What I have learned about action research?

Action research is a way that changes can be made in a school.  When I first thought about doing research I thought that we would be doing a traditional research project that was required in high school and later on as I pursued by Bachelor’s degree.   That might have suited schools in the past, but action research is different from those methods.  Those methods do not act fast enough in the world of today.  An action research project allows a problem or issue to be worked out in the place where the problem must be addressed.  The problem is solved in the school itself.  No longer will research be completed outside the school and wait for the information to find its way to the school.  This process allows the principal to dictate his or her professional growth and does not have to wait for some superior to dictate what they will do.   (Dana, 2009)  What a feeling of empowerment that action research gives the principal.  There are many times when you sit down for professional growth and wonder how will this really impact me or my school?  Now you will decide what is best for you and your school.  The benefits are a principal can work together with other principals who can share your same problems, principals can show their staff that they are willing to do the same type of activities that you ask your teachers, and help your staff “toolbox” of teacher strategies can grow.  (Dana, 2009)  All of these are positives when it comes to action research.  There are four ways action research can be completed.  They can be completed through university coursework, superintendent/district meetings, leadership teams, and professional learning communities.  (Dana, 2009)  All four ways complete the same task and that is identifying a problem in a school and the school itself coming up with a solution to the problem.  As a principal I see me being able to use these methods to grow my school.  I would really enjoy the sense of controlling the destiny of the school.  There are not many things in this world that we truly can control.  As a principal being able to self-diagnose problems and then discover ways to fix the problems places a great ability to change schools for the better.  Counting on your fellow leaders either administrators or teacher leaders would be another way I would use action research.  I feel that if you have quality staff any problem faced by your school can be solved internally.  Showing that you have faith in your staff lets them grow as leaders and it allows you to sharpen your leadership skills.