Action Research Plan

Action Research Plan
SCHOOL VISION:  Meeting the needs of our student population by creating a more enriched classroom for students to further their academic achievement. GOAL:  To find what results will come from the correlations of challenge and feedback and learned helplessness of the academic growth of the student population.
Action Steps(s):	Person(s) Responsible:	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
Look at the demographic data of students, the academic data from the previous year and speak with previous teacher on concerns of the students.	Myself	From August 2013 to September 2013.	District data, campus data, demographic data, teacher data on each student, and research from Eric Jenson and Jonathan Kozol.	Analyze the findings and formulate an outline on how to monitor each student when using challenge and feedback.
Create and assess students on a pre- assessment for all TEKS needed to master for the first grade year.	Myself	From August 2013 to October 2013.	Assessment focusing on reading, writing and math, areas of concern, pen and any manipulatives needed to assess.	Analyze the findings to evaluate what challenges are needed and how to use feedback effectively when monitoring the student academic growth.
Monitor academic growth; focus on students with learned helplessness. Create a chart for data; anecdotal notes, pre and post assessment throughout the school year.	Myself	From October 2013 to April 2013.	Chart for data entry, notepad for anecdotal notes which will include feedback given, and pen.	Reflect each nine weeks on student growth and how challenge and feedback correlates with the outcome for students with learned helplessness.
Collect and analyze data from pre-assessments, post assessments and anecdotal notes taken; focusing on when challenge and feedback were used.	Myself, Report to Site Supervisor.	From September 2013 to June 2013.	Previous assessment used, pen and any manipulatives needed to assess.	Examine and analyze data from beginning of the year to the end of the year and including anecdotal notes taken throughout the school year. Report findings on the correlation of academic growth and students with learned helplessness.

 

Reflection

Action Research is the way an educator can solve problems when they arise. Many educators tend to ask questions, and stop at that step. As educators, our profession is constantly growing and discovering new ways to better ourselves for the learner. And with stopping at the questions, we are doing an injustice for our learners. Dana (2009) has great insights in her book Leading with a Passion and Knowledge of how to prepare educators on the importance of the use of action research. When reading chapter two, it goes much deeper into the areas an administrator should continue to access each school year to create an enriched learning environment for both teacher and student.

How can Educational Leaders use Blogs?

Educational Leaders can use blogs in many ways, whether it's on campus or off campus. As a community educational leaders can use blogs as a resource for seeking advice and or a communication tool with other administrators. Also on campus an educational leader could create a school-wide blog for the staff to communicate information, issues and or helpful tips. The main benefit to a blog is creating a open community with others in the same field or campus to help meet the needs of others.

Is Action Research Effective?

Action research has proven to be the new way of educational research on schools, teaching and learning. Why is this a more efficient way to research than implementing theories? It's simple, why try to mold a theory to the issues at hand, when you can go straight to the source of the question. Administrators can use the process of action research to better meet the needs of the staff, students, parents and community. Moreover, the answers are driven from the school not from an out-sourced theory. By examining issues on campus as a professional learning community, the staff and school will know first-hand what works for their community. Not all theories are sufficient enough, but using research and implementing strategies for the school can have a better interpretation of what the answers may be. For instance, how will an administrator know that teachers are in need of a specific professional development, if they don't ask the staff. Looking inside the situation is proving to be more effective than seeking an outside source first. Action research is a great way to create engagement with the staff to help clarify unresolved issues of the school. By working as a team, the school will grow as a team and continue to build effective strategies for improvement of the students.