Action Research Plan Draft

Action Planning Template
Goal: Promote teachers to use collaborative teaching to incorporate technology into the classrooms to improve student performance.
Action Steps(s):	Person(s) Responsible:	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
1. Obtain permission from elementary principal to conduct research inquiry.	Debra Sicking	Aug. 13-17, 2012	Written document stating the elementary principal gives permission for this action research to be conducted on their campus.	N/A
2. Survey teachers on comfort level of use of technology tools including, but not limited to: basic computer usage, Web 2.0 tools, iPads, and SMART Boards.	Debra Sicking	Aug. 20-25, 2012	Surveys created with Socrative	Spreadsheet and graph of results.
3. Select and obtain permission from four teachers to conduct action research project in their classrooms.	Debra Sicking	Aug. 27-Sept. 4, 2012	Written document stating teacher permission to conduct action research in their classrooms.	N/A
4. Interview the four teachers in depth to gain a baseline for knowledge of technology (computers, Web 2.0 tools, iPads, and SMART Boards).	Debra Sicking	Sept. 4-10, 2012	Interview questions Notebook for interview notes	Interviewer notes will be compared to end of year interview with teachers' results of collaborative teaching with technology.
5. Collaborate lessons with the four teachers to be conducted throughout the school year using technology.  Including grading rubrics for collaborative grading.	Debra Sicking	Sept. 4-Oct. 1, 2012	Blank lesson plan format. Blank grading rubrics	Lesson plans and rubrics from group planning
6. Provide technology support for the four teachers throughout their lesson implementations.	Debra Sicking	Oct. 1, 2012- May 3, 2013	Classroom visits Email Cheat sheets on website “Tech Help” page Cell phone contact	Technology support satisfaction will be assessed in the final interview with the teachers after the lessons have been completed.
7.  Collect student grades on similar assignments without cooperative teaching or technology	Debra Sicking	Oct. 1, 2012- May 10, 2013	Student grades	Student performance standards will be compared to the performance standards and surveys of students when using cooperative teaching and technology
8.  Collect student grades on assignments and projects with cooperative teaching and technology.	Debra Sicking	Oct. 1, 2012- May 10, 2013	Student grades	Student performance standards will be compared to the performance standards and surveys of students when not using cooperative teaching and technology
9. Re-survey teachers on new comfort level of use of technology tools.  Is there improvement with comfort and usage?	Debra Sicking	May 6 – 17, 2013	Survey created and administered with Socrative.	Spreadsheet and graph of results.
10. Conduct exit teacher interviews of the four teachers regarding teacher growth, cooperative teaching strategies, and overall thought of cooperative teaching with technology.	Debra Sicking	May 6 – 17, 2013	Interview questions Notebook for interview notes	Interviewer notes will be compared to beginning of year interview with teachers’ results of collaborative teaching with technology.
11. Conduct student surveys of cooperative teaching with technology assignments/projects compared to traditional assignments/projects.  Is there an increase in satisfaction or interest in learning?	Debra Sicking	May 6 – 17, 2013	Survey created and administered with Socrative.	Spreadsheet and graph of results.
12. Analyze teacher and student survey data.	Debra Sicking	May 17 – 24, 2013	Surveys and spreadsheet of gathered data at beginning of year.	Analysis of survey results.
13.  Write a self-reflection based on interview notes, survey data, student performance data, and overall observations.	Debra Sicking	May 24 – June 1, 2013	Microsoft Word Collected data Observation & Interview notes	Self Reflection of plan of action to take place.
14.  Share information found on action research with administrators, teachers, and other stock-holders.	Debra Sicking	August 2013	Presentation at beginning of 2013-2014 school year.	Presentation feedback.

Format based on Tool 7.1 from Examining What We Do to Improve Our Schools

(Harris, Edmonson, and Combs, 2010)

Week 2 Reflection - Choosing an Action Research Topic

After completing the week 2 assignments, I have laid the framework for my action research project.  I am excited to begin working and reflecting on the results of my research. 

The beginnings of my plan...

Action Research: Cooperative Teaching with Technology

Questions to be answered:

- Why are teachers excited about new technology tools, but reluctant to use it in their classroom?

- How can teachers use technology to collaborate with other teachers easily and motivate students at the same time?

This week I met with my site supervisor.  We discussed several topics for research.  The pros and cons for each suggestion were evaluated such as necessity, benefits, time involved, goals met, and practicality. After weighing the results, we came to the conclusion that the best route for me to take while working in my current position as a classroom teacher and technology team member was the action research project involving Cooperative Teaching with Technology.

We agreed that I would design an action research plan on Cooperative Teaching with Technology for several reasons.  First, my plan needs to involve technology because I am an Ed Tech student.  Also, technology is my passion and is practical in my current position as a classroom teacher and district technology team member.  As Dr. Lewis stated in his video interview, the research should be practical.  Finally, this research would benefit the majority of the school from teachers to students to administrators.  All would be gaining new knowledge and meeting new goals. 

How Can Educational Leaders Use Blogs?

Educational leaders can use blogs to benefit themselves and their school.  Because blogging is a form of journaling, it allows the leader to self-reflect and evaluate.  By blogging, a leader is able to (without leaving their computer) connect with other leaders, impart knowledge, and gain feedback.  All of these are benefits for the blogger and thus creating a better leader in a school. 

What I Have Learned About Action Research & How to Use It

As I ask myself, "What have I learned about action research?" I find the answer quite simple - a formal name for something I have already been doing. I am an analyzer, suggestion maker, and a detective for a new way to do something when there is a problem. There is much more to action research than just thinking things through.  It is a more formal process, but after reading about it I realized I do many of the processes on a regular basis in my classroom on a daily basis.  

By setting the example of research, evaluation, and reflection, students and other teachers are led by example.  And because action research is led by those involved, the results are positive for students, teachers, administration, and the school as a whole. 

I plan to continue to use action research in my classroom planning and evaluations.  Having the steps for successful research laid out will only improve my results and encourage more self-evaluations and inquiry.  Specifically, I will use it to evaluate the benefits of collaborative teaching with technology.  As a technology team member and teacher, I work with both students and teachers.  By evaluating my plans for more technology implementation, I believe everyone involved will benefit . 

New at This

I am just testing out the waters on this blogging thing.  I think this will be fun!