Draft Action Ressearch Plan

Draft Action Research Plan
Goal: Can the use of Smartboards and Interactive Response Systems improve fourth grade student performance on local and state standardized tests?
Action Steps(s):	Person(s) Responsible:	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
Meet with classroom teachers to explain plan	D. Miller	April 2012	Teacher	Log of meeting
Search for literature on research topic	D. Miller	April 2012-May 2013	Internet Access	Log of literature and notes
Collect & Evaluate Benchmark Assessment results from 2011-2012 school year	D. Miller	May 2012	http://www.achievement series.com/	Benchmark Assessment Scores
Collect & Evaluate LEAP Test results from 2011-2012 school year	D. Miller	May 2012	Test Scores	LEAP Test Scores
Search for lessons/activities to incorporate smartboard/responders into 4th grade math curriculum	D. Miller A. Trahan N. Parr	May 2012 – May 2013	Internet Access Common Core Standards for 4th Grade	Log of activities / lessons found
Incorporate smartboard/responders activities into 4th grade classrooms	D. Miller A. Trahan N. Parr	August 2012 – May 2013	Smartboard Interactive Response Systems Any other materials needed to introduce/teach activity	Log of Activities and Lessons
Benchmark Assessment of Math Skills Given	D. Miller	End of Each Nine Week Period during the 2012-2013 school year	http://www.achievement series.com/	Benchmark Assessment Scores
LEAP Test Given	Testing Teacher	April 2013	LEAP Test	LEAP Test Scores
Collect & Evaluate Benchmark Assessment results from 2012-2013 school year	D. Miller	End of Each Nine Week Period during the 2012-2013 school year	http://www.achievement series.com/	Benchmark Assessment Scores
Collect & Evaluate LEAP Test results from 2012-2013 school year	D. Miller	May 2013	Test Scores	LEAP Test Scores

5301 (ET8050) Week 3 Reflection

I got very frustrated with the actual assignment this week.  It just seemed to me that the parts were a repetition (just in a different way) of the previous parts.  I followed the instructions on the assignment and have done all the parts, but I am not sure whether I actually did the assignment correctly. 

Putting my action research plan down in the template was the best part of the assignment this week.  I feel I have a better understanding of what I have to do to make the plan progress and a timeline in which to get things accomplished.  I hope I included everything that needed to be done, but if not I hope to get comments on what it missing or other ideas in my blog posts.

Components of Action Research Plan

Context/Setting of Action Research Plan:

The context of the plan is to determine if using a SmartBoard and interactive response system will increase fourth grade student performance in math on local and state standardized testing. My action research plan will take place in the fourth grade classrooms (and computer lab at times) at my elementary school.
Definition of Target Population:
My target population is the 2012-2013 fourth grade students.
Selection of Sample:
I choose this group and subject because fourth grade is a big testing grade in Louisiana and math consistently shows weaknesses on our student’s state standardized test scores each year.
Rationale for Sample:
How well students do on the LEAP test in fourth grade will determine if the student passes or fails for the school year (or has to attend summer school).
Description of How Research will be conducted:
Data from the 2011-2012 fourth graders is being collected now from their Benchmark Test conducted each nine weeks. LEAP scores from the current fourth graders will be available in May. These scores will be saved until next year to compare with the results from the 2012-2013 fourth graders.
Each nine weeks of the 2012-2013 school year, students will take a Benchmark Test in the computer lab to test their knowledge of math skills taught during the nine weeks. In April 2013, the students will complete the LEAP test for the state in their classroom.

5301 (ET8050) Week 2 Reflection

This week’s reading was very interesting.  Chapter 2 of Dana’s book taught me a great deal about the nine areas of passion to find “wonderings” in and how they relate to action research.  I loved the way the author explained each passion and gave examples of action research plans from leaders in schools today.  

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

        Oaks, CA:  Corwin Press.

Action Research Plan Purpose & Significance

Can the use of Smartboards and Interactive Response Systems improve student performance on local and state standardized tests?

Purpose

          The purpose of my action research plan is to determine if using SmartBoard and interactive response systems will increase fourth grade student performance in math on local and state standardized testing.  By incorporating the Smartboard more effectively and using the interactive response systems throughout the school year I hope to see the current weaknesses in math improve.  

          State tests have achievement levels of Advanced, Mastery, Basic, Approaching Basic, and Unsatisfactory.  Results will show the number of students scoring at each level, each year.  I plan to compare 4^th grade results this year to 4^th grade results next year (this will show different students scores, but on the same test).  I also am going to look at the scores of the third graders test this year and their fourth grade test next year (this will show same students results, but on different tests).

          Local test data will be available each nine weeks.  Student scores will categorized as Above Average, Average, and Below Average to compare results from the two years.

Significance

          Math consistently shows weaknesses on our student’s state standardized test scores each year.  By reviewing the data of this years students performance (where they didn’t get the use of Smartboards the entire year) to next years students (where they will be using the Smartboards and interactive response systems from the beginning of the school year) on local and state standardized test, I will see what type of change occurs in the scores and if consist use of this technology makes a difference.

Cohort 27, EDLD 5301

What is administrative inquiry or action research?  How does action research differ from traditional educational research?

            Action research was a very new term for me.  I wasn’t sure want it was all about (and was getting a bit stressed about doing an action research plan) until I participated in the web conference this past week.  Dr. Mason did an excellent job at breaking it down during the conference and then after reading through the text from Dana, I feel more confident that it is something I can do. 

            To me action research is the process of searching for solutions to a specific school problem or searching for ways to improve what is already going on at the school.  Through my conference and reading, I learned that it should be an intervention that can be applied in the school setting.  It should be specific to a content area or a grade level, and it shouldn’t be too large that it will be overwhelming to the “researcher” or the audience it was intended for. 

            Action research differs from traditional research in that it is relevant to the person doing the research.  Traditional research has others from “outside” the school/district telling us what needs to be done.  The actual people involved, the teachers and students, often don’t have a say in the traditional research format.  In action research, the “researcher” determines the problem (often by discussing it with colleagues) and then designs a plan to fix the problem that is pertinent to the school, teachers, and/or students involved.  The action researcher does a lot of reflection on the problem and questions that come up once the plan is enacted.  They collect and analyze data and review relevant literatures in order to make changes that are beneficial to his/her students and school. 

Dana, N.F. (2009).  Leading with passion and knowledge:  The principal as action researcher. 

       Thousand Oaks, CA:  Corwin Press.