In my opinion, being a specialist of education means to be a constant learner, continuously improve own professional practices, and lead the change among colleagues. Research should play a very important role in the work of a specialist of education. There is simply no "finish line" for a specialist when it comes to mastering and polishing own professional craft. Current research is like a compass that helps us realize what we know and what we do not, what works, and what needs improvement.
After these two courses, I feel as I developed new skills in "research literacy". Before, it was difficult and often confusing to read and comprehend a research paper. Now, I realize what the structure of it is, what goes in it, and what those numbers in tables may mean. I cannot call myself an expert in this area, but I feel more confident in comprehending the outcomes of a research study, understanding the main differences between qualitative, quantitative, and mixed research methods, and evaluating reliability of it. The opportunity to implement research strategies on my own during these two semesters helped me understand the importance of educational research. As I was going through the process, I realized I had more questions than answers and saw the necessity of continuous research in this area. I would love to be able to continue with action research in my school and investigate other areas to measure technology impact on student learning and teacher professional growth.
If I could go back to the beginning of this process, I would love to expand the participants of my project to see a wider perspective of teachers and their knowledge about technology and its impact on critical thinking. Finally, I would tell myself not to stress about the scary word "research"!
After these two courses, I feel as I developed new skills in "research literacy". Before, it was difficult and often confusing to read and comprehend a research paper. Now, I realize what the structure of it is, what goes in it, and what those numbers in tables may mean. I cannot call myself an expert in this area, but I feel more confident in comprehending the outcomes of a research study, understanding the main differences between qualitative, quantitative, and mixed research methods, and evaluating reliability of it. The opportunity to implement research strategies on my own during these two semesters helped me understand the importance of educational research. As I was going through the process, I realized I had more questions than answers and saw the necessity of continuous research in this area. I would love to be able to continue with action research in my school and investigate other areas to measure technology impact on student learning and teacher professional growth.
If I could go back to the beginning of this process, I would love to expand the participants of my project to see a wider perspective of teachers and their knowledge about technology and its impact on critical thinking. Finally, I would tell myself not to stress about the scary word "research"!