Write a description of what you have learned about action research and how you might be able to use it.

What I have learned is that action research can be a powerful tool for administrators, department heads, and teachers within the educational system. Basically anyone in a leadership role can use action research to gain deeper insights to specific issues or concerns and use those results to improve the situation or their own practice. Action research is defined as a process of engaging in systematic intentional study of their own administrative practice and taking action for changes based on what they learn as a result of the inquiry.  When use correctly it can create an avenue for collaboration and bridge any gaps between staff members and administrators.  It can also remove feelings of isolation between them. I have also learned that there has been two dominate paradigms in educational research. The first being a process-product research and secondly an educational research which has drawn from qualitative or interpretative studies. Both engage resources outside the school and their researchers are somewhat removed from the environment they are studying. Educational action research attempts to study real school situations with a viewpoint on improving the quality of actions and results by improving and developing the professional disposition of administrators and teachers within the teaching profession.