What I've Learned About Action Research

After studying a bit about action research, I've come to discover what an important role it plays in the life of an educator.  I've also discovered how much I already do this, but  just didn't know what it was called. 
Action research is a very practical method of assessing the value of new programs.  It begins with the act of wondering whether or not a certain program or methodology is beneficial to the growth and development of the students.  Through action research, an educator can analyze data collected (which can come in various forms depending on the program being researched) to determine whether the program in question proved to be of any value in the desired change.  The results of this data can be shared with others to encourage group discussion about whether to keep the existing program or seek out new ones. 

I've learned that this is such a valuable tool for educators because it allows them to easily test the usefulness of new  programs.  If these types of tests are not conducted, there wouldn't be much growth or positive change taking place in the schools.  Schools prove to be an ever changing environment based on student demographics and social trends (only to name a couple of factors).  We, as educators, need to be willing to try new ways to reach and help students grow (educationally as well as personally).  In order to do this, education cannot be stagnant.   We must constantly wonder about the effectiveness of the programs we have in place, test these programs by analyzing data, and discuss the results with others to come to a general consensus about the appropriate avenue to take for ultimate student success.