What I have learned about Action Research Plans

Inquiry is a powerful tool used to help principals learn while at the same time help to improve their schools.  Administrators use it to gain deeper insight into their role as an administrator and their job as leader in improving their schools.  Administrative inquiry is a methodical process.  Each question asked and each piece of data or information collected is very calculated.  The data collected in this process provides a better understanding for the administrator and ultimately helps shape his/her decision which at this point should be more successful.  Administrators are life long learners and their staff development should focus on helping students succeed and achieve.  Through administrative inquiry, this is often possible.


Many times in our schools we are subjected to mass produced district, state, and even nation wide staff development.  The individuals that come in to our schools do not know us as teachers, do not know our students, and do not know our community and needs.  The information they provide us is based off research that someone else has done.  This is traditional educational research.  Action research differs in that the people actually involved in the day-to-day of the school are involved.  These individuals design the plan themselves, collect the data themselves, and interpret the data based off of the original question posed.  Knowledge is gained based off of the realities of the environment.  Outside researchers are not involved in this process as they are in traditional educational research.  The individuals involved in the action research ultimately research the process which tends to make them feel more accountable which in turn facilitates change.


There are many benefits to using an action research plan as a teacher.  Teachers study their own students learning allowing them to reflect on their current teaching practices and continue to improve student learning.  Action research is data driven and brings about change based on these results.  Teachers can reflect based off of the results of their action research plan.  Teachers using an action research plan will continually be motivated to improve their teaching based off of the results of their students.


The area that I am most interested in researching is that of student motivation. Working in an alternative, 90% at risk campus, I would like to know what motivates our students. Is it rewards? Is it discipline? Is it a close bond with an adult? Is it parent involvement? Is it dreams of a better and brighter future? Many of the students that I work with are very apathetic towards anything in regards to their education. Note that I said many. Not all students are like this. I'd like to tap into what currently motivates these few students to achieve and achieve at a high level. Concurrently, I'd like to explore what will motivate the students that are not currently motivated. I'd like to put some of my ideas in motion as well as some of the students ideas in motion and compare the short and long term effects of these motivators.