Reflections Week 5

In the last week of 5301 we looked back over everything we learned in this class.

I liked the five quality indicators discussed in the text:
Leading With Passion and Knowledge: The Principal as Action Researcher
By: Nancy Fichtman Dana

They include:

1. Context of Study

This quality indicator will help me as the ”Primary Researcher” to remember to fully describe where my research came from, and include all information so that those who look into my research can fully understand where I was coming from, why I looked into it, and how it effects or will affect the school, district, teachers, students, content, and curriculum.

2. Wonderings and Purpose

This quality indicator helps the researcher to really prove the reasoning behind their project.  Here I have to ask myself if my question is one that has a solution and can create a change.  As for my current project, I know that it is one that my principal wants/needs the findings so that we can help and show improvement with the PLC process on campus.  I know that there is room to change things, but I need to research what is currently happening within departments so that I know how to help, or if help is possible at all.  This again is a step to show others where and why I came up with this project, and prove that the efforts will benefit our campus in some way.

3. Principal Research Design (Data Collection and Data Analysis)

Here the researcher gathers data from a variety of sources.  It is imperative that the researcher use different forms of research such as test scores, surveys, field notes, student work interviews, journal entries, and so forth. 

I have already planned for several of these within my matrix, and here assures that I do this to prove that I am using a variety of data to come to a well-rounded conclusion that assists with my final decisions.

4. Principal – Researcher Learning

Here researchers articulate clear, thoughtful statements about what they learned through their process.  Here you explain how your data and research did or did not support your claims.  Principal researchers also include personal reflections about their learning through this process.  This helps hold the researcher accountable for all claims, and all findings. 

This will help me to make sure that I explain all areas of my research so that it can be considered accurate.

5. Implications for Practice

Here the researcher gives detailed examples of change that they have made or will consider making based on what they have learned through their research. These changes would go hand-in-hand with the research findings that they have made.  Here researchers can also discuss new wonderings that may have arisen from the research conducted. 

This step proves that research is never done.  I am sure that as research begins new questions will arise to begin a new branch of action research.  I will need to remember to make sure to finish one project before beginning a new one!