Action research methods can be viewed as a beneficial tool to facilitate a positive change in teaching practice. First of all, it starts with a desire to change the current situation for the better and attain significant success by implementing new techniques that might guarantee enhanced outcomes (missmelissa73, n.d.a). Being applied to classrooms, it provides individuals with an opportunity to become architects of their professional development and chose a way for further evolution. Transforming teachers into learners, action research allows a specific and intentional approach to altering teaching (missmelissa73, n.d.a). Working in groups and being engaged in situational and professional learning activities, educators acquire a chance to master their skills and experiences and select practices that will guarantee better outcomes compared to previous ones. In such a way, an intentional change is promoted.
Action research also stimulates further investigation and questioning, which can be viewed as integral elements of professional development (missmelissa73, n.d.b). Only when they are ready to engage in a continuous improvement process, teachers can achieve higher levels of performance and excellence. In such a way, action research stimulates them to participate in such activities and generates numerous benefits.
I think that the effectiveness of this strategy is proven by the existing research. For instance, Lanaux et al. (2014) say that by acting as a part of the classroom in terms of action research, students were able to improve their understanding of the problem and acquire better teaching skills. For this reason, I think that the choice of action research for positive change is justified by its practical utility. At the same time, it is vital to consider the peculiarities of classrooms and groups because of the focus of action research on close cooperation with other individuals and learning from them.
References
Lanaux, C., Vice, K., & Varner, K (2014). Chaos in the classroom: Center learning in a 1st grade setting. Networks: An Online Journal for Teacher Research, 16(1), 1-10. Web.
missmelissa73. (n.d.a).Action research in the classroom part 1[Video]. Web.
missmelissa73. (n.d.b). Action research in the classroom part 2 [Video]. Web.