Sunday, October 23, 2011
Action Research Plan Draft
SIP or PIP (SCHOOL or PROFESSIONAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT) PLAN OF ACTION
SCHOOL VISION: We engage learners to become critical thinkers, leaders and contributors in a diverse and competitive world. |
GOAL: Improve technology integration in the classroom, by improving the technology comfort and skill level of the teachers.
OUTCOMES | ACTIVITIES | RESOURCES/ RESEARCH TOOLS NEEDED | RESPONSIBILITY TO ADDRESS ACTIVITIES | TIME LINE | Benchmarks/ ASSESSMENT | Revisions to SIP/PIP based on monitoring and assessments |
Determine current level of technology use and comfort/skill level of teachers | Survey the teaching staff on campus Review STAR Charts for campus | Personal online survey site/google form STAR Charts | B. Waits | Oct. 2011 TBD 2011? | Campus STAR Charts | |
Determine current limiting factors to technology integration | Analyze survey Personally interview teachers Research topic online | Survey/STAR Chart Results Teachers willing to be interviewed Google | B. Waits | Nov. 2011 | ||
Improve technology skills of teachers | Lead “Tech Thurs” Staff Dev. Sessions, based off of results of surveys Create/find videos to address the results of the survey Assist teachers in integrating technology into a sample/specific lesson | Campus approval needed. Online resources TBD TBD | B. Waits Campus ITS | Ongoing Nov. 2011 – Dec. 2012 | Determine participant use of offerings. | Adjust format and topics offered based on feedback from participants. |
Determine new level of technology use and comfort/skill level of teachers | Follow-Up Survey for the teaching staff on campus Review new STAR Charts for campus | Personal online survey site/google form STAR Charts | B. Waits | Dec 2012 TBD 2012? | Campus STAR Charts |
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Blogging and Educational Leaders
Blogging is a great place to store and share your thoughts. As one of my textbooks said, it's like Prof. Dumbledore's "pensieve" in the Harry Potter books. For the educational leader, this is a good place to organize and store your thoughts. The key though is to occasional go back through and revisit those thoughts. They may give you insight to a current problem or allow you to link several different strands together to come up with a new solution.
For action research purposes, blogging is a great way to keep stakeholders informed of the status of your research. And it gives them space to contribute an new information or insights.
For action research purposes, blogging is a great way to keep stakeholders informed of the status of your research. And it gives them space to contribute an new information or insights.
Action Research / Inquiry
I have just started my second Grad class; EDLD 5301 Research for Teachers. This class is over the topic of Action Research. At first glance, the word Research made my stomach turn. This was illustrated in one of our textbooks (Dana, 2009):
The author then goes on to describe why the word inquiry is preferred. The process of action research/inquiry is introspective. The practitioner analyzes what is working for him and what is not. Then he develops a plan to address his needs. After implementing his plan, the practitioner, again, analyzes what is working and what is not and repeats this cyclical process. Action research is therefore a living process and allows for a practitioner to continually improve and grow. The concept can be applied at all levels and can benefit all participants. The process was illustrated, in one of the other textbooks, through the example of a doctor and patient. The a patient is having a problem, they set an appointment with their doctor. The doctor sees the patient and listens to them describe the symptoms. He then determines what tests and lab work should be done to pinpoint the root problem. Once the doctor has determined the problem, he prescribes a treatment plan. The patient goes home and follows the treatment plan and then returns to the doctor to be re-evaluated. If the problem is gone, the treatment plan was a success. If the problem still exists, or a new problem has arisen, the doctor starts the process over to modify or create a new treatment plan. This same type of process can be used to analyze and correct problems in education.
In my school, there are several possibilities to utilize action research. I would like help improve the technology skills of my fellow teachers. I first need to analyze what is holding them back and develop a plan to assist them. I would also like to help my students improve their "number sense" skills. As a school, we need more parent involvement. We could utilize action research to design and implement a plan to increase parent involvement.
References:
Dana, N.F. (2009). Leading with passion and knowledge: The principal as action Researcher. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
The images that the word research conjures up come mostly from the
process-product paradigm and include a “controlled setting,” “an
experiment with control and treatment groups,” “an objective scientist
removed from the subjects of study so as not to contaminate findings,”
“long hours in the library,” and “crunching numbers.”
The author then goes on to describe why the word inquiry is preferred. The process of action research/inquiry is introspective. The practitioner analyzes what is working for him and what is not. Then he develops a plan to address his needs. After implementing his plan, the practitioner, again, analyzes what is working and what is not and repeats this cyclical process. Action research is therefore a living process and allows for a practitioner to continually improve and grow. The concept can be applied at all levels and can benefit all participants. The process was illustrated, in one of the other textbooks, through the example of a doctor and patient. The a patient is having a problem, they set an appointment with their doctor. The doctor sees the patient and listens to them describe the symptoms. He then determines what tests and lab work should be done to pinpoint the root problem. Once the doctor has determined the problem, he prescribes a treatment plan. The patient goes home and follows the treatment plan and then returns to the doctor to be re-evaluated. If the problem is gone, the treatment plan was a success. If the problem still exists, or a new problem has arisen, the doctor starts the process over to modify or create a new treatment plan. This same type of process can be used to analyze and correct problems in education.
In my school, there are several possibilities to utilize action research. I would like help improve the technology skills of my fellow teachers. I first need to analyze what is holding them back and develop a plan to assist them. I would also like to help my students improve their "number sense" skills. As a school, we need more parent involvement. We could utilize action research to design and implement a plan to increase parent involvement.
References:
Dana, N.F. (2009). Leading with passion and knowledge: The principal as action Researcher. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
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