ED5301 - Fin

In summarizing the previous five weeks of this course, the significance of action research has been reiterated throughout the study. In the readings, this aspiring educational leader learned a specific methodology by which to assess an educational issue, learn more about said issue, and implement changes to address the issue. Further, my views of educational research changed. Lastly, I developed an appreciation of blogging as important to the reflective practice of an educator.

Throughout the readings, the foremost thoughts in my mind reflected on changes (substantial or minor) I have made in my educational approaches throughout my teaching career. These changes were based on observations I have made, particularly regarding student achievement regarding curriculum. To an extent, I have always felt that the quality teacher assesses and adjusts their approach based on the students (s) he teachers. The Dana and Harris et al. texts provide a conceptual framework for addressing issues in education. The issue should be identified, and wondering can begin. Data is collected and analyzed. Results of the analysis are shared, and recommendations for improvement follow. Ultimately, the action research cycle is a process improvement of what effective educators instinctively perform.

My perspective of research changed in this course. Previously, I viewed research as something to be performed in an “ideal” setting, such as a university lab school, which specific variables controlled and experimented upon. Such “research” is unlikely to occur in an educator’s actual practice. Further, I viewed research as a cumbersome, labor-intensive project that was manageable only by persons hired to perform such inquiry. I now view action research as a much more economical process in which specific, relevant issues that educators face with regularity can generate knowledge that leads to solutions of said challenges.

Through the use of blogs I found an economical, viable method for ongoing reflection. In the eight years of education, I have heard much of the term “reflective practice” including a reflection in ED5311 about what reflective practice means. Ongoing blogging provides a precise method to reflect on our experiences in the classrooms and as aspiring educational leaders. Although I philosophically disagree with Lamar’s policy of grading based on other people’s comments on our blogs overall I found that forcing myself to communicate my thoughts on a topic in written format was beneficial to me as I was able to formalize impressions, feelings, and thinking on particular matters.