Action Research Plan

Action Research Plan Jennifer Millsap ET 8033
Goal: “Will students that are allowed to use technology (computers, cameras, digital microscopes, iPods, iPads, printers, and calculators) in class daily score better on subject test than students that are taught in a traditional manner, such as book and notes?”
Action Steps	Person(s) Responsible	Timeline:	Start/End	Needed:	Resources	Evaluation
1.       Do research about technology currently used in classes	Myself	Ongoing	8-22-11	Websites, articles, etc	Internet, Melissa Seward	None
2.       Teach classes the same for the first 3 units of study. (using the CScope Lesson Sequence)Test each class at end of unit. Average Classes Test scores.	Myself	Approx.  9 Weeks	8-22-11/ Approx.  11-23-11	Sixth grade science units of study. (Following CScope Lesson sequence)	CScope lessons	CScope Unit Test
3.       Compare class scores. Find classes with similar makeup in order to test use of technology	Myself	Approx.  1 Week	11-23-11	Gradebook	Gradebook	None
4.       Survey students about how they have learned so far. Make a survey on survey monkey. Have them complete short questionnaire	Myself	Approx. 1 week	11-23-11	Survey Monkey	Survey Monkey
5.       Allow one class to have unlimited use of all types of technology (computer, iPads, iPods, digital microscopes, digital cameras, printers, and calculators) One class will only be taught with books, notes, and labs in a traditional manner of teaching.  Teach the next three units from CScope in this manner. Test at the end of each unit and average the scores of each class again.	Myself	Approx.  9 Weeks	Approx. 11-28-11/ Approx. 2-10-12	Sixth Grade Science units of study (Following CScope Lesson Sequence) computer, iPads, iPods, digital microscopes, digital cameras, printers, and calculators	CScope Lesson Plans, Technology Aide	CScope Unit Test
6.       Survey students of both groups to see how they were affected by how they were taught.	Myself	Approx 1 week	2-10-12	Survey Monkey	Survey Monkey

Action Research Week 2

This week I opened my eyes to many new areas that could possibly be researched. I like to focus on the area of technology but I had not realized how many other areas I could research if I were to become a principal. I like this idea of action research for my class as well. This is often what we ask our students to do any ways; so why wouldn’t we as educators use this same method. Often I allow students to choose areas to research that they find important and relevant. They often learn more about this area then they ever would if I told them about it, made them take notes about it, or had them do a worksheet over. We as educators will do the same. If we are researching areas that are relevant to our classroom, our school, or our beliefs in curriculum, we will put it to work more efficiently because it is relevant to us. So this week I was able to see many areas that I as an educator would like to improve within our school or classroom.

How educational leaders might use a blog.

Blogs are a very important way for educational leaders to communicate.

Blogs allow educational leaders the chance to collaborate with other member of their profession. Often there is only one principal on a campus and no one near them that shares their responsibilities. Through blogging principals and other leaders of the school can communicate effectively over the internet and shorten the gap between campuses, schools, districts, and even states. Blogs can be used by educational leaders to put their action research ideas out there and have others read and comment on them.  Many school issues can be worked on collaboratively through blogging.  This also allows leaders to reflect on their own thought process. It gives them a place to put their own ideas. Blogging gives leaders the place to start stringing their thoughts together.  Often times thoughts don’t make sense by themselves but when you put strands of thought together they become a complete idea. Blogging not only give the leaders a chance to do this but allows people from all over the world to comment on these thoughts to further them.

Dana, N.F. (2009). Leading with passion and knowledge: The principal as action researcher. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

What I have learned about action research

Action research is a tool that can be used by principals, teachers, and superintendants to design professional development for themselves based on what their class, campus, or district needs are. Action research is a way to allow leaders to take control of what they learn and they need. I believe that action research is what leaders in the school should be doing. The only people that know what the true issues on their campus is, is the principal or the leaders.   If the principal is able to pick a topic that effects the school, devote time to researching it, and then able to report back to either her teachers or her superintendant about the finds of the inquiry then the school will be able to truly work on the issues that face them, not the issues that face another school or district. Many times I believe we are grasping for answers and only finding things that worked for other schools not our own. We each have individual schools just like we have individual families and what works for one, what issues one has, is not necessarily the issues that ours has or what will work for ours.   Action research is a great tool that if used right will help us create better campuses and district on which to work.

 

Dana, N.F. (2009). Leading with passion and knowledge: The principal as action researcher. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.