Process+Review

My process of development within the Action Research course has been very unique. When I first started the course, I anticipated it to be similar to the 692 course. However, it turned out to be different in many ways. In the 692 course I wanted to put what I was writing about into action, but never really had the chance to do so. Because of that I felt a little envy in regards to other who did have the chance to do so. This semester, in Action Research, I finally had my chance to work on a project and to test it out in my workplace at the same time. Fortunately for me, it’s working out very well and it turns out that I’m not the only one within my marketing team that thinks it’s time for a change (for the better)! During the Action Research process, I found many tools to be very useful and helpful in getting me through this process. In 692, there were some tools introduced that I felt did not directly help me in my process of completing my course work, but this time it was different. From being in the CCT program, I have grown fond of reflection. When I first read the syllabus, and saw that the first assignment was a reflection, I thought it was too early to reflect as an action research practitioner. However, I changed my thought process and remained positive, because one thing that I learned from 692 is that every step designed in the process of this class is to help each and every one of us grow and develop. Also I have learned to implement what I learn in my own writing, final projects and within my everyday life. So, because I have grown fond of reflection, I believe the first assignment this semester, Reflections of the Future, Past & Present, was one of the most beneficial assignments for me. It helped to stop and think about where I was in the CCT program, where I am in the CCT program, where I want to go.



The next assignment that I appreciate in the Action Research process is writing out the initial research topic proposal and paragraph. I like this assignment no matter how simple it is because it forces you to think and actually put down on paper what you want to work on during the semester. Writing things down on paper allow you to bring the ideas that are bouncing around in your head into one cohesive, clear statement. This way you can revise, edit, etc. For my project, I focused on implementing a change to our work/marketing meetings. I find them to sometimes be rushed and people leave the meeting feeling as if there was no closure. Often the meetings tend not to be productive because questions are not addressed with clarity. Also meetings are usually held at the end of the day. Because of these reasons, most people do not want to attend and they come to the meetings bringing a negative morale. 

After you have an idea of where you want to go and what to focus on within your project, there are many tools that can help you during the Action Research process. The tools that I found to be most helpful to me were the KAQF, Notes on Research and Planning and the Narrative Outline. The KAQF was very interesting to me because it felt like I was putting together pieces of a puzzle (the puzzle of my project). When I left a box blank, I had to do more thinking on connections to certain parts, etc. The notes on research and planning are always a helpful tool. I enjoyed using this in 692 as well as in Action Research. Notes on Research and Planning help you to understand why sources that you have found will be relevant to your par as a whole. Also it helps you put things into perspective within your project. The narrative outline does the same thing. Once you use the Notes on Research and Planning to out things into perspective, the outline helps you organize all that information in a sequence that is easy to understand that will help your paper to flow. These are the tools I found to be most helpful to me and to help me grow throughout the Action Research process. If I were asked, “Would you use these tools for your synthesis and future projects as well?” My answer would definitely be yes!