Research Purpose and Significance

Research’s Purpose

For my action research plan I will assess procedures to implement professional development for district online programs. The purpose of this research is to assist teachers to become effective in using the available district online programs. The estimated end result is to equip teachers to engage students, teach them with online resources, and assess students to increase student-centered learning. , and with the Some questions that I must understand for this plan are: what online programs have the district chosen, what subjects do they cover, what criteria was the district looking at for the program, which programs do the teachers want to know more about, how many teachers have access to computers for their students, how often do the students have access to the programs at school with teacher supervision, are teachers able to give online assignments, are scores viewable for the teacher, how can rosters be uploaded, what are the programs’ disadvantages, and what are the programs’ advantages?


Significance of your Proposed Action Research

Mouza (2002-2003) said many teachers fell ill-prepared to use computers for classroom instruction. Professional development will help teachers become prepared. Many people will benefit from professional development such as teachers, students, administration, parents, and the district. I believe professional development is a grass roots endeavor. It definitely benefits the teachers who are in the classrooms with the students. Teachers have to understand 21st learning to advance our students. Teachers will meet the students’ needs better. They will be able to differentiate lesson plans as well. The students get the immediate benefit of learning and using technology. Administration will have more ways to collect student data. Parents benefit when students benefit. And the district will always be beneficial from better scores as students varied learning style needs are met. Hopefully this will help to bridge the digital divide for teachers (Mason & Dodds, 2005).

References

Mason, C.Y. & Dodds, R. (2005, May). Bridge the digital divide for educational equity. The Education Digest (70)9, 25-27.

Mouza, C. (2002-2003). Learning to teach with new technology: Implications for professional development. Journal of Research on Technology in Education (35)9, 272-289.