Action research is reflective research that is typically conducted in a school setting. It is a collaborative effort by colleagues and practitioners to improve their organization and its performance by assessing teaching methods, strategies, explore new ideas, share feedback, and offer ways to improve student achievement. Action research is different than traditional research because it is conducted by individuals and teams within the organization who search for the problem, as well as the solution. It is also research among colleagues searching for solutions to everyday problems and real life experiences within their school.
Action research can be used in a variety of ways. As a teacher, I can utilize action research to determine if my teaching methods and strategies are beneficial to my students' learning objectives. As a team leader, action research can be conducted, the results can be shared to determine the best ways to improve student achievement, curtail student discipline problems, and help to decide how planning periods will be used as well as developing new methods and strategies for teaching. Action research is a way for organizations to check themselves and to make sure that their campus is utilizing all resources. Making adjustments are necessary to achieve the mission and vision of the school. Action research can be done at any time during the school year. There is no one way to conduct action research, it can be done as formally or as informally as the individuals or teams desire.
I like how you related action research to how you can use it to enhance your teaching ability. I have been looking at it strictly as an administrator, but there are so many benefits of this concept because of how it is applicable to actual school settings that we deal with on a daily basis.
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