Reflecting on Reflecting...

As I reflect on my course on action research, my biggest take-away is the need for reflection.  According to Dictionary.com, reflection is "a fixing of the thoughts on something" or "careful consideration".  Our friends at Merriam-Webster say that reflection is a "thought, idea, or opinion formed or a remark made as a result of meditation".  No matter the definition, the need for reflection is paramount in today's world of education.  Likewise, engagement in reflection is essential to discovering an inquiry and traveling the road of action research.  Action research is the gold standard in educational leadership and implementing change due to the introspection that is integral to the process.  Taking the time to reflect on practices and connect questions to student performance keeps us from making hasty decisions based on the educational "flavor of the month".  To focus on the future, we not only need to take the time to reflect on the situation at hand, but we also need to look at the factors that led to it and the challenges and opportunities that arise from it.  Reflection coupled with collaboration will lead to my own personal growth and my ability to build leadership in others.  My engagement in the inquiry process will allow me to learn from reflection on my own thoughts and practices, learn from the insights of others, expand my use of best practices, and model life-long learning.