EDLD 5397 Internship in Supervision Action Research Update.
Week 3 Assignment
I am sharing the Draft Action Research Project Progress Report.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Monday, August 30, 2010
Jose's Digital Story Part I
Reflection on my Digital Story
By working in this first assignment, I have learned how we can create or tools for teaching. As my mentor said “The sky is the limit”. We can do whatever we want. The most important part of this assignment is that we can approach a theme using multiple media and it can be adapted for different learning styles.
I have selected the song The Spring-Allegro from Antonio Vivaldi, to create an environment of serenity and calm. I tried to describe myself and some important parts of my life. I have feedback from some classmates and from my family that was part or the scene.
That was a great experience because I felt like a movie director, and even when I didn’t have the best equipment for recording, I think it was an excellent product for being the first version. We can say that it was the Jose’s Digital Story Part I.
By working in this first assignment, I have learned how we can create or tools for teaching. As my mentor said “The sky is the limit”. We can do whatever we want. The most important part of this assignment is that we can approach a theme using multiple media and it can be adapted for different learning styles.
I have selected the song The Spring-Allegro from Antonio Vivaldi, to create an environment of serenity and calm. I tried to describe myself and some important parts of my life. I have feedback from some classmates and from my family that was part or the scene.
That was a great experience because I felt like a movie director, and even when I didn’t have the best equipment for recording, I think it was an excellent product for being the first version. We can say that it was the Jose’s Digital Story Part I.
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Reflections
The first thing that I have learned is that Action Research is a process that can continue, because the eight steps can be reproduced to improve the results, also Administrative inquiry is a systematic process to find a solution to a problem within the organizations.
These steps, Setting the Foundation, Analyzing Data, and Developing Understanding, Engaging in Self Reflection, Exploring Patterns, Determining Direction, Taking Action or Sustaining Improvement complement each and one of these steps is more important than the other. (Harris, Edmonson & Combs, 2009).
In schools, the principal is the person that intentionally engages in this systematic practice and takes action in whatever have to change based in the findings learned by the inquiry in order to find a solution. (Dana, 2009).
I summarize, as a protocol to address a problem in schools that is designed to be built or developed from “toe” to “head” and with a spiraling vision to the future based on reflection and inquiry.
I think that a future administrator, the process of inquiry could help in my own professional development, indeed, and effective staff development for administrators is a long-term, planned, and job-embedded; focuses on student achievement, supports reflective practice and provides opportunities to work, discuss, and solve problems with peers. (Dana, 2009).
Other reflection is that I had is that we deal with real problems when we are conducting Action research because we know the problem better than some “experts” that come from the outside world that could have top credentials but does not live and feel the problem as we do. (Dana, 2009). Nobody knows the problem better than us. So, they generate knowledge and theories based on their own reality, they become an important piece in the collaboration in the research by investigating their own problems. Also, we are engaged in the processes, and we feel as a part of the solution. Nobody from outside impose something to do.
Also, I think that information should be on time in order to be a good resource. (Karim, 2010)
References:
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: 8 Seps from Analysis to Action. Larchmont, N.Y.: Eye on Education.
Karim, S. Learning about Action Research. Retrieved August 13, 2010, from http://aresearchtalks.blogspot.com/2010/07/learning-about-action-research.html#comments
These steps, Setting the Foundation, Analyzing Data, and Developing Understanding, Engaging in Self Reflection, Exploring Patterns, Determining Direction, Taking Action or Sustaining Improvement complement each and one of these steps is more important than the other. (Harris, Edmonson & Combs, 2009).
In schools, the principal is the person that intentionally engages in this systematic practice and takes action in whatever have to change based in the findings learned by the inquiry in order to find a solution. (Dana, 2009).
I summarize, as a protocol to address a problem in schools that is designed to be built or developed from “toe” to “head” and with a spiraling vision to the future based on reflection and inquiry.
I think that a future administrator, the process of inquiry could help in my own professional development, indeed, and effective staff development for administrators is a long-term, planned, and job-embedded; focuses on student achievement, supports reflective practice and provides opportunities to work, discuss, and solve problems with peers. (Dana, 2009).
Other reflection is that I had is that we deal with real problems when we are conducting Action research because we know the problem better than some “experts” that come from the outside world that could have top credentials but does not live and feel the problem as we do. (Dana, 2009). Nobody knows the problem better than us. So, they generate knowledge and theories based on their own reality, they become an important piece in the collaboration in the research by investigating their own problems. Also, we are engaged in the processes, and we feel as a part of the solution. Nobody from outside impose something to do.
Also, I think that information should be on time in order to be a good resource. (Karim, 2010)
References:
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: 8 Seps from Analysis to Action. Larchmont, N.Y.: Eye on Education.
