Danny On Action Research

The action model offers great promise in affecting change over the more traditional model. The traditional model may be flawed or at least incomplete due to the fact that much of the research is created by the academic elite rather than by on the ground educators. The traditional model is lacking in collaboration among educators and valuable stakeholders. It is a top down model rather that a model that solicits input from, as is described by Dana(2009) in Leading with Passion and Knowledge, “practitioners.” The action model encourages those “practitioners” on the “front lines” to identify and correct their own problems. Research generated by those “practitioners” that have assumed responsibility for their own campus needs is likely to have great buy-in. Further the research is likely to be local relevant research, not simply canned generic research. Additional those that will actually generate an action plan or solution to the problem will collect the research themselves. It may lead to a more clear understanding of the causes and nature of their specific need. Based in that research they may generate a “home grown” tailor made action plan, not a plan created by outsiders. Again, this self created plan may lend itself to greater buy-in. Additional, should the plan be found lacking, the creators of the plan are on site to tweak the plan. As a final word the book Leading with Passion and Knowledge by Nancy Dana cites work in Qualitative Studies in Education by J. Eliot. Eliot stated that true inquiry or action models are ongoing and spiraling (Dana, 2009, p.5).The identification problems or needs, research, detailed data analysis, action plan creation, and action plan implementation are perpetually in motion. Quality organizations will move from need to need carrying out the action model to address those needs.

Citation:
Dana, N.F., (2009). Leading With Passion and Knowledge: the Principal as Action Researcher. Thousand Oaks, CA:Corwin Press. 1-15.


How Blogs Are Useful To Administrators:
According to Leading With Passion and Knowledge by Dana (2009), blogs serve as a medium for “capturing thinking“(Dana. 2009, p. 87.). Such an open and flexible tool may also serve as an online diary or journal. This diary could in turn be used to facilitate real honest reflection.

Citation:
Dana, N.F., (2009). Leading With Passion and Knowledge: the Principal as Action
Researcher. Thousand Oaks, CA:Corwin Press.