Reflections....

This week I learned a great deal from working through the process of creating an actual action research plan.  I believe the plan helps to put into words the process that many educators understand intuitively.  The formalization of the necessary steps needed to execute the plan, sample group, dates for collaborative meetings, formal collection of data, time for analyzing that data, putting that information into common language, reporting on that information, and more collaborative meetings.  Further, I think this process brings to light the understanding that informal, intuitive, analyzing and postulating can lead to misleading assumptions.  When we find small errors in logic or discover that some of our assumptions based on informal research were wrong, it shows us that we are better served to do some formal research on the important matters that concern our students and schools.

       I also learned this week that the Action Research Project Process Overview concerning cell phones is a very useful document. The overview explains step by step the action research process as outlined by Dr. Arterbury and Dr. Jenkins in this week’s video lesson.  In addition to outlining the process, it outlines the process by overlaying it according to the five weeks of our course.  It also provides a guide to follow to make my plan be the most successful.  I am starting to get excited about the upcoming school year, but I am going to be so busy!!!!