Week 5 reflection

Through the creation of my Blog and discussion boards, I have been able to connect with a whole network of people striving for the same goals I have. We all want improvement and a higher standard for education, and through reading others blogs/comments I have gained a new wealth of knowledge.  Peer sharing is an amazing tool that allows like minded individuals to brainstorm, vent, question and plan ways of improving something we all hold dear to our hearts.  This has been a great way to get “outside the box” and explore others opinions and ideas as well as reflect on my own.

To look deep into why, how, where, when, something is done and research better ways, easier ways, and more productive/innovative ideas to make improvements. “By participating in practitioner inquiry, the principal develops a sense of ownership in the knowledge constructed, and this sense of ownership heavily contributes to the possibilities for real change in schools.” (Dana, 2009, pg. 10.)

 Reflection is another aspect of action research that I feel will be extremely beneficial to me as a principal.  Taking the time to reflect on what has been done, accomplished, or failed in a situation and searching for ways to improve/continue the process is a great way for a principal to never get stagnant in his/her work. “Elliot (1998) describes action research as a continual set of spirals consisting of reflection and action.” (Dana, 2009) Then we can look back at what has been done, decide on a new direction, and act on it.  Reflection then action.  Assess where we are and create action to continue forward movement.  This totally makes sense to me. 

All in all, this course has been very informative and given me a new perspective on inquiry and wonderings that arise in the school.  As a principal I want to instill this thought process in my teachers and encourage the questions of why.  Why leads to inquiry, which leads to action, which leads to reflection, and the cycle continues.