EDLD 5301-Reflections for Week 4

Action research plan:  To provide professional development for Reading department staff regarding online programs offered or supported by DeSoto East Middle School. 

I greatly appreciated any and all comments to my blog.  I currently have one comment posted for my action research plan from Ms. Colvin.  Even though it is just one comment, it has several suggestions that are reasonable to consider in the development of my action research plan. 

Ms. Colvin questioned my focus point for my action research.  This is a great observation.  I do not plan to place a limit on the number of online programs at this current time.  I am excited about letting this action research plan develop into what is needed on my campus.  This will be assessed in mid-May as I evaluate what programs have been completed.  At that time, some of the programs may not be included.  At this present time the programs listed are:  Study Island, iCore, Discovery Education, USA TestPrep, and Web 2.0 Tools.

Ms. Colvin also commented on having different teachers try different online programs.  I am gravitating to this recommendation for several reasons.  I may consider this for teachers who are already familiar with certain programs, but lacking in others.  Also another reason to consider this is because of possible time constraints. 

Hopefully, others will comment on my plan.  I value the insight, questions, and the encouragement.  I will update this reflection as I receive more comments.

Week 3 – Blog Reflection

This week’s assignments entailed me planning.  This is what I felt like I do best.  I have plans and listed items for prioritizing every day of my life.  However, for some reason creating a detailed action research plan was tedious.  As I reflect back, I realized that it was strenuous to put on paper because I know this plan will change.  Plans in my mind, should not change.  However, I keep telling myself this plan will change and it will be OK.  Flexibility will be key to the success of this research.  So, I am currently reprogramming myself to change continuously without hesitation.  I have been fighting this idea since I started teaching 4 years ago.  But now I know change is actually the best thing I can embrace for student achievement.  Now this systematic process will allow me to change what I need to and to keep what are foundational.

Research Action Plan

DeSoto ISD Mission:  To provide experiences for young men and women so they learn and practice the values of high academic and professional achievement as well as wholesome individual and civic character.

School Mission Statement:  Desoto East Middle School is committed to equipping students with the tools they need for academic, personal and social achievement. 

School Vision Statement: To prepare responsible and productive citizens with strong critical thinking and academic skills by providing a rigorous, dynamic, comprehensive curriculum delivered in partnership with the community, family and a competent, qualified staff in a safe and caring environment.

Related Goal (to action research plan):  To improve quality and capacity of staff.

Action Research Goal:  To provide professional development for DeSoto East Middle School Reading Department teachers for online programs offered or supported by DeSoto ISD.

OUTCOMES	ACTIVITIES	RESOURCES/ RESEARCH TOOLS NEEDED	RESPONSIBILITY TO ADDRESS ACTIVITIES	TIME LINE	Benchmarks/ ASSESSMENT	Revisions to SIP/PIP based on monitoring and assessments
Setting the Foundation	Collaboration was completed with principal, intern mentor, Technology District Committee, and Reading team lead to determine professional development needs.	ü  Reading Teachers ü  Educational Technology Intern ü  Tech. Committee ü  Team Lead ü  Principal	ü  Educational Technology Intern	Jan. 2012 to Feb. 2012	Interview data	Presently not applicable.
Analyzing Data	The data collection plan will consist of meeting notes, surveys, interviews, and lesson assessments from the base group.  Electronic searches will be used such google, National Staff Development Council (NSDC), AASA, American School Board Journal, and applicable websites as needed.	ü  Time management ü  Computer ü  Teachers ü  Students	ü  Educational Technology Intern ü  Teachers	Jan. 2012 to June 2012	ü  Meeting notes ü  Surveys ü  Observations ü  Interview, ü  Lesson Assessments	Presently not applicable.
Developing Deeper Understanding	As additional questions arise, I will collaborate with the principal, intern mentor, District Technology Committee, librarian, and Reading department team lead.  The meeting times will be scheduled as the need occurs.  I will reassess as needed.	ü  Educational Technology Intern ü  Principal ü  District Technology Committee ü  Librarian ü  Team Lead	ü  Educational Technology Intern	Jan. 2012 to June 2012	ü  Meeting notes ü  Meeting agendas ü  Additional surveys ü  Additional interviews ü  Observations	Presently not applicable.
Engaging in Self Reflection	Self-reflection will be included in my blog, http://claudinehines.blogspot.com/, on used for weekly or monthly reflections.  Some questions that have already come up 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,  how can rosters be uploaded, what are the programs’ disadvantages, and what are the programs’ advantages?	ü  Educational Technology Intern ü  Internet Availability	ü  Educational Technology Intern	Jan. 2012 to June 2012	ü  Blog	Presently not applicable.
Exploring Patterns	The systemic method for each online program will be training, teacher surveys for training, and student assessment for programs.  Each program will be administered one at a time.	ü  Educational Technology Intern	ü  Educational Technology Intern	Jan. 2012 to June 2012	ü  Surveys ü  Lessons ü  Observations	Presently not applicable.
Determining Direction	The direction is established.  The plan will be reassessed again.	ü  Educational Technology Intern	ü  Educational Technology Intern	Jan. 2012 to June 2012	ü  Collaborative meetings	Presently not applicable.
Taking Action	Committees set up will be the base group (Reading teachers) and District Technology Committee.  Please see Action Plan Tool Template 7.1 for additional information.	ü  Educational Technology Intern ü  Teachers ü  Committee	ü  Educational Technology Intern	Jan. 2012 to June 2012	ü  Collaborative meetings	Presently not applicable.
Sustaining Improvement	The action research plan will be implemented with multiple online programs.	ü  Educational Technology Intern ü  Teachers ü  Committee	ü  Educational Technology Intern	Jan. 2012 to June 2012	ü  Collaborative meetings	Presently not applicable.

