When
the course started I read how Dana describes research as exercising, since it
helps attain professional health. She mentioned that a true researcher is born
when she reflects, goes through inquiry in a daily basis, and when takes her
time to analyze previous experiences to shape any future actions. This way of
describing a good researcher made me realize the importance of making it part
of your life. In doing so, you not only grow professionally and personally, but
you also help make changes in your school community. As an educator, as a
leader, and as a human being I aim to impact my students, my school, and my
co-workers. I want to motivate them all want to improve.
A
good way to motivate others is by sharing your own inquiries. There are many ways of involving others in
your own wonderings, but to get them to participate and support your vision
they must make it their own vision too. It is important to provide
opportunities for understanding the need for inquiry. A trusting environment
must be created, time to explain and reason should be allotted, and this way a
strong foundation will be established. I
believe Harris really helps see the importance of setting a foundation to start
a collaborative action research.
Blogging
is an interactive way of sharing and it provided opportunities for feedback,
and that triggers insight into our own practices. Nancy Fichtman Dana in her
book Leading with Passion and Knowledge stated
that a great way to collect data is by having interactive journals/blogs for
the above reason. It is an amazing tool that also lets go revisit old thought
and comments made to develop new thoughts. As I learned about this, it made me
realize the important and the positive impact of other people’s perspectives
outside my school campus may have. By blogging and visiting the discussion
board I have grown to understand the vital importance this tool has on my
professional development, but most of all on the accurate implementation of my
own inquiry.
Harris,
on the other hand, encourages deeper understanding of data. This has helped be
more aware of data as a resource that provides the stepping stone for
everything else in action research. Personally, it made me analyze data more
accurately to support my school’s 4th grade students learning. I was
now able to use data to develop an appropriate approach to possibly improve
outcomes in the Writing and Reading state assessments (STAAR). It will also
prove to be a great assessment tool when it’s time to analyze data on surveys,
interview, attendance logs, and office referrals in my action research. The way
Harris explains this step makes it very simple to follow and to apply to my own
inquiries.
Bibliography
Fichman,
Nancy Dana (2009). Leading with passion and knowledge: The principal as action
Researcher. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
Harris,
S., Edmonson, S., and Combs, J. (2010). Examining what we do to improve our
schools: 8 steps to improve our schools. Eye on Education Press.
The correlation of inquiry to exercising made phenominal sense. I agree that it has to become a part of your daily experience in order to grow personally and professionally. And as the administrator, one must do so to lead the rest of the campus in learning : The Head Learner!
ReplyDeleteI, too, have found blogging to be an amazing tool to share ideas with others and to give and receive constructive feedback. The opportunity to connect with others seeking similar goals in their careers has been enlightening and refreshing.