Action research is undoubtedly a powerful tool available to all educators. Unlike so many of the professional development activities in which teachers routinely participate, action research done properly can reap tremendous rewards for our students.
The reason that action research is so powerful is that it is focused entirely on the needs of each particular campus, classroom, even student. Whereas typical research projects require one to gather information from outside sources and then search for ways to apply it to their particular situation, action research takes a completely different approach. The process begins with the teacher surveying their environment, analyzing data, and determining what the most pressing needs are. Then, the teacher goes about looking for additional information which will help him/her concoct a plan of attack to remedy the problem. After working toward a solution for the problem, the process repeats itself with the teacher again analyzing their own teaching environment to determine where improvements may be made. Moreover, after the cycle is completed, information is shared with one's colleagues so that they too may benefit from the research that has been completed.
There are clearly many uses for this type of research in schools today. While the process may be used by just about any person involved in the education of students, it is perhaps most powerful when utilized by the classroom teacher. The teacher can use recent student data to discover their deficiencies, then follow through on the action research plan to improve student achievement. In so doing, the teacher will also improve their teaching thereby positively affecting not only the current class, but many students to come as well.
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