Not Your Ordinary Professional Development

Action research differs from the normal, run of the mill professional development in the identification, the content and the practical use of the information.  The content of the research is identified and pursued based upon the educator or administrator’s vision or need in the area.  This can be a topic that one wants to further clarify and seek additional strategies or it may be topic that is a need based decision.  Educators and administrators using this form of professional development are not being exposed to seminars where the presenter, who is unaware of the participant’s school climate, speaks on strategies that he or she believes all schools should promote and implement regardless if the strategy pertains to the school.  


Action research allows the researcher to explore avenues that best fits the individual and the inhabitants of the school.  The researcher is learning along side of their colleagues instead of being the know it all.  Such avenues that one might pursue while participating in action research include reading relevant literature, gathering and interpreting data, attending seminars on topics relevant to the research and most importantly the chance to implement the strategies in a practical manner, in the classroom before attesting to its effectiveness.  This crucial element allows participants, under action research, to analyze and reflect upon the learning experience and evaluate whether the strategy is worth keeping, needs further development, or needs to go back to the drawing board.   Therefore, action research is a fresh take on the professional development of old since it allows the participant to be the researcher, presenter, and evaluator all in one thus making the catalyst for change an easier pill to swallow for all involved.