In this the final week of EDLD 5301, I offer a reflection of what I've gained over the past five weeks:
The journey through this course has been one filled with questions, yet
also packed with insight. I honestly did
not know what this course would be all about, though I must admit that the
title had me a bit intimidated. I have a
severe phobia of the old tried and true research papers from high school and
college, so seeing the word “Research” in the course name had me slightly
afraid. But now that I stand at the end,
I can say that this course is nothing like what I expected it to be.
Like many, I’m sure, I had never heard the term “action research” before
and I certainly could not have defined it.
Through the lectures and chapter one of the Dana (2009) text, I began to
understand what action research is and why it is important. From the Dana (2009) text, I saw that action
research is a process consisting of five key components: questions or
“wonderings” posed by the researcher; data collected to get information or
insight pertaining to the question or wondering; data analysis and reading of
pertinent literature; implementation of change based on new insights gained
through the research process; and dissemination of the results of the action
research with others in the professional community (pp. 2-3).
With that defined, I then understood that the purpose of this course is
to lay the foundation for the action research project that I will undertake
over the course of my internship. I had
always heard that there is a project that aspiring principals must complete as
part of their graduate program and certification. So I knew at some point I would have to face
that obstacle, though I had no idea what form it would take. This course has shown me exactly what that
project will be and how to go about completing it.
Probably the most appealing part of this course was learning the basis
for all action research undertakings: the process of inquiry or wondering. I’ve always been an inquisitive person who is
interested in how things work and why they exist. But I never realized that reflection and
inquiry are such a critical piece of educational leadership. I love the quote from Donnan Stoicovy,
Principal of Park Forest Elementary School, found in the Dana (2009) text: “It
is the nagging question (or questions) that stirs me to take action based on
data, investigations, instincts, and more questions.” (p. 9) This quote describes me perfectly. There is always some nagging question in the
back of my mind, like “Why are we doing it this way?” or “How come no one has
thought to do this differently?” It was
wonderful to know that my natural bent toward reflection and inquiry will serve
me well as I walk through the action research project.
The final piece of this course that has been such a benefit is the sense
of community that I’ve gained. It has
been a great comfort to know that I’m not the only one with questions or
concerns or difficulties during this course.
The discussion boards and blogs have helped me understand that I am not
alone in this endeavor, but have a group of people who are traveling this road
with me that I can lean on for support and guidance as I complete my project. I look forward to developing those
relationships through subsequent courses in this program and hope that I can be
as much help to others as they have been to me.
So looking forward, I know that I still have a long
road ahead of me. There is much work to
be done and not a wealth of time in which to do it. But this course has given me the tools and
insights I need to complete these tasks that will make me a better learner and
a better leader.
