Action Research Progress!!

I have proceeded as far as I can currently with my action research project.  It entails a comparison of schools which use laptops in their classroom with ours that does not.  I already have emailed some surveys to the superintendents of two districts that I’m using in my project.  I have compiled the data from the surveys and I have entered the information into my power point presentation.  I’m using last year’s AEIS data for part of the comparison.  I have broken that data down into the sub groups already, and have placed this into my power point presentation as well.  In order to finish my project, I must wait for this year’s AEIS data to become available.  STAAR testing makes comparisons at the freshmen and sophomore level impossible to validate without data to compare.  As a result, I am using only sophomore data from last year, and junior data from both years. At this time, the data shows that one district has significant success from the use of laptops in their classrooms, while the other district only appears to be marginally better in their achievements.  In EDLD 5301 we discussed how an action research project may lead to a new inquiry.  This one has.  I now believe that my data may be skewed because of the difference in diversity in one of the districts that I chose to study, but this is why I am also relying on my surveys for added input.   We have since decided to begin the process of installing Wi-Fi to our campus and acquiring laptops for classroom use.  This was the main reason for my inquiry.

Change to My Research Plan

After responses from my colleagues and my site supervisor, I have decided to narrow my study to include only the secondary levels of the school districts I'm studying.  I appreciate all the comments that my colleagues have made on my blog.  It has definitely helped me.  We are all in this together, and I will try to continue to respond to your blog and I hope you will continue to respond to mine as well.

I'm excited about the future of my study.  I hope that others in the future will be able to respond to the results, or utilize the results to help them with their future endeavors.   I have already learned a great deal and we are only in our second class.  I can only imagine what we will learn at the end of our next class. 

ACTION RESEARCH PLAN

Darrin J. Stansberry’s Action Research Plan
Goal: Determine if implementing classroom use of laptops increases performance in schools.
Action Steps(s):	Person(s) Responsible:	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
Interview personal at the chosen schools to determine when implementation of laptops in their classrooms occurred, and survey their opinions on this technology use.	Darrin J. Stansberry	December 2012 May 2013	Interview administrators	Analyze the Interview
Use student TAKS performance  the year prior to the technology implementation as a baseline for the study	Darrin J. Stansberry	December 2012 May 2013	AEIS Reports	Compare Data for all students and the sub groups at the secondary level
Research student performance in the years since the implementation of the laptops in the classroom	Darrin J. Stansberry	December 2012 May 2013	AEIS Reports	Compare Data for All students and the sub groups at the secondary level
Evaluate and create a spread sheet of the performance of Grade Levels and subgroups on the state mandated assessments (TAKS, STAAR)	Darrin J. Stansberry	January 2013 May 2013	AEIS Reports	Disaggregate Data to determine performance of student on state assessments.
Research any articles over the correlation of technology with student performance	Darrin J. Stansberry	January 2013 May 2013	Library Research/Internet Research	Read and disseminate the information from the articles
Compare the performance of the years prior to the laptop implementation with the years after, and provide information from interviews and articles in the presentation of my plan to my principal  and other interested parties.	Darrin J. Stansberry	January 2013	Internet access/computer and projector for power point presentation	Use the information as a tool to promote and plan for future purchases of laptops in our classrooms.

Week Two Reflection

This has been a very busy week.  I'm definitely seeing that there are many types of action research possibilities.  Many of the ideas presented in Leading with Passion and Knowledge are inquiries that I would be interested in following once I become a principal.  The nine areas mentioned by Dana were very helpful in giving me examples which will guide me in my future endeavors as an administrator.  I'm looking forward to starting this next step in my life.  It is evident to me that this action research plan I plan I'm working on will be just the first of many studies I initiate in the future. 

How can Blogs be Valuable Tool?

I can see blogs being a revolutionary tool for educators.  Blogs have already changed the nature of how people receive or attain the news of today.  I can foresee the same type of impact on education.  The same way we will utilize our blogs to communicate our ideas concerning our action research projects, a principal can blog about the changes on his campus.  He can discuss the STARR test and it's implications, and discuss issues such as dress code, tardy policies, and cell phone use.  It can also be tool for him to communicate to his staff concerning his own action research.  I see a scenario where parents log on to a Principal's blog to find out information about events at the school instead of making phone calls to the secretary for that information.  We should always strive for new ways to communicate.  Here is another tool.  We should seize the day and make the most of it.

My Thoughts on Action Research

Action research can be a valuable tool for all educators.  It is basically how we all learn.  We inquire! As humans, we are naturally inquisitive.  I have told my students many times, when you follow the scientific method, you are following the natural learning process.  I believe that action research is much like that.  It is a process of  inquiry about an educational topic that leads to knowledge and benefits for the entire school.  In an action research project, you investigate in a systematic way, much like a scientist in a lab.  The administrator then takes action based on his findings.  Most of the time this leads to more questions that demand another action research project.  In this way the administrator becomes a lifelong learner, and the school reaps the benefits of the knowledge gained.

The principal also becomes a role model for his teachers.  I would hope that the department heads of the school would follow the Principal's lead, and pursue action research as a tool to become lifelong learners as well.  This would greatly enhance the achievement of the school, and promote ownership in the learning process.  The action research project also causes the administrator to slow down and take a look at what is really going on in the school.  With the daily grind being what it is, this inquiry helps the principal look into the working of and issues of his school.  He normally runs through his day putting out fires of one sort or another.  The action inquiry helps him find answers to questions that he might have otherwise put off until another time, or help him to develop new programs that would benefit the achievement of his school. 

I believe that I can use an action research plan to help improve the technology at our school.  I plan to compare the achievement of surrounding schools that have laptops in the classrooms for student use, with ours that does not.  We don't have any computers in our classroom available for student use.  My district has computer labs, that are shared by all classes in the school.  I also plan to use action research in the future to analyze curriculum plans that are being used at our school, the discipline since returning to the use of ISS, and the benefits of morning tutorials versus those after school.