Karim, S. Learning about Action Research. Retrieved August 13, 2010, from http://aresearchtalks.blogspot.com/2010/07/learning-about-action-research.html#comments
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Action Research Plan. 3rd. Week
7.1 Action Planing Template Gallardo.pdf
During this third week I have developed a little bit more my Action Research Plan. I have completed it with some information and document that I have and making reflection of how far I want to go in my work.
Unfortunately, the school is close for summer break, so I couldn’t talk to my site mentor. She is the school principal and she can give me very valuable feedback. Anyway, we will go back to school, soon.
I know the importance of sharing our findings. At certain time during our development, we have different audiences for instance, I have talked with some teachers about my project and they are willing to contribute. We need to make a formal commitment and the details of the contribution, but at least I have some people who can help me. I will prepare a PowerPoint presentation to be ready to show it to other audiences like those in faculty meetings, or board members. This could be a way to get more support from the school.
At this early stage of my action research, I have no work done to show audiences outside the school, but it is good idea to have enough documentation of everything we do, for further reference and evidence that support our findings.
The Action Research Plan can be found in the Word document in this post.
During this third week I have developed a little bit more my Action Research Plan. I have completed it with some information and document that I have and making reflection of how far I want to go in my work.
Unfortunately, the school is close for summer break, so I couldn’t talk to my site mentor. She is the school principal and she can give me very valuable feedback. Anyway, we will go back to school, soon.
I know the importance of sharing our findings. At certain time during our development, we have different audiences for instance, I have talked with some teachers about my project and they are willing to contribute. We need to make a formal commitment and the details of the contribution, but at least I have some people who can help me. I will prepare a PowerPoint presentation to be ready to show it to other audiences like those in faculty meetings, or board members. This could be a way to get more support from the school.
At this early stage of my action research, I have no work done to show audiences outside the school, but it is good idea to have enough documentation of everything we do, for further reference and evidence that support our findings.
The Action Research Plan can be found in the Word document in this post.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Week Two Reflection
After this Week Two, I have learned that research is a never ending process and I will continuously take place as the new situations or events happen in school. Now I can identify better what kind or issue we are talking about. Identifying the better the situation can help us to address it in a better way and find a feasible and practical solution according to our school settings.
I have listened interviews from prominent people that helped me to understand the leadership role and the importance or research made based on well supported foundations, the variety of sources available and strategies to approach them.
I could say that they talked about real situations, real and feasible solutions. We can see similarities to those found in our school.
Also, knowing about the nine areas where we leaders inquiry (Staff development, Curriculum development, Individual teacher(s), Individual student(s), School culture/community, Leadership
Management, School performance and Social justice or equity issues) helped me to make my wonderings in a focused way.
I have listened interviews from prominent people that helped me to understand the leadership role and the importance or research made based on well supported foundations, the variety of sources available and strategies to approach them.
I could say that they talked about real situations, real and feasible solutions. We can see similarities to those found in our school.
Also, knowing about the nine areas where we leaders inquiry (Staff development, Curriculum development, Individual teacher(s), Individual student(s), School culture/community, Leadership
Management, School performance and Social justice or equity issues) helped me to make my wonderings in a focused way.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Blogs for Educational Leaders
In the busy day of the Educational Leaders –they could be attending a variety of different issues simultaneously and everywhere- blogging could be an excellent way to communicate thoughts or to disseminate certain information.
Another important feature is that blogs allow feedback from the stakeholders.
They could use this tool to keep in contact while they are in a little break during a meeting or while a phone call.
The technology is available right here. Why not try?
Learning about Action Research
What I have learned is that Action Research could be considered as a protocol to address a problem in schools. It is designed to be built or developed from “toe” to “head” and with a vision to the future.
It is important to understand who it works, because every step established impact to the next one in the structure or to the following in time. If they are not properly prepared, documented, researched and inquired, the whole structure could be weak or the process is going to be poor in results.
So, none of these Setting the Foundation, Analyzing Data, Developing Understanding, Engaging in Self Reflection, Exploring Patterns, Determining Direction, Taking Action or Sustaining Improvement is most important than other. They complement each other, and perhaps are different because some steps require different kind of skills.
I think that once I have defined my Action Research Plan, I can start organizing my ideas and stop trying to find the solution before even knowing completely every edge of the problem. Some benefits of this approach is that the project leader has control during the different stages of the development, acquires a wider –but, at the same time a more detailed- view of the problem. Hence, it results in a more measurable and accurate solution.
References:
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: 8 Seps from Analysis to Action. Larchmont, N.Y.: Eye on Education.
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