Final Reflections

This course has provided me with many tools and insights, to be a better action research inquirer and an educational leader. Before taking this class I truly had no understanding of action research or that it was even something that could be implemented in schools. The lectures, reading, searches, assignments, discussion board, and blogs all facilitated my understanding and development of my action research plan.  The lectures and readings provided me with a better understanding of action research. The Dana and Harris textbooks explained the steps of an action research plan and gave me tools to develop my own plan. The Harris textbook really served as a guide for beginners to action research. I will continue to use these tools like the CARE Model throughout my action research project as I continue to make revisions to it, and in the future to develop new projects. The CARE model is a great tool for analyzing any concerns about the project. This was probably the most useful tool I learned in the reading, because it can be hard for stakeholders to express their thoughts and concerns in an unthreatening manner. The Dana text also provided me with tools to develop my action research plan, which I will utilize during my implementation and review of my data. The assignments and activities were very beneficial in developing my action research project. They were structured to build on each other, until my plan was complete. Designed and developing my own action research project is something I will need experience in if I am to be a good leader who looks out for my campus and students. This project allows me freedom to research something I am interested in and will benefit from, which I don’t think I would obtain if I was merely given a topic to research. The discussion boards served as a sounding board for my thoughts and ideas along with my blog. I was very excited any time someone gave me feedback, because it really helped me evaluate my work from different perspectives. I do wish more people could be more critical, because I think that would be more beneficial to each student. While viewing other students’ discussion responses and blog postings gave me a sense of how I was doing compared to them. Some of the students’ plans were not focused or specific enough, while others were spot on and gave me more ideas to revise my own action research plan. The blogs also served as a community of support and help during this class. Having that support system during this class and through my action research plan will be greatly needed, because no other class will revisit or allow us time to work on our research until it is due. My blog followers were very willing to help me when I had issues understanding something and in return I was also able to help them with their plans.