Action Research and How I Might Use It

Action research is not like traditional research. It involves teachers investigating their own teaching and students’ learning. Mills (2003) defines action research as any systematic inquiry conducted by teachers, administrators, counselors, or other with a vested interest in the teaching and learning process, for the purpose of gathering data about how their particular schools operate, how they teach, and how students learn. Although there are some eithical issues, such as researching using human participants, action research has been very effective for many schools throughout the years.
In my classroom, I can use this methodology of research in many ways. I have always been curious about the effectiveness of technology use in the classroom. This curiosity is one reason why I began the Educational Technology Leadership program at Lamar University. I wonder if the use of technology vs. traditional teaching is more effective…Do students learn more? Do they remain more engaged? Does technology use improve test scores?
Another issue I have faced is parental involvement. I have found that students are more successful when their parents are more involved in their school activities and work. I would be interested in discovering ways to involve parents more, and if done, what is the increase in student work?
I am very excited to learn more about action research, and how I can apply this research to my classroom so that I can improve my teaching and the learning that occurs.