Reflections From EDLD 5301

When I started this course on January 18, 2012, I was a somewhat apprehensive. I thought that in this course I would be writing many research papers and be bogged down with researching different topics. To my pleasant surprise, this course was nothing of the sort. In the first week of this course, I quickly learned that it was about action research, which is research conducted by me, or someone in the school, that is put into practice to bring about a change and is focused inward. When I found out that I had to create an action research plan myself; I began thinking of what I could do to see a change at my campus. As part of my internship, my supervisor, the school principal, wanted me to create the computer lab curriculum for third, fourth, and fifth grade. I decided to use this as my action research plan. The computer lab instructor has told me that she has been having trouble with student behavior in the computer lab, so I decided to create an action research plan to discover whether or not a structured computer lab curriculum will improve student behavior. I did get my action research plan approved by my supervisor and am excited to start putting into practice.

From this class I have learned mostly from the assignments and activities. Each week the assignments gave me more information and more understanding about action research and how to create and implement my action research plan. I feel that this class has definitely given me new beneficial knowledge I can use anytime I need to see a change happen at my campus.

Another thing that really helped me in this course was the discussion board. As I read discussions from my peers and posted my own comments I learned that others seemed to be very interested in my action research plan. Apparently, my campus is not the only campus that does not have a computer lab curriculum. I also learned that some campuses are not as equipped with technology as my campus is. This truly made me thankful for what we do have, because I thought that we didn’t have much. From the discussion board I was able to see what others were working on and what they had challenges with, which helped me improve on my action research plan when I had similar challenges.

Tool 8.1 CARE Model: Planning Tool (Harris et al. 2009) was another item that helped me in this course. This planning tool really made me reflect about my action research plan. This made me think deeper and gave me understanding of the things that would have to change at my campus, the things that would have to stay the same at my campus, the recommendations I needed, and the evaluations I needed to make my action research plan effective.

Finally, the thing that impacted me the most in this class was the use of my blog. As I posted on my blog, and received feedback from others, it really helped me to mold and shape my action research plan into something that I am excited to implement. I was able to use the comments from others to make changes in my action research plan. For instance, one of my peers pointed out that I had not labeled the roles of each person that would be helping in my action research plan. I also had a comment that I needed to specify the amount of time each activity should take. In addition, I had a comment that encouraged me that I was on the right track and that my action research plan will be successful. By reading the comments from my peers, I realized that I was not as specific as I needed to be. I was able to use these comments to rework certain parts of my action research plan so that it will flow, in hopes, seamlessly. I found learning from my peers very motivating and inspiring.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this class. I feel that I am ready to implement my action research plan and am so excited to do so. When I was first presented with creating the computer lab curriculum by my supervisor, I did not think that it would be very exciting. Thanks to this course; the instructor, assistant, assignments, discussion board, CARE Model, and my blog, I now have the excitement and motivation I need to be successful in implementing my action research plan.

Alford, B., Ballenger, J., Austin, S. F., Calhoun, E. F., Conti, G. J., Cross, K. P.,...Schmuck, R.A. (2007). Action research an effective instructional leadership skill for future public school leaders. Journal of Scholarship & Practice, 27-37.

April. (2012, February 14). Ameza's lights, camera, action-research [web log comment]. Retrieved from http://amezaslightscameraaction-research.blogspot.com/

Briseno, D. J. (n.d.). Principal, Rancho Isabella Elemenatary, Angleton ISD.

Chargois, D. T. (n.d.). Director of Research, Planning and Development, Beaumont ISD.

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

D Stelly. (2012, February 14). Ameza's lights, camera, action-research [web log comment]. Retrieved from http://amezaslightscameraaction-research.blogspot.com/

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.

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

Sonya. (2012, February 14). Ameza's lights, camera, action-research [web log comment]. Retrieved from http://amezaslightscameraaction-research.blogspot.com/