Glad this week is over! It never fails with technology. Nothing works like you want it to. I have had a terrible time posting to my blog when it comes to files that I have created. I don't know if it is because I am using a Mac or if it is just me.
This week I created my action research plan (posted below). I am not sure if I am on the right track here. I have settled on my topic, for now, and think I know where I am heading. I will start the actual research the end of August or the first part of September. There is so much that goes into an action research project. I will be scheduling time each day to work on it.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Action Research Plan
Purpose
Orangefield Elementary (OES) has been ranked as a recognized campus for the past several years. The school has missed the rank of exemplary because the economic disadvantage students have not met the exemplary standard set by the state of Texas in the area of Mathematics. As I discussed this issue with Dr. Larry Haynes, Principal, we determined that the school needs to bridge the achievement gap in mathematics. With the state of Texas implementing the new and more rigorous standardized test, STAAR, in 2012, we need to take a proactive approach before the achievement gap grows further.
Question
How can the existing technology be used to bridge the mathematics achievement gap that exists between the economic groups?
Sub-questions
Methods
A school improvement committee will be formed to collect and analyze baseline data from TPRI and TAKS scores from 2009 to 2011. Surveys will be conducted to determine what technology is being used in and out of the classroom, as well as surveying students for a sense of belonging.
Data Collection
Data Analysis
Data analysis will be on going through out the entire project. The improvement committee will make recommendations for change based on the data analysis.
Person(s) Responsible for Implementation
I will be the primary person responsible for the implementation process. However, there will be an improvement committee made up of teachers from the different grade levels.
Timeline
2011
2012
Orangefield Elementary (OES) has been ranked as a recognized campus for the past several years. The school has missed the rank of exemplary because the economic disadvantage students have not met the exemplary standard set by the state of Texas in the area of Mathematics. As I discussed this issue with Dr. Larry Haynes, Principal, we determined that the school needs to bridge the achievement gap in mathematics. With the state of Texas implementing the new and more rigorous standardized test, STAAR, in 2012, we need to take a proactive approach before the achievement gap grows further.
Question
How can the existing technology be used to bridge the mathematics achievement gap that exists between the economic groups?
Sub-questions
- What technology does OES currently have?
- Does a language barrier cause the mathematics achievement gap?
- How does being an ESL student affect test scores?
- Do the economic disadvantage students have a sense of belonging to the OES community?
- How does the teacher/student relationship affect test scores?
- How does the student/student relationship affect test scores?
- What are the effects of not having or having a limited access to technology after school hours have on test scores?
Methods
A school improvement committee will be formed to collect and analyze baseline data from TPRI and TAKS scores from 2009 to 2011. Surveys will be conducted to determine what technology is being used in and out of the classroom, as well as surveying students for a sense of belonging.
Data Collection
- Identify number of economic disadvantage students at OES
- Collect TPRI and TAKS test data from 2009 - 2011
- Collect STAAR test data from 2012
- Survey parents and students on accessibility to technology after school hours
- Survey students on their sense of belonging to the OES community
- Survey math teachers on use of technology during math lessons
- Interview teacher from neighboring district that has exemplary scores
- Literature reviews
Data Analysis
Data analysis will be on going through out the entire project. The improvement committee will make recommendations for change based on the data analysis.
Person(s) Responsible for Implementation
I will be the primary person responsible for the implementation process. However, there will be an improvement committee made up of teachers from the different grade levels.
