Action Research 101

I’ve learned that action research is a targeted, systematic, local way of examining and improving instructional and administrative practices.  It looks at problems that are specific to a campus or classroom and examines the data to determine how best to solve them.  One comforting thing I learned is that, usually, most of the data required for action research is already being collected. We just have to be sure to capture that data and then examine it in a meaningful way.

I realized through the course of the reading that I’d already participated in action research at my campus and in my district on a fairly regular basis. I just didn’t have that particular vocabulary to describe it.  In my classroom, I called it triage.  When essays were submitted, I’d keep track of where students were having the most trouble, and then I’d look for ways to improve those skills in my classroom.  Then I’d look at the next essay, paying special attention to the areas addressed, and look for the next major concern.   On our campus, we examined various standardized testing data to determine what issues might need cross curricular intervention. We implemented short answer questions in all classes in order to improve student performance on that part of the ELA test. 

As an administrator, I’ll emulate the example of my principal, and work collaboratively with staff, to identify issues, gather data, and implement improvements to instructional practices.