Action Research Update.

My action reaction plan started before students began this school year.  Once I gained approval from my building principal I had to get permission from the administration building to implement an action research plan. After submitting my proposal I was granted approval and began the process of implementing the plan at my school.   My first step was to develop a survey for students to take listing involvement in school activities and interest they have in intramural activities.  I used a Google document to collect the information during the first week of school.  During discipline meetings, I was able to get permission to have students take the survey.  We had a Wi Fi issue and I was not able to collect as many surveys needed to get an adequate sample.  I will now have to use our advisory classes to get a larger population to take the survey.  This will be completed in the next week at school. I have worked with AP’s to get a print out of students that had attendance issues the previous school year. Once I have completed the surveys, I will compare the list of attendance issues with surveys that were completed.  I will then come up with a research group to follow for this school year.  The next step that I will need to complete is starting an intramural program at our school.  I will take the results from the survey and come up with a schedule that includes the top intramural activities that the student body has interest in.  My focus group will also be included in the decision of activates offered in the intramural program to encourage their involvement in school activities.  I will then follow my focus group during the school year and monitor attendance and academic performance. 

Michelle's Action Planning Template

Action Planning Template Goal: Improve the attendance rates by implementing an intramural program for the school year. Action Steps(s): Person(s) Responsible: Timeline: Start/End Needed Resources Evaluation Compile a list of all the students that had attendance issues the previous school year.   Michelle Richardson   8/5/2013 – 8/9/2013 Lists of all 10th -12th grade students that had attendance issues from the previous school year. List obtained. Determine best survey format and target questions needed to researching sample surveys. Michelle Richardson   8/5/2013 – 8/9/2013 Sample surveys, and internet used for research. Survey research completed and survey format and target questions identified. Create a survey for all students to complete during advisory class the first week of school.  The survey will question student  interest in intramurals and a list or activities they were involved with last school year and plan to do this school year.       Michelle Richardson   8/12/2013 – 8/16/2013 Research and use sample surveys as a guide to create an effective survey using examples from the internet, sample surveys, and help from Dr. Hersperger. Survey created. Distribute survey to student tutorial participants and obtain their feedback on the positive and negatives of the intramural program and activity involvement in the previous and current school year.   Michelle Richardson   8/26/2013-8/29/2013 Student Involvement  Survey.  Teachers distribute during advisory periods. Completed surveys by students. Compile and analyze data from student surveys     Michelle Richardson   9/2/2013 – 9/13/2013 Completed surveys and computer/ excel spread sheet for compiling data. Excel spread sheet with survey results. Use results and plan an intramural program for the 2013-2014 school year.   Michelle Richardson   9/16/2013-9/20/2013 Survey data, master calendar for facility availability. Sponsorships for equipment needed.   Completed intramural schedule for the school year. Compare attendance lists with students involved with the intramural program and student  involvement in  other school activities.        Michelle Richardson   At completion of each intramural season.  Attendance spreadsheets and activity spreadsheets. Excel spreadsheet with results. Calculate the attendance rates of those individuals on the attendance list from last school year compared to attendance records for this school year.  Flag students and create focus group of students that are involved with the intramural program and compare with students who are not involved.   Michelle Richardson   May 2014 Monthly attendance records and previous school year attendance records Excel spreadsheet with data results. Create survey to deliver to the student focus group in order to analyze reasons for change in attendance from 2012-2013 school year and 2013-2014 school year. Michelle Richardson    May 2013 Analyze all data gathered from all surveys.  Document focus groups responses and make a data driven decision based on research results for the continuing/dismissal of the intramural program.

Week 2 Reflection

This week has been very difficult for me to get anything accomplished.  My internet went down and spent an hour on the phone with AT&T only to come out with more waiting until they can get a technician out.  Monday I will finally get someone at my home to install/fix my internet.

 I have emailed my building principal to get approval for my action research plan.  My site supervisor is okay with my research plan but suggested I get permission from the building principal. I feel that implementing an intramural program would have a positive effect on students involvement in the school setting leading to better attendance which will lead to better student performance.  This week has provided a great deal of background into action research and ways to improve other areas in education.

How educational leaders might use blogs.

Educational leaders can use blogs for a multitude of reasons. I think the biggest reason is to help keep a line of communication open between all groups within a school.  Having a form for employees in the building to ask questions and make suggestions with ultimately help with campus moral. Blogs can also help with informing the community of activities or research that is currently taking place at the school.

What I have learned about action research and How I might be able to use it

After completing the reading and watching videos, I feel I have learned a great deal about action research.  Initially, I was a little overwhelmed with the thought of compiling and action research plan.  After completing the text book readings by Harris and Dana and the video by Dr Aterbury and Dr. Jenkins, I found the information extremely resourceful and soon put my mind at ease.  Action research is the ability to study realistic situations or problems that one may face at their current place of employment.  This process creates ownership and becomes more likely for a change or improvement to occur due to this ownership in the problem and possible solutions.   Action Research is a continuous cycle of studying, reflecting and changing based on inquiries done. Simply stated what successful teachers do after completing units or certain TEKS for a class.  It promotes important feedback on effective practices and improvements needed, allows for new understandings to current situations, and allows the opportunity to share these  results and new understandings with others.  Action research allows for self -reflection and personal job analysis in order to improve yourself instead of relying on an outside source for evaluation of the job, needs, or successes of that person.