week 3 assignment Action Research Plan

Week 3 Assignment: Background – Developing Your Action Research Plan

Overview

The first two weeks provided a variety of readings, lectures, interviews and activities that helped students recognize the importance of action research in addressing many needed topics or areas of need in schools. You even had an opportunity to hear from three school leaders discussing their interests in action research. As we have explained in our lectures and our written comments, we did not design this course as a precursor to a dissertation. Instead, we wanted to provide each of you with the tools to conduct action research in whatever leadership position you may pursue.

This week will focus on developing a detailed action research plan. You will see from our examples, as well as from the readings and resources, there are a variety of strategies and steps to follow in conducting action research. Two of the major goals this week will be providing a framework, or a how to approach action research perspective, as well as sharing strategies that will empower you to conduct an action research project. Remember the action research plan is a part of your intern plan – it is an overview, a guide for conducting your action research. The action research project is the process and product – it is the implementation and assessment of your plan and it may take several months to complete. This course focuses on the development of an effective plan that will guide your action research project.

Learning Outcomes:

1)    Know which areas for action research to address school improvement are priorities of the site supervisor.

2)    Develop a clear and concise research question and/or statement to address the school improvement project(s).

3)    Identify and analyze the common steps or format to design an action research plan (e.g., methods for data collection/analysis, research tools needed, etc.).

4)    Understand the importance of disseminating the results of the action research project in the final intern report and to other scholar practitioners and interested stakeholders.

Performance Outcomes:

1)    Write a research question and/or clear statement to address the possible areas for action research emerging from the interview and brainstorming.

2)    Draft an action research plan that includes:

·       Goals and objectives of the research investigation

·       Resources and research tools needed for data gathering

·       Persons responsible for implementation of the action research plan

·       Process for monitoring the achievement of goals and objectives

·       Assessment instrument(s) to evaluate the effectiveness of the action research study

3)    Review the steps in your research plan and make any needed revisions.

4)    Include in the action research plan, the methods used to disseminate findings of the research project.

5)    VERY IMPORTANT – After submitting your completed Week 3 Assignment in Blackboard YOU MUST ALSO submit your Week 3 Assignment to TK20.

Rubric

Use the following Rubric to guide your work on the Week 3 Assignment.

Tasks	Accomplished The evidence suggests that this work is a “Habit of Mind.” The educator is ready to mentor others in this area.	Proficient The evidence suggests that performance on this work matches that of a strong educator.	Needs Improvement The evidence does not yet make the case for the educator being proficient at this task.
Action Research – Developing your question(s) or problem(s) statement	Student provides a clear description of the action research question(s) or problem(s) statement that reference rationale and previous research into this question(s) or problem(s). (3 Points)	Student briefly describes a research question or problem statement, but does not discuss the rationale or research leading to the development of the question or statement. (2 Points)	Student fails to identify a research question or statement and does not discuss any of the rationale or previous research in trying to develop a research question or problem statement. (1 Point)
Draft Action Research Plan and Blueprint	Student clearly identifies all areas of his or her action research plan and includes: ·  Goals and objectives/outcomes of the research investigation ·  Activities designed to achieve the objectives ·  Resources and research tools needed for data gathering ·  Draft timeline for completion or implementation of activities ·  Persons responsible for implementation of the action research plan ·  Process for monitoring the achievement of goals and objectives ·  Assessment instrument(s) to evaluate the effectiveness of the action research study  (8 – 10 Points)	Student identifies less than the seven areas addressed in the draft action research plan and does not provide complete descriptions for each area. (5 – 7 Points)	Student identifies fewer than five areas of the draft action research plan and does not provide complete descriptions for each of the areas. (1 – 4 Points)
Reviewing,  revising and posting the draft action research plan using the recommended template(s)	Student reviews the draft action research plan and posts a completed draft Action Research Plan that addresses all elements identified in Tool 7.1 Action Planning Template or completes all elements of the SIP/PIP (School or Professional Improvement Plan of Action. (3 Points)	Student posts the draft action research plan using one of the templates (i.e., Tool 7.1 or the SIP or PIP Plan of Action), but does not complete all elements of the template. (2 Points)	Student posts a draft action research plan but the plan addresses less than half of the elements of the recommended template. ( 1 Point)
Describing your dissemination plan	Students provide a thorough description of a plan to disseminate and share their action research plan, and their dissemination plan addresses: ·  Background information on action research project ·  Design of the action research project (must include procedures, data collection and data analysis) ·  Describes what is being learned from the action research project ·  Includes concluding thoughts and recommendations (4 Points)	Students provide a dissemination plan but addresses only three elements of the plan. (3 Points)	Students provide a partial dissemination plan. (1 Point)
Assignment Mechanics	Responses are relevant to course content; no errors in grammar, spelling, or punctuation. Students demonstrate proper APA style. (3 Points)	Responses are relevant to course content; few errors in grammar, spelling, or punctuation. (2 Points)	Responses do not reflect knowledge of course content, lack clarity and depth, and/or include multiple errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation. (1 Point)

