Learning more about action research

This week's assignment, lectures, and readings have given me a better understanding of action research.  I'm struck by the need to take the time to make sure that adequate reflection is done before starting an action research project.  As one of the video contributors, Dr. Kirk Lewis, said, it's too easy to just put together a "dazzling" project with data that looks good on paper but isn't practical or even "do-able."  As I refine my project and put reasonable limits and expectation to it, I'll be taking care to keep one thing in mind: "what's in this for students?  How will it help them to achieve their educational goals?"

How can educational leaders use blogs?

One way a leader can use a blog is to solicit comments and insight outside of meetings and "regular business hours."  Time for meetings is always limited within an educational setting.  By offering a blog option, a leader can allow members of a team to contribute when they have time, whether on campus or off.  Since the blogger and followers making comments will be identified (and non-participants will be easy to determine), this can provide motivation for making contributions.  Requiring comments does not have to be oppressive (comments are required, for instance, within the online classroom!).  To make the blog a valuable tool, a few "rules" should be posted and observed by the leader and/or followers:

1. Ground rules: don't attack (be polite and constructive in making comments).
2. Don't avoid conflict; vetting opposing views and ideas could be helpful.  Let the team know it is OK to oppose the idea, but not the person posting the idea!
3. Cite articles, documentaries, and other resources, and link them to the blog.  Encourage comment on the material.  This would be a great way to "embed" professional development into the school calendar.
3. Mention what was learned during the blogging process, both the comments that were affirming, and those that were challenging.  In other words, acknowledge the team who was asked to follow and comment..
4. Keep a time limit on a topic/concept in the blog.  Move on to new topics fairly frequently, to keep the conversation fresh.

Getting Acquainted with Action Research

As an experienced college administrator, I've seen many approaches to research and planning over the years.  What appeals to me about the action research concept is the word "action."  Many college administrators look at "problems," and come up with "solutions" without engaging those who work daily in the process they are studying.  The "solutions" can thus have merit on paper, but little practicality for application.  By learning this form of research process in my graduate studies, I hope to be able to bring back some new research strategies to my campus, which may result in a higher rate of actual improvement at the conclusion of the process.  This could attract others to use these type of collaborative, carefully considered strategies.  In particular, I like the idea of wonderings.  Too often, I see research and planning that start only with a problem and then "back up" to determine causes (often with insufficient study) and lots of attention to trying a number of solutions to "please everyone."  Instead, by using some of the tenets of action research, I can see where we can follow a blueprint to get more consistent results by defining the issue to be addressed, reviewing available literature (published research others have done on similar issues), taking action, and using and sharing our results.  Use of these steps, provided in the article Action Research: An Effective Instructional Leadership Skill for Future Public School Leaders, (AASA Journal, Spring 2007) could start to build more of a foundation for research for decision making, especially with regard to the student-affairs processes at my college.