• When choosing a topic, think of it in terms of trying a new teaching method, identifying a problem, or examining and area of interest

• Potential topics can include: the classroom environment, instructional materials or methods, classroom management strategies, student and child development, assessment methods and grading, conferencing with students

• Confirm that your topic is of personal interest to you

• Confirm that your topic has relevance and importance to your organization or classroom

• Consider the difficulty to you as the facilitator of the Action Research and the potential for monetary costs

• Build awareness for research ethics and consider the impact your research will have on all humans involved

When gathering preliminary information, it is important to consider the ideas and suggestions of others, as well as analyzing and applying your own beliefs, knowledge and content about the topic you've chosen. You should begin this reflection by analyzing your understanding of educational theories that impact your teaching, the educational values you hold, how your work impacts your organization, the historical context of your particular school or campus, and the historical context that impact your beliefs about teaching and learning.

The three forms of reconnaissance are listed below.