second year of teaching and I have taken on a master’s degree program. Occasionally she looks at me and laughs. We have to keep our humor in this or else I’m liable to have a nervous breakdown. I am really nervous about how I am going to accomplish everything I have on my plate within the next year. Already I have an Internship Plan, activities in Principal Competencies, and now I am adding an action research plan. I wish we could start and finish everything within a class in the five weeks rather than having something to finish once the class has ended. How am I going to remember to blog weekly on my action plan and respond to other people’s blogs? I am sure I’m going to have so much going on with being a wife and mother, teaching 6th and 7th grade Science, performing the action plan, internship plan, and principal competencies, continuing with the classes in the program, and anything else that might come along. Oh my goodness…just thinking about it scares me and makes me nervous. I am definitely going to have to create a schedule of some sort or learn how to use the calendar and alert features on my phone. :)

As I met with my site supervisor, she once again commented on how wonderful and thought out my plan was. Since I don’t have a lot of experience in education, I was worried and still am that I really don’t know what I’m doing. To receive her respect and praise on a job well done makes me feel wonderful. As she looked over my plan she commented that it seem to be well developed. She liked the fact that I was willing to continue any type of training or help the teachers after the initial training. We all know how it feels to learn something new and then we told to go and use the new information and never receive another ounce of support. Talk about feeling like one if thrown to the dogs. The one suggestion she did make was to have sporadic meetings to check with the teachers to make sure there are no lingering questions or problems that need to be handled. So, with this in mind, I revised my action plan and added monthly meetings with teachers. Other than the one suggestion, we both agreed that the plan was on the right track.

On a personal note, I am really scared and nervous about being able to do everything that will be required personally and professionally. I believe I am very good with time management, but there is only a certain number of hours in the day. I know I will do my best, but how to keep my sanity and not drive my husband and daughter crazy will be the question. :)

EDLD 5301: Week 3 Reflection: Decision Time

As you can see, I finally narrowed down my action topics and actually came up with an action research question. How does using Explore Learning Gizmos for 7th grade Science students increase motivation and desire to perform Science lab activities? At least I think this is what my question will be. I have sat and thought for countless hours trying to decide on my question. It had to be technology based since I am a technology student even though I came up with several ideas from an administration viewpoint. Oh well. Maybe within time I can do some of the other ones I thought of. During this week, it was time to develop our draft action plan. I can honestly say, "What?" We are given a template and told, "Go forth. Fill in blanks." At least that's how I felt. We were given examples in our reading, but those seemed to be in final report format and not in a draft template. So again, I say, "What?" I sat and thought about the different steps I would take to develop my research and gather data. Basically, I drafted those steps into the template. So I don't know if I did mine right or wrong, but I guess I will find out when I get my grade. Hopefully, I will at least be close. Enjoy and "Always Forward" preferably with a smile on your face and a song in your heart.

EDLD 5301: Action Research: Reflection for Week 2

The process of action research is beginning to make a little more sense to me. As I talk to classmates, my site mentor, and friends I am receiving examples of action research topics and how they have been used. I have not only received topics that have been put into effect in education, but also in business settings and homes. Until recently, I never knew that discussing the financial situation of a family could be turned into action inquiry. This family decided to make a major shift in how they were saving for retirement. They established their wondering, reviewed financial literature to arm themselves with knowledge, and have decided to change the direction of their retirement funds. When I began talking to them, they already had six months into this project. They reminded me that a stable financial future was nothing to joke about. These examples are what helped me understand that action research can be used in any manner in which there is a question or wondering that needs to be answered. In reflecting on wonderings that affect my school, I seem to come up with several ideas from an administration viewpoint, but I have to keep reminding myself that since I am a technology student, my plan must be technology based. Since I do not have a lot of experience as an educator or with using technology, this is where I have trouble. Hopefully if I continue to talk to people, something somewhere will eventually turn on a light bulb in my head.

EDLD 5301: How educational leaders might use blogs

Different people from professionals to housewives are increasingly using Blogs for various reasons. From an educational leadership standpoint, blogs provide a communication space for teachers, administrators, students, and stakeholders to post information, questions, and comments concerning the school and classroom.

EDLD 5301: Action Research

I have to be honest; before I began reading the text I had no idea what action research was much less how it could be used. After beginning to read Leading With Passion and Knowledge by Nancy Fichtman Dana, I began to embark on a comprehension of action research and its purpose. Everyone, no matter what business in which they work, should constantly strive to do the best job possible for all involved. Action research can facilitate in professional development in order to continue or modify a course of action. “Inquiring professionals seek out change and reflect on their practice by posing questions or “wonderings,” collecting data to gain insights into their wonderings, analyzing the data along with reading relevant literature, making changes in practice based on new understandings developed during inquiry, and sharing findings with others” (Dana, 2009). There are typically three types of research currently used in education. The major difference when comparing action research to the other two methods is the person(s) presenting the questions are the ones following through with the research rather than the research being conducted by an outsider.  This allows those working within the day-to-day functions of the profession to be best equipped to make certain the best job is being performed.

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