Timeline
2011
- September
- Initial meeting of Improvement Committee
- Determine number of economic disadvantage students are enrolled at OES
- September/October
- Gather notes from readings
- September/November
- Gather data from TPRI and TAKS tests from 2009-20011
- Input data into an Excel Spreadsheet
- October/December
- Technology Inventory
2012
- January
- Create survey of parents (technology access after school hours)
- Create survey of students (technology access after school hours and sense of belonging)
- February/March
- Conduct survey of parents (technology access after school hours)
- Conduct survey of students (technology access after school hours and sense of belonging)
- Input data into Excel Spreadsheet
- April
- Create interview questions
- Create survey of math teachers (technology used in classroom)
- April/May
- Interview teacher from Bridge City Intermediate
- Conduct survey of math teachers (technology used in classroom)
- Input data into Excel Spreadsheet
- May/July
- Gather data from STAAR test
- Input data into Excel Spreadsheet
- August
- Prepare results and findings
- September
- Share results with principal and improvement committee
- Prepare recommendations for improvement
- October
- Share findings and recommendations with teachers, superintendent, and school board
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Action Research Wondering
Week two of ELDL 5301 (Research) has come and gone. This week we had the opportunity to listen to three different interviews from doctorial graduates from Lamar University. The gentlemen represented three different levels of school leaders. They each gave examples of action research projects that they have participated in at their districts and the purpose for conducting the research. We then examined nine passions from Nancy Fichtman Dana’s book, Leading With Passion and Knowledge. There are nine areas that are described as major passions of school leaders. The nine passions are: staff development, curriculum development, individual teacher(s), individual student(s), school community/culture, leadership, management, school performance, and social justice. We then refined out wondering question for our own action research.
Working through these exercises, I have learned that developing an action research wondering is not a simple matter. You must look for a passion that you have and then find something you wish to improve or have a question about it. Developing the correct wording and narrowing down the topic takes time and patience. Literature reviews on your subject matter and taking with others with experience are suggested tools to use when developing your wondering.
In developing my first wondering I have learned that the economically disadvantage students of my district are the ones that are lagging behind, either from lack of background experience or from lack of parental support. My desire is to find through my action research ways that we can use the current technology that we have to bridge the educational gap between the economic groups of our district. All students, no matter their families’ income status, deserve to be serviced in ways to ensure that they are equally prepared to academically equal in the future.
Working through these exercises, I have learned that developing an action research wondering is not a simple matter. You must look for a passion that you have and then find something you wish to improve or have a question about it. Developing the correct wording and narrowing down the topic takes time and patience. Literature reviews on your subject matter and taking with others with experience are suggested tools to use when developing your wondering.
In developing my first wondering I have learned that the economically disadvantage students of my district are the ones that are lagging behind, either from lack of background experience or from lack of parental support. My desire is to find through my action research ways that we can use the current technology that we have to bridge the educational gap between the economic groups of our district. All students, no matter their families’ income status, deserve to be serviced in ways to ensure that they are equally prepared to academically equal in the future.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Educational Leaders and Blogs
Educational leaders might find blogs to be a very useful tool in their leadership. A blog is an excellent communication tool for any leader to utilize. Blogs enable leaders to stay connected with other professionals by sharing thoughts, ideas, and reflections. Leaders that are open enough to try blogging will find that it is an indispensable tool to have.
Action Research
Action research is very intriguing to me. The more I read about the process the more excited and nervous I become. It is not like any other research project that I have ever encountered before. Action research starts with a question that needs to be answered in order to improve a situation. After a question has been established, data is collected and analyzed. Meanwhile, related literature is reviewed. Throughout the entire process the leader is making adjustments to the original question based on the data and the literature utilizing reflection. At the conclusion of the research project, an answer to the question is arrived at and any necessary changes are made.
There are so many situations where I can use action research at school. I have so many ideas running through my head. For starters, I can use action research to analyze the effects having a technology class in the primary grades has on standardized test scores. Another idea is to analyze the effects that parent involvement has on the success of students.
Although fascinating, action research will be hard work. This is a process that will not happen over night. For it to be useful and affective, a very thorough data collection and literature review must be accomplished. Reflection must be utilized for growth to occur. All the recommended changes must also be accepted and adapted. Following all the described procedures should lead to a very productive action research project that everyone can live with.
There are so many situations where I can use action research at school. I have so many ideas running through my head. For starters, I can use action research to analyze the effects having a technology class in the primary grades has on standardized test scores. Another idea is to analyze the effects that parent involvement has on the success of students.
Although fascinating, action research will be hard work. This is a process that will not happen over night. For it to be useful and affective, a very thorough data collection and literature review must be accomplished. Reflection must be utilized for growth to occur. All the recommended changes must also be accepted and adapted. Following all the described procedures should lead to a very productive action research project that everyone can live with.
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