Action research can be a powerful means to self-discovery about one’s practices and beliefs and serves as a catalyst for professional development and school improvement. Action research first begins with a period of self-reflection, one in which a topic or area of inquiry is defined. Once the inquiry topic has been defined, the next step is systematic data collection, centralized around the inquiry topic. The goal is to gather as much information about the inquiry topic as possible. After the data gathering and collection process, data analysis is completed in an effort to look for patterns and trends that may emerge from the data.
Following the process of data collection is the review of professional literature. Reviewing professional literature can offer possible solutions and clarity toward addressing the topic of inquiry. Many times there is quality research found in relevant literature that can provide beneficial insight towards the topic of research. The next step is to develop a plan of action that is based upon the new understandings gained from the data analysis and the literature review. The plan of action should incorporate changes in practice that move towards school improvement. The final step of action research is the implementation and sharing of the plan. This fosters professional and collegial dialogue, resulting in deeper insight and understanding of school improvement.
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