Action Research Description

Action research sounds to me much like the scientific method.  First you have a question, and then you construct a hypothesis. Then you test and analyze your results.  Only you are doing this as an administrator or educator.  Much like the scientific method, if your findings are not positive or the outcome is unfavorable you can try other test to get favorable data that you need so that it is an on-going experiment. Although you might achieve success in one area, you them might want to use this same formula on another subject area and see if you can get the same results.  It is not only limited to the administrator, but it is a chance to reach out to the classroom level on a regular basis on teaching strategy.
I am a technologist who happens to have a background in education but not much practical experience.  I have more technical knowledge than I do education right now. But I have a "wondering" since we are not in a environment where computers are 1:1 with students as of yet whether it is feasible to have a technician on hand at the school or rely on the school district's assigned IT technician help on a scheduled basis.  An article I had to read in my last class sparked that question because the writer was so frustrated with the IT tech because it seemed like the particular school  was just one of his/her many school they have to serve and it was not personalized service so the tech was being badgered by the author.  Well if the tech at least has a more dedicated educational background, then the tech would know and understand how computer downtime or problems affect the learning process.  Many techs just see a computer being down as just another problem they need to attend to and move on to the next issue without thinking what the computer is ultimately used for or the end product that comes out of it.

Educational leaders can mostly use blogs to share ideas based on their action research.  Then get feedback from local or global colleagues on what they may do different or sharing thoughts on how they tried what the administrator tried in their post.  So it is a free way to get the word out on what works real-timewithout having to publish in a magazine and having to wait for publications weeks or months later.