5301+Course+Reflections

**Course Reflections for EDLD 5301 - Research**  My overall understanding of action resaerch could be stated simply, “learning by doing”. Specifically, this type of inquiry centers on a cycle that includes wonderings, data, and reflection. When examining what has been learned from this action research class all elements have had an integral part in what was learned. The theory and explanation from Professor Artebury and Jenkins was most helpful. I returned to their lectures several times during the learning process. The blogs were an additional help in collboration and communication of ideas and were certainly apprecaited. However, the readings, assignments, and electronic searches benifited my learning the most and deserve deeper reflection. The two assigned readings, Leading with Passion and Knowledge, The Principal as Action Researcher by (N. Dana 2009) and Examining What We Do To Improve Our Schools, 8 Steps From Analysis to Action (Harris, Edmonson, & Combs 2010), were both extremely helpful in the understanding of what action research is all about. Noteably from the Harris text, the systematic 8 step process that if followed can lead to qenuine improvement was much apprectieted and aided in my better understanding of the process of inquiry. The Dana text was of critical importance in both the enlightment of the purpose of action researvh and the hands on application of the process. The book was especially helpful in directing my wonderings by examining the nine passions of real world areas. Of course if action research is best defined by, learning by doing, then the course assignemnts exemplefy this notion. The progression of assignments was well thoughtout and made sense. The assignments defined action research and differentiated it from other types of research in a very logical way. Other assignments throughout the course sytematiclly guided me through the inquiry process. Additionally, the assignments led my development of a action research project as it relates to my internship plan an dactual campus needs. The fact that so much thought and hard work was involved in the development of these assignments has become apparent after these 5 weeks of study. Not surprisingly, the elctronic searches of articles, web sites, and research examples were most helpful in filling in the gaps that the lectures, assignments, and readings left. Entire websites devoted to the explanation of action research and area of my study were therel at my fingertips. Examples of action research projects and studies were of great inpiration in the formation of my study and goals. Finally,the availability of journal articles and documents served as a timely source of current and percise data. It was defineityly easy to wander off topic from time to time but for the most part the benefit was real. Examples of both action research websites such as Action Research.net ([]) and topic specific sites such as Classroom 2.0 ([]) were especially helpful. This “learning by doing”reserach Specifically, that centers on a cycle that includes wonderings, data, and reflection certainly makes sense when applied to an educatioanl setting. When examining what has been learned from this action research I feel added depth in my ability to problem solve sucessfully and systematically. The theory and explanation from Professor Artebury and Jenkins was most helpful. The blogs were great in collboration and communication. Most insightful and fufilling were the readings, assignments, and electronic searches.

Dana, N.F. (2009). //Leading with passion and knowledge: The principal as action researcher//. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press. Harris, S., Edmonson, S., & Combs, J. (2009). //Examining what we do to improve our schools: 9 steps from analysis to action//. Larchmont, N.Y.: Eye on Education

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