Action Research Week Four Reflection

In week four of Action Research, we had to research three strategies for implementing change from Harris (2009).  I learned from this reading seven steps to conduct a Force Field Analysis.  These steps include, “describing the situation and how you want to change it, what will happen if no change occurs, identify the forces driving and resisting the change, determining if change is viable and what is needed to implement the change” (p. 95).  I learned the Delphi Method is a good way to get multiple perspectives on an issue.  When a problem arises, a leader will ask the members of the group to identify possible solutions to the issue.  When responses are collected, the leader summarizes the responses and distributes them to the group.  The group can then add or amend ideas and resubmit them.  The leader then re-summarizes the results and has the group rank the solutions to the issue (p. 96).  I learned that this is a five step process done in small group or faculty meetings.  The leader asks the group to write down problems or issues with the topic with no discussion. Then, the group breaks up into smaller groups and shares their issues.  The leader then writes these issues down and asks the group to rate the problems (p. 96).  This seems very similar to the Delphi Method with the ranking system.  I could use Nominal Group Technique to identify the behavioral issues that disrupt class the most.                 

Reference:

Harris, S., Edmonson, S., & Combs, J. (2009).  Examining what we do to improve our schools: 9 steps from analysis to action. Larchmont, N.Y.: Eye on Education.