September 14 , 2004 - Possibilities
Hmmm. I have found the literature review that madre suggested to be an excellent source of ideas and possibilities. I wasn't quite sure of why we were beginning to review literature this early, especially since many of us don't have an idea for our AR, but I have already encountered a possibility that intrigues. A project called, A Case of Educational Change has struck a chord in me. I think it's a great project and has huge potential. It aligns perfectly with the vision our our department and the goals of our director. More importantly, it speaks to me about how I could impact my field of practice. Once my initial excitement of finding this resource subsided, I realized that as a whole, this particular project is a too broad given my current circumstances. However, I can't seem to let it go. Our department is piloting a new supervision model that includes an option for action research, we're also assembling a teacher leadership team to assist other teachers/schools in professional growth, we're researching various models and strategies to present to the schools we serve as part of our services. My hesitance is related my worry that it is just too soon to delve into these areas. Interestingly this potential AR area isn't related to the remediation portion of my position--it's related more to my role as an Instructional Technology Specialist. I've originally thought about doing an AR related to the remediation portion of my position. I've shied away from this area because my role as an Instructional Technology Specialist hasn't been well-define yet. In fact, I'm not sure my director knows exactly what they want from my position. These issues make it difficult for me as I try to learn the "lay of the land." The department is composed of itinerant teachers and I have had no real time to build relationships with any of them because I've been tied up in training meetings and they've been out in the field. I'm not dismissing this idea as a possibility, but I think I'll put it on hold until things are a little more settled. Still....it excites me. I see an AR like this spanning across a number of areas that combined may be able to bring about change for both myself, the itinerant teachers, and the schools we serve. Wow! But, can I handle something like this and still keep up my remediation and my personal life. Do I even have a personal life anymore since beginning this program?