Action Research

Action research is an excellent tool to be utilized in school districts large and small. It is designed to allow individuals and groups to work in a collaborative manner to identify problem areas and to problem solve. It allows all stake holders to work towards a common goal to improve the work place or a community. Action research allows those that are knowledgeable about an identified problem to provide input for a solution. Although it has not been utilized in the district in which I work, I now see how a superintendent, a principal, or a teacher would benefit from its use.

As the director of special education, I could utilize the action research approach to address a variety of problems that plague special education. One of the most current areas special education is addressing is planning for administration of the STAAR. Research teams could be developed to investigate and analyze the implications of administering the STAAR to special education students. The teams could also examine the difficulty levels and ways to prepare these special needs students for this monumental task. This tool is a definite advantage to use in any educational research. It is a tool that is vital importance to any school district and its student achievement.

Blogging

Blogging is a new term for me. I always thought I was somewhat savvy as far as technology was concerned. This course has shown me otherwise. Until enrolling in this course and have to develop a blog, I had no idea that a blog is a blend of the term web log. Blogs are commonly utilied for journaling. Since our students are 21st century learners,m the should feel free to use 21st century tools that are available at their fingertips, their smart phones. Students are now blogging several times per day using Twitter and Facebook. Why not allow the the opportunity to create their own blogs in their classrooms for personal journaling?