Reflections - Week 2 - EDLD 5301

Learning is always apart of teaching, especially for the teacher. I have learned so much this week about what is entailed in action research. Action research should be applicable. I will apply my action research of providing professional development to the staff on available technological resources. I hope to benefit the administration, teachers, students, and parents. When staff is equipped to teach and engage students, administration can be assured that students' priorities are placed first. When teachers are trained they have the confidence needed to instruct students. When students consistently use 21st century technology it increases their knowledge base and higher order thinking skills set. And lastly, parents know that their child is prepared for the work force in today's society. I hope to make an impact on my campus with action research in professional development.

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.

Educational Leaders and Blogs

Educational leaders can use blogs in various ways. We can use them as a source of information, to communicate, and for collaboration. The medium can also be used with multiple audiences such as administration, teachers, subordinates, the community, parents, and/or any vested educational parties.

Action Research Reflection

What have I learned about action research?

Action Research simply put is research in action or should I say re-searching, again and again, for the appropriate action plan. I have learned that an action plan is a process conducted by administrators that continuously gathers data, evaluates information,

Who should use action research?

Administrators, teachers doing coursework for principal ship, district leaders, and superintendents should consider using action research to improve their educational setting (Dana, 2009). Action research should be supported by administration and teachers (Ringler, 2007). If an infrastructure exists for the research, it will be more successful in implementation.

What are some areas of action inquiry as an administrator?

Staff development, curriculum development, and building relationships are some areas that have administrators questioning or wondering what the best strategy is for their campus (Dana, 2009). Finally, I understand more of the interwoven responsibilities of a principal. I will first use this information to be a better teacher. With enlightenment comes responsibility.

My principal has been developing PLCs at our school for approximately three years now. She bought us a book to review as a department and campus called It’s Being Done by Karin Chenoweth. This book covers how schools with low passing scores raised their scores to passing. She requested that we discuss in our staff meetings and we each would have set times to present what we liked about the program.

She would then lead us into inquiring about how we should address our areas of concerns for the state test. How do we meet the needs of the students? What did the data say? What subgroups were low? Was AYP being met consistently? Then we would brainstorm as departments on what we could do to improve score, then as a campus. Now I know this is inquiry-based professional learning communities to complete action research for the betterment of our campus.

How will I be able to use action research?

I will use action research to contribute to my school’s “shared vision” (Harris, Edmonson, & Combs, 2010). The wonderings that have “nagged” (Dana, 2009) me are more daunting today after being exposed to this information. I have always been the type of person to find solutions to my problems. Now action research can give me a systematic method of evaluating issues, researching literature, collecting data, and forming solutions.

References

Dana, N.F. (2009). Administrator inquiry defined. In C.C. Collins, B.
Ory, & J. Haenel (Eds.), Leading with passion and knowledge: The principal as action researcher. (pp. 1-27). Thousand Oaks, CA: A SAGE Company.

Ringler, M.C. (2007). Action research an effective instructional leadership skill for future public school leaders. AASA Journal of Scholarship and Practice, 4(1), 27-42.