Reflections from EDLD5301

There are so many areas of interest in this course on action research. This course has impacted my thinking and the way I process data and new information. I had a preconceived, negative notion about this class prior to getting started. When Dr. Abshire mentioned, at the beginning of the course, that this was one that most students really enjoyed, I thought, yea, sure they do. But, I will admit that I was wrong and I have thoroughly enjoyed it. I never considered myself a researcher until now. I not only see this in myself, but I realize it is true for all learners. I think this idea will be empowering for me as I grasp the possibilities that lie ahead with action research. I believe I have gained insight into the research process as a whole and expect the daily data that I collect and examine, on various topics, to inform my decisions in light of the context and reliability of the data.

One of the first steps in learning about action research was watching videos of current administrators who have used action research in both their doctoral studies, as well as in their roles as administrators on their respective campuses or in their school districts. Dr. Timothy Chargois of Beaumont Independent School District, pointed out that we can use today’s data to impact tomorrow’s instruction. As I work on my action research, I feel that is exactly what I will be doing. Action research, according to Dana, is intended to bring about change of some kind (Dana, 2009). There will be a change in how new teacher support is done on our campus. I feel that what I am accomplishing now will help our campus and possibly our district retain new teachers in the future.

I cannot tell how enlightened I have been through the feedback and interactive support from the discussion board. The feedback I have received from my peers has been valuable. Some have pointed out areas that I had not considered, while others just encouraged me to go ahead because they thought it was a great project. By having conversations through the discussion board, I have also gained knowledge about the other action research projects that are being worked on. This opened my eyes to the fact that we are all facing many of the same challenges and can benefit greatly from the collaborative process. I am looking forward to following many of these projects to their completion.