Week Three Assignment, Part 1 – Writing an Action Research Question(s) or Problem Statement

You have had many opportunities (e.g., review and conference regarding your intern plan; the interviews with the school leaders; the Dana text identification of nine common topics for school action research, Step 1 in the Harris et al. text) to review and analyze topics or questions for action research. The Dana text provides a sampling of research questions corresponding to the nine common topics for action research; see Sample Inquiry Questions, pp. 65 – 66. We have also provided another sample of action research questions from an action research project; see the Resource Section for the Equity Audit of Mathematics by Jo Ann Colson and Valerie Petrzelka, two elementary principals in Tomball ISD, who are doctoral students in the Lamar Educational Leadership program. Please read their research questions that guided their equity audit.

Using the various examples of action research questions or statements, write a research question and/or clear statement to address the possible areas for action research emerging from the interview(s), readings and brainstorming. This action research question(s) or statement describing the action research project should clearly identify the agreed upon topic that you will research throughout this program, or until, the project is completed. The question or statement should briefly describe the rationale or previous research you have conducted leading to this question or problem statement.

Workspace

Complete Part 1 of this assignment below. The box will expand as you type.

In my action research project, I will answer the question, “What affect does involvement in extracurricular activities, such as sports, cheerleading, gymnastics, etc., have on student performance in the elementary classroom?”

Week Three Assignment, Part 2 – Developing an Action Research Plan

Draft an action research plan that includes:

·       Goals and objectives/outcomes of the research investigation

·       Activities designed to achieve the objectives

·       Resources and research tools needed for data gathering

·       Draft timeline for completion or implementation of activities

·       Persons responsible for implementation of the action research plan

·       Process for monitoring the achievement of goals and objectives

·       Assessment instrument(s) to evaluate the effectiveness of the action research study

Please check the Resource section of the course for a template, SIP or PIP (School or Professional Improvement Project) Plan of Action that you may wish to use in developing and submitting your Action Research Plan of Action Brief or Outline. You may also use the template found in the Harris et al. text, Tool 7.1 Action Planning Template, p. 85, this is also available as a free download, see p. vii.

Workspace

Complete Part 2 of this assignment below. The box will expand as you type.

In looking at our student population, I see a large number of students who are not involved in extra curricular activities such as sports.  I also see that our school is not at the level of achievement on common assessments, such as STAAR, that we want to be.  I am curious to find out if there is a link between these two things.  It has raised the question, “What affect does involvement in extracurricular activities, such as sports, cheerleading, gymnastics, etc., have on student performance in the elementary classroom?” The goal is find out if there is a direct link between student involvement in outside school activities and performance in the classroom.  The resources I will be needing include access to 5th grade student common assessment data, access to 2013 STAAR data, access to student 6 week grades.  All of these things I have access to since my target group is 5th graders who will be my students this year.  Upon completion of the study, if it is determined that there is a direct link, then an action plan will be created to involve the manager of the Canyon Lake Community Recreation Center and a contact at our campus, preferable our PE teacher.  This plan would be developed to include a process of better communication for upcoming events and seasons, passing out literature and registration forms on campus, direct involvement between manager and school representative and possible scholarships to overcome financial hardships of students.  This year, I will be responsible for tracking student achievement for those involved versus those not involved.  I will use two of my blocks as target samples, which is about ½ of the 5th grade population.  The assessment instruments will be our eduphoria system with ability to pull data on common assessments and STAAR.  This process will conclude at the end of the school year, May 2014, when 2014 STAAR data is available.  At the end of this school year, I will compile my data with information for both students who are involved versus those who are not involved.  I will also break out separately those who may be involved in multiple activities to see if there is a link.

Week Three Assignment, Part 3 – Steps to Follow in Your Action Research Plan

As discussed previously, there are many how to conduct action research steps or strategies to follow in developing your Action Research Plan. Some of the readings have already described the action research process, and some have even provided illustrations demonstrating the action research cycle.

