Examples of Action Research

Staff Development:  I wonder how to improve cooperation and understanding and support among staff members.  Idea:  Plan and take part in an overnight retreat involving all staff members.  This would be an important area because cooperation and mutual respect among staff members is essential to accomplishing the school objectives both academically and socially. 

Curriculum Development:  What if students were involved in creating and developing the school curriculum?  The idea is to do this by establishing and academic counsel compromised of both students and faculty.  This would be an important area in that it would allow students to feel involved in creating their schools academic choices.

Individual Teachers:  I think teachers should receive merit and overtime pay as most employees in the private sector.  Idea:  This would be an excellent way of keeping good employees and compete with the private sector for top level college graduates. 

Individual Students:  I wonder how to better provide extra academic assistance to students.  Idea: Develop a program for student tutoring and provide teachers extra compensation for staying after school to help the students in their classes.  This is an incentive for both teachers and students. 

School culture / community: What if the school became a more vibrant and contributing part of the community?  Idea:  Have professional members of the community come in as guest speakers in classes weekly where appropriate.  This would allow the community to support the school and become a part of the educational process.

Leadership:  I wonder how we can establish better leadership qualities among both students and faculty.  Idea: Recognize excelling teachers and students in as many ways possible.  This would motivate both to look for opportunities to put themselves in leadership positions and then be recognized for doing this.

Management:  I wonder if classroom management would be influenced by requiring students to adhere to a behavioral code.  Idea:  Those students that adhere and follow the schools conduct policies may then be included in developing their classes’ classroom management policies and procedures with the assistance of their teachers.  This would prove that good behavior, when rewarded, would encourage student performance.

School Performance:  I wonder if establishing an after school program for strategies of taking standardized tests would improve overall test scores.  Idea:  Have a teacher rotation to oversee an after school program for test taking strategies and grade practice tests.  This would help the school raise its test scores and enhance their chances of improving their ranking academically compared to other schools.

Social Justice for Equity Issues:  I wonder how we could prevent bullying in schools.  Idea: Provide a program that allows students to anonymously report acts of bullying that they are either involved in or witnessed.  This would help to ensure that students feel that when they come to school they are in a safe and comfortable environment.