Week 4 Action Research

I posted some areas of difficulties in our class discussion that I thought I might encounter and received some great replies.  It affirms to me that we are all in this together and willing to offer suggestions, encouragement, and much needed advice.  I know that I have felt encouraged! 

Advice included looking into google docs for survey tools, providing higher level questions on my survey and questionnaires, offering incentives to my students for increased involvement on benchmark tests, and trying to level the playing field on all student involvement.  Thank you for all your great advice and continued support on this action research plan.

Week 3 - Action Research Plan

Well, I have gone back and forth with the action research plan.  I didn't realize all the steps that I would have to incorporate for the completion of this assignment.  However, the assignment is never completed because I keep going back and forth tweaking it, adding items, deleting items, thinking of new ideas....etc.  I think everyone else in the class understands what I am talking about.  I'm really enjoying it though!  Here is a copy of what I have so far.  Your comments and thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Action Planning Template
Goal:  Lower the student to teacher ratio in order to increase student performance.
Action Steps(s):	Person(s) Responsible:	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
Discuss new teacher involvement and welcome them to the campus.	Myself, Mr. Campbell Principal, Mr. Andrus Asst. Principal, and Campus Counselors	During in-service at the beginning of the year.	Presentation of the action research plan	The assessment will be the amount of teacher participation for the school year.
Determine classes where the student to teacher ratio is hindering student achievement	Myself, Mr. Campbell Principal, Mr. Andrus Asst. Principal, and Campus Counselors	From the end of the first grading period to the end of the school year.	Data from the district benchmark assessments	Analyze the data from the benchmark assessments and compare it to class size
Have teachers use survey monkey to answer questions at points during the school year.	Myself, Mr. Campbell Principal, Mr. Andrus Asst. Principal, and Campus Counselors	Throughout the school year.	Created survey on “Survey Monkey”	Determine if a high student to teacher ratio has a negative impact on teacher morale
Conduct exit interviews with teachers regarding the student to teacher ratio in their class	Myself, Mr. Campbell Principal and Mr. Andrus Asst. Principal.	End of the school year.	Data from the two questionnaires throughout the school year.	Compile all data from the  questionnaires to develop a consensus and determine overall campus attitude regarding student to teacher ratio.

What I learned in Week 2

This week gave me great insight into my choice of topic for action research.  I learned that you want to chose something that is practical and of importance to you so that you would be fully vested in the outcome and student performance would be improved.  I also learned that if student performance is not improving then it all has been a wasted effort of time and manpower.  As leaders we need to be life-long learners and never settle or be content with our current practices.  In doing this we will make sure that we are striving to increase student achievement.

How Educational Leaders can use Blogs

Blogs are a superb way for administrators to communicate with their stakeholders.  Blogs can be used to increase parent involvement, update the stakeholders on changes within the school environment, post and receive survey information, and give the parents a user friendly way to stay up to date with activities and progress of the school.  Blogs are also excellent tools for educators (colleagues) to share ideas with each other, offer & seek advice, and share ideas for a successful school environment.  When I am an administrator I will certainly encourage the use of blogs.

What I've learned about Action Research

Administrative inquiry or action research involves a collaborative effort used by educators today to devise ways to solve the immediate, real-life problems experienced in schools.  In our readings Dana defines inquiry as "a principal engaging in a systematic, intentional study of his/her own administrative practice and taking action for change based on what he/she learns as a result of the inquiry."  Simply stated, we learn through reflecting on our experiences.  We are responsible for identifying areas in need of change, implementing a change through collaborative efforts with other colleagues, and evaluating the schools progress after a period of time.  The entire process involves taking a deeper look at the school environment, identifying areas of weaknesses and strengths, using inquiry to come up with solutions to the problems, and looking at the data available so that we make better informed decisions.  The decisions for change should be made with the intent of showing student success and improvement.  This is critical in this day and age where schools are being held more accountable for the achievement of its students.  I am currently a "new" member of an action research committee and have witnessed this tool used by the administrators.  As a result I will without a doubt use this technique in addressing areas of concern when I am an administrator.