As I became an educator, I would wonder how to analyze content and data on what students are learning and how well they learned the content taught to them. I would always depend upon data to help me see what my student's strengths and weaknesses were.  As a leader in practice, I have learned that was I was actually doing was action research, just amongst my classroom of students.  However, now, as I walk on the pathway to become an educational leader, I will be able to anaylize data under the school and its community as a whole.  I realize that I was conducting action research then, and will continue to do it as a principal.  It will be an ongoing process!

Action Research is inquiry or research in the context of focused efforts to improve the quality of education and performance.  Leaders analyze data to improve their own understandings (Educational Laboratory). This type of research will include leaders and teachers.  Action research is used to make lots of improvements throughout schools.  Most leaders can reflect on their leadership skills as teachers and educators think and review their teaching expertise and abilities to improve.  It gives us as educators the opportunity to explore and try out innovative ways to make the wise decisions using many educational resources.  Research requires that principals act as investigators and take the time to actually review the effectiveness of different measures being taken.  Providing and integrating an action research committee will provide a way for professionals to collaborate, give feedback, share ideas and decide what works towards making improvements.  The action research committee can review what teachers are doing teach and guide assessments. 

As principal, I will be able to use action research to help me determine the strengths and weaknesses amongst my campus and community.  I will be able to make decisions on what corrective measures to take to resolve issues or make improvements.  With curriculum and data, I will involve all teachers, aides and other staff members.  Together we will strive to create innovative ways to improve student success.  We will study actions and problems carefully and evaluate our findings.  The best way for me to learn is by doing and practicing trial and error.  All of the decisions will be looked upon as experiential and experimental. 

The main goal is to work together for the concerns of the campus, students and community.  We will continue to collaborate to bring about the improvements and changes.  Action research will always be an ongoing process, education is always changing and research in education will never end.  I call it a never ending pathway!

I have reviewed some of the important steps to take for action research.  These steps are according to examining what we do to improve our schools there are 8 Steps From Analysis to Action and requires the following:

Here are the steps to follow:

1.    Stating your Inquiry

2.    Collecting and Analyzing Data

3.    Develop and Design Understanding

4.    Engage in Self Reflection

5.    Explore Pragmatic Matters

6.    Determining Direction

7.    Taking Action for Schol Involvement

8.  Sustaining Improvement

Educators can use blogs for various reasons of communications.  They can use them for social networking with students, parents and other educators.  They can communicate and post ideas and thoughts.  Blogs can also be used to communicate with other leaders to share ideas and thoughts about current events in education, including action research. In the elementary school that I teach at, I currently have a classroom webpage for parents and students to be able to communicate with me on a daily basis.  We do have the opportunity to create a blog as well.  After this experience, I will include a blog on my teacher webpage for student and parent communication.