EDLD 5301 Course Reflection

In course 5301, I learned a great deal about how leaders solve problems and implement change. School leaders are looked at to be the experts in their school; therefore, it is critical they make quality decisions that enhance the entire district. Making quality decisions and developing expertise is a process that takes time to mature but never stops. Inquiry and reflection are measures that leaders can take to continually hone their skills and learn from experiences so they can adapt to change and grow as things evolve.

What is action research or administrative inquiry? It is an in-depth process of examining one’s own actions to identify and solve problems through inquiry. It is the main tool that is used with principals which allows them to “untangle the complexity of their work as administrators and bring the focus of their work back into their leadership in teaching and learning” (Dana, 2009). Traditionally, research was solely based on the findings of “outside” experts whereby practitioners lecture to students based on the external data and research of others, also known as “process-product research” (Dana, 2009). The traditional “process-product” research has evolved over time whereby data is pulled from systematic and qualitative studies that address current issues in the classroom and across the community but still by outside experts. Both of these paradigms have procured respected acumens in the educational world but still lack one important perspective; the perspective of the actual teachers and administrators. Action research is the most effective research strategy that encompasses the administrators and teachers as the data producers, instead of outside researchers. The concept is rooted in the fact that if the practitioners are doing the data analysis and inquiry, they are more prone to actively engage in improvements and changes based on this data.

After learning the grave importance of action research and inquiry, researching some impending issues that exist with regards to E-Rate, and through discussions with my site mentor, I drafted my action research plan. My action research question is this:

In what ways can ESC Region 12 develop methods for E-Rate applicants, namely school districts, to increase student and family participation in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) applications? Participation in NSLP applications is deficient in junior high and high school students and if we can increase the participation among these students, the data will prove more accurate and can potentially improve the discount the district receives from the federal E-Rate program.

In order to effectively implement change and sustain improvement, the action research plan must go through certain processes to verify effectiveness and determine if modifications are necessary. Force field analysis is a way of analyzing the driving forces for the change and the resisting forces against the change to make sure there is a viable solution for the change. The Delphi Method is another method used to sustain improvement in schools. It is done by way of a collective participation in questionnaires or surveys whereby the facilitator summarizes the results of the first round of questions to the participants and the reason those answers were given. The Nominal Group Technique is similar to the Delphi Method in that it generally leads a group to consensus through a series of activities. These processes help to identify any weaknesses in the plan, modifications necessary, the validity of the issue, the obstacles that may cause problems in the future, and many other insights into the outcome of the research plan.

I was not aware to the extent of these methods that existed for action research and I think they will all prove effective in different situations. I intend to utilize many of these methods that were studied in this course to allow me to continue to work through my action research plans and sustain improvement over time. Thank you for this valuable insight into action research and I look forward to making an impact.

Reference List
Dana, N.F. (2009). Leading with passion and knowledge: The principal as action researcher. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

Martin, G.E., Wright, W.F., Danzig, A.B., Flanary, R.A., & Brown, F. (2005). School Leader Internship (2nd Edition). Larchmont, NY: Eye on Education.