Research in Action-Action Research!

In reviewing this weeks literature for my graduate class at Lamar University, I intially struggled. As I am sure stood out with many others, I was, and to a lesser extent now am worried about the dredded RESEARCH! In my head I began to image dissertation style research including weeks of useless information from sources that could not really answer a thesis question that would help my classroom. I am glad to say that my perception of research, action research, has changed.

Action research can be defined as "the practitioner inquiry movement [which] focuses on the concerns of practitioners (not outside researchers) and engages practitioners in the design, data collection, and interpretation of data around their question. (Dana, 2009) Using this definition, as an educator I would research using my "wonderings" as a starting point for my inquiry. (Dana, 2009) I like that the intention of action research is to answer those questions that affect my classroom or my school. I also have a great appreciation for the professional learning and professional learning communities that action research helps to encourage and even create.

While as I stated, the thought of research, even action research, still puts that taste of fear in my mouth, I am finding questions that could be answered by action research. Of course since the focus of my graduate course is to look at action research from a school perspective, I will be utilizing action research to help seek a better atmosphere for technology based professional development in my school. I would like to also look at a more classroom centered action research project. My focus would be the use of cell phones in my classroom to help create a stronger communication environment. Some questions I would like answered might be, do students share a common text language? Does this language transfer into their verbal communication? How can I utilize students and their cell phone use to teach modern communication applications? I would also like to further extend action research on other areas of technology in my school, and potentially classroom managment practices.

Dana, Nancy Fichtman. (2009). Leading with Passion and Knowldge: The Principal as Action Researcher. Corwin.