Action Research change of plan

Steps for my New Action Research Plan

Step 1: Setting the Foundation.

Having a Shared Vision - Meet with the people involved in the action research topic; high school teachers, students and high school administrators.  Make sure the vision is discussed and shared among the group.  Making all parties aware of the importance of the action research and the desired results of the study.

Progress:  All parties have met and been made aware of the vision and goals of this action research project.

Understanding the need for inquiry - Make sure the goals of the inquiry are organized and understood by the group.  Making sure all factors are discussed and communicated.

Progress:  All details of this project have been discussed and communicated to all the people involved.

Providing time for improvement - Must make sure there is adequate time for proper evaluation and examination of the work to measure the amount of improvement.

Progress:  Adequate time for evaluation and improvements has been allowed.

Building Interpersonal trust - Make sure that all communication between group members is trustworthy; being reliable, respectful and honest will contribute to the success of the results in the action plan.

Progress:  We have stressed the importance of being reliable and honest in all information regarding this project.

Organizing Structures - Spend time meeting about the successes and failures of the action plan, making sure that during the duration of the plan, all aspects are discussed and improved if needed.

Progress:  Meeting time has been spent on the discussion of the action plan.

Step 2: Examining the Work.

Monovision Analysis - Taking careful steps to evaluate the scores on the benchmark and TAKS scores to ensure that the scores are reflected upon, evaluated, and assessed properly.

Progress:  This has been the most difficult part of the project; evaluating the information from the TAKS benchmarks and tests to the new testing methods will be a continued problem.

Analyzing Data - Search for patterns by comparing and combining data that typically are represented by numbers or words. (Examining What We Do To Improve Our Schools. p. 21).

Progress:  Data has been collected; however, there are still many obstacles to overcome in the translation from one type of test to the other.

Step 3: Developing Deeper Understanding.

Techniques: Active Listening, Interviews, Document Analysis, Questionnaires, and Focus Groups.

Using these techniques will enable the action research group to; Hear and understand what is being said, involving a question and answer process between the group involved in the action research study and to align the problem and purpose for what it is you want to know. (p. 43), use any means of technology to analyze the data, survey the teachers/staff to receive feedback on success or concerns about the action plan, and institute a focus group for monitoring and implementing future action plan topics, or improvements of the present plan. 

Progress:  Understanding how to use the information gathered to help the learners become more prepared for the next generation of testing has proved to be quite difficult.  There are still many hurdles to jump in this category.

Step 4: Engaging in Self-Reflection.

Answer questions such as: Who Am I? What biases do I have? And why am I an educator? are important questions to answer when determining the results of your action research.

Progress:  There have been many issues regarding the project I have chosen.  It is a good project to choose, however, the execution is much more difficult than I ever imagined.  There are still many things to work out if this project will be successful.  Collaboration is still the key to its success.

Step 5: Exploring Programmatic Patterns.

Asking the appropriate questions about the success or failure of the action research; Are the students showing improvement in the TAKS science scores?, Are the teachers communicating with one another about the methods that are helping improve student understanding, and are they expressing the need to improve if the improvements are not showing?, and Is the action research plan working?

Progress:  This is still the area of my action research that still needs the most work; there are still issues to “hash” out regarding the communication between all the participants in this project and getting full cooperation.  There have been many changes necessary to continue with the improvements and evaluation of the research.

Step 6: Determining Direction:

Working with the action plan group, use the method of collaboration to explore questions and answers involving success, continually monitor the progress being made while communication between grade level teachers is being used, and as a group, assess the achievements of the communication between grade levels.

Progress:  Exploration is easy when there are so many factors involved.  I must keep working to help students achieve greater heights in the grades on scores of this new test and teacher morale must improve.

Step 7: Taking Action for School Improvement.

This Action Research will use the PIP plan of action for our guide to action research study.

Progress:  The procedures for this action research have been clearly stated. 

Step 8: Sustaining Improvement.

We will use collaborative and on-going communication to continue student improvement on the scores on the benchmark science and TAKS science tests as well as improve teacher morale. 

Progress:  This has been the most challenging part of the plan; the teachers are not fully participating with the regularity required for this to be as successful as possible.