Revised Action Research Plan

Goal: How can a teacher learning community affect the integration of technology into the classroom?


Objectives:
1. Identify current teacher perspectives on technology in the classroom.
2. Develop collaborative, collegial relationships that focus on student achievement and technology integration.
3. Discover and practice strategies/methods for integrating technology into the classroom.
4. Create a framework for effective professional development that will support teachers.

Activities:
1. Survey teachers to identify current perspectives
2. Teacher interviews/surveys
3. Literature review
4. Create teacher learning community/group for book study
5. Create blog for collaboration, support, and reflection

Resources:
1. Blog poll; STaR Chart data
2. personal interviews
3. professional books, literature
4. books for teachers, computers
5. Blog URL

Person(s) responsible:
1. Researcher
2. Campus Instructional Technologist

Time Line
1. September, 2010
2. September 2010-May, 2011

Process for monitoring
1. Review plan weekly
2. Review blog entries, discussions, reflections and comments
3. Monitor completion and adjust as needed

Assessment:
1. Blog poll at conclusion of study
2. STaR Chart data
3. blog entries, discussions, comments
4. classroom walk-throughs, lesson plans

Action Research Plan

Goal: Effectively Use Technology in the Classroom

Outcome/Objective 1: Identify current teacher perspectives on technology integration in the classroom.
Activities:
1. Survey teachers to identify current perspectives
2. Teacher interviews
3. Literature Review
Resources:
1. Blog poll, STaR Chart Data
2. Personal interviews, survey monkey
3. Professional books, journals, articles, websites
Person Responsible: Researcher
Time Line: October, 2010
Process for monitoring: Review plan weekly, schedule activities, monitor completion, adjust as needed
Assessment instrument: blog poll at conclusion of study, teacher survey/interviews,classroom walk-throughs, lesson plans


Outcome/Objective 2: Identify existing technology on our campus and its capabilities.
Activities:
1. Personal interviews with IT & administrator
2. Literature reviews
Resources:
1. Interview questions
2. Professional books, etc.
Person Responsible: Researcher
Time Line:November, 2010
Process for Monitoring: See objective 1
Assessment Instrument: See objective 1


Outcome/Objective 3: Identify strategies/methods for integrating identified technology into the classroom.
Activities:
1. Personal interviews with IT/district personnel, teachers
2. Literature interviews
Resources:
1. Interview questions
2. Professional books,etc.
Person Responsible: Researcher
Time Line: February, 2011
Process for monitoring: see objective 1
Assessment Instrument: see objective 1


Outcome/Objective 4: Identify a framework(s) for effective professional development that will support teachers.
Activities:
1. Personal interviews with IT/ district personnel, administrators
2. Literature reviews
Resources:
1. Interview questions
2. Professional books, etc.
Person Responsible: Researcher
Time Line: March-May, 2011
Process for monitoring: see objective 1
Assessment Instrument: see objective 1

Where's My "Wondering" for Action Research?

Look no farther than those daily dilemmas, difficulties, and problems that face every educator. Nancy Dana pointed to 9 related areas of passion that may lead to a wondering (or inquiry) for your research (Dana, 2009). The following 9 passions can help with articulating that burning question:

• staff development
• curriculum development
• individual teacher(s)
• individual student(s)
• school culture/community
• leadership
• management
• school performance
• social justice

Reflecting on these topics can help you recognize the wondering that resides within you.

A Vision of K-12 Students Today

How Can Educational Leaders Use Blogs?

Blogs have redefined news for the 21st century. We have moved from professional news to personal news 24/7. Its value to education is a 21st century methodology that is now available to excite and motivate learners. It also provides a medium to reflect on your unique perspectives about a topic of interest or inquiry. It can create a community of bloggers that inspire and motivate each other. Blogging can serve to motivate young writers and encourage them to hone their writing skills. For administrators, it is a new way to collaboratively communicate with stakeholders. Examples are: campus newsletters, timely dissemination of news to staff or parents, replace some faculty meetings, communication tool with parents and students. A Weblog can even capture thinking as an inquiry unfolds. It provides a place to capture and store thoughts and recollections safely to be shared with teaching colleagues or other administrators at a later time. It is really up to the imagination of the user to take full advantage of this Web 2.0 tool.

Here's the Scoop on Action Research. . .

Are you interested in a valuable tool that focuses on student achievement, supports reflective practice, and provides opportunities to work, discuss, and solve problems with peers? Action research, or administrative inquiry, is the one tool that allows principals to grow professionally in a meaningful way, while also becoming a role model for teachers and students on their campus. A primary benefit is that it facilitates change based on what he/she learns as a result of the inquiry. The process begins with posing questions or "wonderings," collecting data to gain insights into the wonderings, analyzing the data along with reading relevant literature, making changes in practice based on new understandings developed during inquiry, and sharing findings with others. Professional Learning Communities can enhance the possibilities for conducting an inquiry and cultivating a community of inquirers. It's school-based professional development at its best! Other contexts for facilitating the development of action research are university coursework, superintendent/district meetings, and campus leadership teams.

What are the benefits of action research?

• Provides principals with a meaningful way to grow professionally
• Principals become role models of instructional leadership for teachers and students in their building
• Encourages best practices to flourish at your school
• Empowers teachers as they become a part of the decision-making and problem solving process
• Develops collegial relationships on campus
• Educators become reflective practitioners

I am looking forward both personally and professionally to exploring this process, developing and applying solutions to an issue or problem at my school, and, above all, impacting student achievement!