The Power of Blog Comments

     As I looked back over my blog this week to reflect on the comments, I was struck by the depth of some of the comments. By sharing my plan and my reflections on my plan on my blog, I have been given a sounding board to my plan. The comments from others in the program have provided fuel for more reflection. This process, then, becomes a form of digital collaborative effort. These comments have highlighted areas in which to revise my action research plan.

     One comment that spurred such revision asked questions of my plan that I had not even considered in developing my action research plan. How many academic vocabulary strategies would I include in my plan? This question I would have to answer for the strategies to be effective. I know from previous experience that a scatter gun approach to strategies leads to disaster. In my head, I guess that I would address this sooner or later as part of the process.

      Being asked this question at this time has led me to rethink how I was going to determine which strategies to include. Based upon what I’ve been reading (independent of the action research project) on implementing change, collaboration has been a recurring concept. Combining the two trains of thought, why would I be the one to determine which strategies would be used by teachers in their classrooms? Shouldn’t the teachers have a say as to what strategies they would use?

      In response to the original question in the comment on my blog and the questions that were generated during reflection on the original question, I have decided to use collaboration with the teachers on my campus when deciding upon which strategies to use.

     A second question that was raised in my blog concerned whether or not I would model the strategies for the teachers. I originally planned to model the strategies during our collaborative planning session and during our weekly alignment meetings, but after a review of literature on coaching that I conducted because of the comment on my blog, I have decided that I want to model the strategy in the teacher’s classroom. In reflecting on this modeling, I realize that I will need to observe the teachers using the strategy and provide positive feedback throughout the process.

     By posting my action research plan to my blog, I have received help in fine tuning my plan. This help has come from a source that I had not considered before: fellow students in the research class who are now fellow action research practitioners. Before this class, I misconceived research as an isolated event. This misconception was due in part to my previous experience with research while completing a M.A. in English and as a literary critic. I held a view of research as belonging to the realm of academia and had not considered practical applications.

     This course and the blogging requirement have changed my view of research. I have learned a different type of research that has great potential for my campus. I have also gained a network of fellow researchers who are invaluable to the process of action research.