The Core of Action Research

The core of what action research is and how it can be used stems from utilizing the resources that are within your school. By principals working from the inside out by asking the question, “In what ways can I as an administrator help facilitate professional growth of the teachers so that they are empowered,” and allowing teachers to answer through inquiry, the result is then that the entirety of the campus is subconsciously being engaged in action research. Action research includes the “voices of the people who work in the trenches of the school building on a daily basis and are therefore best positioned to understand and better the educational experiences for all members of the schoolhouse-administrators and teachers.” In Leading with Passion and Knowledge by Nancy Dana, Elliot (1988) describes action research as a “continual set of spirals consisting of reflection and action,” which ultimately is the type of research that brings about change. As an administrator, I will be stretched simultaneously by a number of constituencies, but through the use of inquiry in action research, it will be easier to untangle the intricate web of demands while leading and inspiring the teaching and learning that must occur within my school.