Identify at least three topics for possible action research.

    I really have three action research plans that I would love to investigate.  The first being the use of cell phones in the classroom.  It would be fun to create ways and procedures as a staff that call phones could be utilized by our students.

    The second one that I am really excited about is PLC and how we can improve cross curricular teaching through their use.  PLC’s are something that really is intriguing to me.  I really think PLC’s, if set up correctly, will help with both test scores and discipline issues.

    The third thing that I would like to research on day is researching a way to evaluate current school operations to make sure they are aligned with the district policies.

Describe the conference with the site supervisor(s) regarding topics of interest for action research.

     I met with Dr. Todd Williams to discuss the topic for my action research.  I had three topics that I presented to Dr. Williams and we discussed each one and how I could conduct the research.  He suggested that I determine which one of the topics that I felt the most passionate about and would enjoy conducting the research.  I felt that school use of PLC’s would be the best choice.  Dr. Williams mentioned that he was curious about this study as well.  He thought this would be a great research study and one that would have data available.

Describe the topic or problem agreed upon for the action research project.

    I chose my 2^nd option which was to research PLC’s and how best to set them and if they will improve test scores and discipline. I believe that PLC’s would help in making sure that the students are in the best possible learning environment and I believe that this is not the case in some classes in my district.  School districts are always looking to increase student performance and I believe this study offers great insight into this topic.  I believe this study will benefit everyone involved in some way. 

Action Research

     Action research is a complete one hundred and eighty degree turn from traditional educational research. Action research is very campus specific.  It is not a shot in the arm and everything will be OK.  It is a planned approach to analyze what is going on and how to fix problems along the way.  Action research is done by someone that is very close to the problem.  Action research is conducted by those that have a personal stake in getting the problem fixed.  I think the appealing factor of action research is there is not a tremendous amount of "going to the library" and seeing what others are doing, of saying about making a change.  It takes research a step further and makes one look at what exactly is going on at your specific school and formulating ideas and plans that might actually work on your specific campus.  It is very "real situation" research.  I agree with the Dana text when it states that when a practitioner actively participates in the research process that they will be more likely to facilitate change.  The hardest thing to do in education is to institute change.  Active research forces one to be involved and if you are involved in the research process you will want to be involved in the change that the research will incur.  Action research is also a reflective process of progressive problem solving led by individuals working with others in teams or as a part of a community to improve a situation or help in solving a problem.  Reflection is the key term used in this process. It is the culminating event.

    Educational leaders can generate explanations of their educational influences in their own learning, in the learning of others and in the learning of social groups.  They can generate explanations from experiencing themselves and answer the question "How do I improve what I am doing?"  They can use reflection to develop action plans, modify concerns, evaluating ideas, and imagining possibilities of gathering data.