One of the better and concise texts describing steps in action research* is your supplemental text, Examining what we do to improve our schools: 8 steps from analysis to action by Sandra Harris, Stacey Edmonson, and Julie Combs, (Eye on Education, 2010). We added this to the course because we think it provides an excellent how to implement action research blueprint that you may use for any school or professional improvement project. Here are the steps they outline:

1.     Examining the work: Setting the Foundation – in other words, identifying needs or topics for action research and this may emerge from the Site Based Decision Making Committee, or from needs like those identified in your intern plan.

2.     Analyzing data – you have had many opportunities to do this, and you  examined at least 9 data gathering strategies from your text in Part 2 of this week’s assignments

3.     Developing deeper understanding – these are additional data collection techniques, as well as, examining qualitative data through active listening, focus groups, etc.

4.     Engaging in Self-Reflection – this summarizes much of what you have been doing in this course, and throughout the program, beginning with your many self-assessments of leadership in EDLD 5311

5.     Exploring Programmatic Patterns – This includes asking the appropriate questions, identifying data patterns and gaps, and learning to address equity issues

6.     Determining direction – Working collaboratively to address action research questions, monitoring progress, and assessing achievement

7.     Taking action for school improvement – Using appropriate steps or templates like the SIP or PIP Plan of action to guide the action research

8.     Sustaining improvement – Learning to use the tools of action research as an on-going process for professional development and school improvement.

*Please see the Action Research Project Process Overview Example: Student Use of Cell Phones in the Resource Section for a more detailed outline.

Using this outline, or the PIP/SIP template, review the steps, make any needed revisions and submit your draft Action Research Plan. Be sure to also upload your Action Research Plan on your Action Research Blog for others to view and share insights.

VERY IMPORTANT – After submitting your completed Week 3 Assignment in Blackboard, YOU MUST ALSO submit your Week 3 Assignment to TK20. You must upload and submit the entire Week 3 assignment document to Tk20. Your Week 3 Assignment will be graded in Tk20. If this assignment is not posted in Tk20, you will receive a 0 for this assignment and an “I” in this course. This is a requirement of Lamar University.

Here is a video that should help you posting your TK20 artifacts:

http://screencast.com/t/GuQyv7wHbtwj

If you need further help with posting and submitting your TK20 assignment:
Lamar Education Tk20 Support
Call (409) 880-2126 - 8am - 5 pm, M-F  or   Email: Tk20@Lamar.edu  

The Tk20 office is only open on Monday – Friday from 8 am to 5 pm. Do not wait until the last minute to handle this assignment responsibility, please.

Workspace

Complete Part 3 of this assignment below. The box will expand as you type.

Goal Activities Tools Needed Responsible Timeline Determine who is involved and who is not Poll students on simple handout handout Cory During 1st 6 weeks Monitor Grades compile spreadsheet, pull data data, excel Cory Each 6 weeks Monitor Common Assessments compile spreadsheet, pull data data, excel Cory Following each CA Compile STAAR data compile spreadsheet, pull data data, excel Cory May, 2014 Develop Action Plan Analyze data, develop action plan n/a Cory May, 2014

Week Three Assignment, Part 4 – Sharing Your Action Research Plan, Progress, Findings, and Recommendations

Read chapter 5 from the Dana text, The Travelogue: Sharing your work with others, pp. 135 – 169, and write a description of how you will share the progress and process of your action research project, as well as discussing ways to disseminate your action research project findings and recommendations. Be sure to include information on the four critical tasks you must include in effectively sharing your action research project, see the Dana text, pp. 163 – 169.

Workspace

Complete Part 4 of this assignment below. The box will expand as you type.

Following my action research project at year-end, I will share my project in two ways.  The first of these is written and the second is verbal or a presentation.  I will include the 4 critical tasks in both forms of the presentation.  These are background information on my project, sharing the design and procedures of the project, stating the learning and supporting statements with data analysis, and finally a conclusion and recommendations.  For the verbal portion of the program, I will ask for 10 minutes at a campus faculty meeting to share my findings.  I will put together a power point presentation, keeping it brief and to the point.  I will discuss why I chose this project, how I conducted the research, how I analyzed the data and drew conclusions.  Finally, I will discuss the findings and recommendations and ask for input and feedback. In the written format, I will discuss the 4 critical areas as well.  I will use tables, charts and graphs as necessary to show the data analysis and how I drew conclusions.  I will give a hard copy to school administration, but also post to my blog for all to see.

Blog reflections

As noted above, please post your Action Research Plan template on your blog, read and review action research plans from at least two other blogs this week and comment on them.