Week 3 Draft Action Research Plan and Reflection

Draft Action Research Plan

SCHOOL VISION: To provide quality instruction that enhances student academic performance.

GOAL: We have two schools in our district that have academically unacceptable ratings. During audits of these schools by an external SIT, it was found that the students need to be more engaged with technology. A professional development initiative called Bloomin’ SMART will be provided to assist the teachers with technology integration to engage the students. This professional development is voluntary and will be designed to train teachers to use interactive whiteboard software to create lessons that are aligned to district and state standards and provide differentiated learning. The course will be both online and face-to-face. It will begin March 20, 2012 and continue through July 9, 2012. The teachers participating will implement the lessons from the professional development with their students this year and next school year. In an effort to understand the effects of increasing student engagement through technology, the following wondering was born.

Is there improved academic performance of the students whose teachers participated in the Bloomin' SMART professional development program and implement the lessons from the
professional development in their classes?

1. Examining the Work: Setting the Foundation –
During external SIT audits of unacceptable campuses and meetings with principals and directors, the issue of the lack of integration of technology in the classroom to engage students with differentiated instruction is identified as a concern. Create course to provide professional development, Bloomin’ SMART, to train teachers to use interactive whiteboard software to create lessons that are aligned to district and state standards and provide differentiated learning.

2. Analyzing Data –
Use a variety of data collection strategies. Probable findings might include data that supports research that shows interactive whiteboards are effective tools for increasing student achievement. Analyze quantitative student achievement data by comparing 2011-2012 benchmark tests, and standardized test scores to those in 2012-2013.

Conduct electronic searches (Perform Google searches about the use of interactive whiteboards (IWB) and student achievement).

3. Developing Deeper Understanding –
Engage in additional data analysis completed from a combination of qualitative data
collection strategies. Including field notes, teacher and student interviews
and student work.

4. Engaging in Self-Reflection –
Participate in self-reflection of the Bloomin’ SMART professional development course and the interpretation of the data.

Is the online format of the professional development conducive to teacher learning and participation?

Are the teachers successfully creating lessons that meet the criteria of the rubric?

Are the teacher’s successfully implementing the lessons from the Bloomin’ SMART
training in their classes? If so, what is the effect on student engagement and
achievement?

5. Exploring Programmatic Patterns –
Explore the patterns and gaps that surface as a result of further analysis and reflection. Discuss outcomes of project with Site supervisor, principals and curriculum director. Formulate and answer applicable questions that will address the issues.

Is the program making a positive difference in student
achievement? Do any gaps exist?

What are the pros and cons of the Bloomin’ SMART
project?

Could anything be done to improve the project?

6. Determining Direction –
With Site supervisor, principals and curriculum director look at all of the previously gathered information and make decisions about project’s direction.

Should the program continue and be implemented on a larger scale?

7. Taking action for school improvement – See 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.

Continue to implement the features of this project that improved student achievement.
Share these results with district stakeholder and Lamar colleagues.

Week 3 Reflection

I feel like week 1 and 2 assignments, readings and lectures have provided the foundation for the week 3 assignment. Because of the knowledge that I have gained and helpful comments and suggestions from colleagues, I have edited my action research question. It is now less wordy and more to the point. I am pleased with it. The Week 3 lectures, readings and assignments have helped me to develop my action research plan to conduct my action research project. I like having the written plan as a guide or blueprint to follow. Although I will still probably need to make revisions to the plan, the pieces are starting to come together for me.