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Continuously Curious

"Empower yourself to initiate the change that you want to see in you." Craig Mertler

In Assessing Digital Learning, we dove straight into the deep end of Craig Mertler's Action Research: Improving Schools and Empowering Educators. Throughout his 20 years of experience, he introduces a practical, yet powerful way for educators to grow and refine their craft and communicate their findings to others.  What is so powerful about his approach, is that it harnesses on the nature of reflective practitioners, and creates a structure that incorporates into a variety of instructional practices that uses everyday classroom activities and school procedures.  Throughout this learning journey, one realizes you don't need to wait for others' research to support change initiatives, you are already equipped with everything you need to take charge and make changes. Throughout the links below, you will see the steps in a journey made to evaluate the effectiveness of an innovation plan utilizing the steps Mertler laid out, so well. 

Assessing Digital Learning

Action Research Design Outline

Self-differentiated leaders need to address the inevitable resistance to change that will occur when launching innovative digital learning initiatives.  In order to do that, it's imperative to have a process to research the effectiveness of initiatives.  One way to to that is through a cyclical Action Research process.  The Action Research Process includes five key stages: identifying a topic, reviewing and analyzing literature, planning, taking action & collecting data, analyzing data, and reflection.

Read an outline showing a planning phase of an Action Research process through the link below.

Literature Review

The basis for anything is the research behind it.  Seeing what the literature says helps refine an action research process. The refinements include literature in support and the challenges of implementing the topic which is the basis for the Action Research Design.  Being able to speak to the pros and cons of a design helps in communicating the "why" behind trying something new.

Read  a review and analysis of the literature regarding an Action Research process through the link below. 

Measurement Strategy 

When considering implementing an Action Research, one must carefully consider how to implement, collect & analyze data, create an action plan, communicate the findings to your intended audience, and reflect on the process.  This is just a further iteration of influencing change at an organizational level. 

Read a well developed plan that includes all fives stages of a cyclical Action Research Design process through the link below. 

Reference

Mertler, C.A. (2020). Action research: Improving school and empowering educators (6th ed.). SAGE Publications.

Mertler, C. (2019, March 20). Personal empowerment through reflection and learning: Dr. Craig Mertler: Tedxlakelanduniversity. YouTube. https://youtu.be/uzDsT-25w14?si=QTPzgtR8DExYX6gI

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