Action research is vital to changing education and can be utilized by educators at any level (Mertler, 2023a). If we genuinely wish to improve our practice, we must look within the four walls of the classroom and study the situations that are occurring (Mertler, 2019, p.14). Action research allows educators to identify what needs to be worked on and then design a plan to improve (Mertler, 2023a). There are four stages of action research: the planning stage, the acting stage, the developing stage, and the reflecting stage. These stages are then broken into nine total steps; while this seems like lots of steps that may be challenging to carry out, as educators, we often follow these steps as good educational practice (Thompson, 2023).
The Planning Stage
We start Action Research with the planning stage, which is divided into four steps. The first is identifying what to study and limiting the topic to a manageable scale (Mertler, 2019, p.39). This step is currently the most challenging for me because narrowing down a specific area for improving education is difficult. The second step is to gather information; this is also referred to as reconnaissance (Mertler, 2019, p.39). In this step, we must collect information from fellow educators, administrators, teachers manuals, and our beliefs. The third step is to review the related literature, which means reviewing what already exists about this topic (Mertler, 2019, p.39). The fourth step is to develop a research plan. We must pose a formal question for our research purposes. These steps can create a solid foundation for meaningful and impactful action research.
The Acting Stage
The next stage of action research is the acting stage, where the research occurs. Step five is to implement the plan and collect data. There are many ways to collect data; teachers can observe, write field notes, interview, review data, and analyze existing documentation (Mertler, 2019, p. 41-42). The sixth step is to analyze the data. We need to decide on qualitative or quantitative data. Careful analysis will help us draw meaningful conclusions and inform future actions.
The Developing Stage
After reviewing our data, we will move on to the developing stage. Step seven is to develop an action plan, where action from action research comes into play (Mertler, 2019, p. 43). During this step, a proposed implementation plan needs to be developed. This plan will guide our efforts to address the identified issues and implement effective solutions.
The Reflecting Stage
The stage of reflection separates action research from typical educational research. The eighth step is to share and communicate the results. The way the results are shared can occur in various forms, from formal to informal. The ninth step is to reflect on the process. Reflection is vital to any change in education, and action research requires actively participating in reflection to improve our plans (Mertler, 2023b). Reflection should be a part of our daily work because once we deeply reflect as professional educators, we can gain more engagement and insights into our jobs (Mertler, 2023b).
These four stages will frame my research throughout this course and continue in the ADL program. My innovation plan focuses on incorporating blended learning into the advanced middle school math classroom. Using this to drive my action research plan, I intend to focus on the guiding question: How does implementing blended learning in the advanced middle school math classroom impact learner engagement? (This may change as I continue further research). To research this topic further, I will need to rely on qualitative data, as it is summertime, but putting this plan into action in the classroom will allow for the collection of quantitative data. Combining qualitative and quantitative data, I aim to comprehensively understand how blended learning affects student engagement and advanced middle school math outcomes.
References:
Mertler, C. A. (2019). Action research: Improving schools and empowering educators (6th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Mertler, C. (2023a). Action Research: Improving Schools and Empowering Educators Video 1.1 [Video]. SAGE Publications. https://edge.sagepub.com/mertler6e1/student-resources/chapter-1/video-resources
Mertler, C. (2023b). Action Research: Improving Schools and Empowering Educators Video 2.1 [Video]. SAGE Publications. https://edge.sagepub.com/mertler6e1/student-resources/chapter-2/video-resources
Thompson, K. (2023). Action Research: Improving Schools and Empowering Educators Video 1.2 [Video]. SAGE Publications. https://edge.sagepub.com/mertler6e1/student-resources/chapter-1/video-resources
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