Latest Update on Action Research

My action research project is off to a good start this year. It has not been as smooth as I would have liked because the new teachers are required to attend so many other meetings and we are trying not to really overwhelm them. The meeting with CILT went well in the spring. We decided to repeat Action Step 3 in August because we had some other new teachers added for the 2013-2-14 school year. This revision also caused us to revise some of the sessions and trainings that we had planned in Action Step 4. The new teachers are enjoying the collaborative settings that they are getting a chance to attend together. They feel that they are beneficial even with all of the other things that are going on. We really try to make the sessions pleasant and relaxed by providing snacks and opportunities to celebrate their successes. We also try not to make the meetings longer than necessary by sticking to our norms and following our agendas. Sometimes the teachers will stay longer just to share ideas and also ask for some one-on-one support or help. We have been going into the classrooms and doing SPOT observations for the purpose of coaching only. The teachers welcome the feedback and also any ideas or suggestions that can help them do a better job. The new teachers do not know that I am doing an action research project. I don’t want them to feel that they are getting this help only because of an assignment. We are having a wonderful time learning and sharing together. I am already looking forward to doing it again next year.

Reflections from EDLD5301

There are so many areas of interest in this course on action research. This course has impacted my thinking and the way I process data and new information. I had a preconceived, negative notion about this class prior to getting started. When Dr. Abshire mentioned, at the beginning of the course, that this was one that most students really enjoyed, I thought, yea, sure they do. But, I will admit that I was wrong and I have thoroughly enjoyed it. I never considered myself a researcher until now. I not only see this in myself, but I realize it is true for all learners. I think this idea will be empowering for me as I grasp the possibilities that lie ahead with action research. I believe I have gained insight into the research process as a whole and expect the daily data that I collect and examine, on various topics, to inform my decisions in light of the context and reliability of the data.

One of the first steps in learning about action research was watching videos of current administrators who have used action research in both their doctoral studies, as well as in their roles as administrators on their respective campuses or in their school districts. Dr. Timothy Chargois of Beaumont Independent School District, pointed out that we can use today’s data to impact tomorrow’s instruction. As I work on my action research, I feel that is exactly what I will be doing. Action research, according to Dana, is intended to bring about change of some kind (Dana, 2009). There will be a change in how new teacher support is done on our campus. I feel that what I am accomplishing now will help our campus and possibly our district retain new teachers in the future.

I cannot tell how enlightened I have been through the feedback and interactive support from the discussion board. The feedback I have received from my peers has been valuable. Some have pointed out areas that I had not considered, while others just encouraged me to go ahead because they thought it was a great project. By having conversations through the discussion board, I have also gained knowledge about the other action research projects that are being worked on. This opened my eyes to the fact that we are all facing many of the same challenges and can benefit greatly from the collaborative process. I am looking forward to following many of these projects to their completion.

Action Planning Template
Goal: To provide support for new teachers as they develop their craft to become proficient and/or exemplary in their instructional planning and delivery of lessons to their students. Also, to support them to the place where they would possibly become mentors to other new teachers.
Action Steps(s):	Person(s) Responsible:	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
1. Discuss action research topics with principal (Monica Marquez)	Myself (Deborah Washington)and principal (Monica Marquez)	4/18/2013	Intern Plan Data to show years of service for teachers.	N/A
2. Meet with CILT to inform them of their roles in this action research project. We will also develop a questionnaire to distribute to the new teachers.	Myself, CILT (Roberto Gonzales, Danielle Duffy, Reymundo Cervantes, Ashley Haddad) and New Teacher Mentor Coordinator (Kymla Williams)	5/1-13/2013	Questionnaire created with Google Forms	Developed questionnaire
3. Meet with new teachers and CILT to provide an overview of the action research and to complete a questionnaire to target strengths, weaknesses, concerns and expectations.	Myself and CILT (Campus Instructional Leadership Team)	5/20/2013	Questionnaire	Evaluate data to assess the needs, concerns and the expectations of the group. (Spreadsheet of answers, graph results)
4. Develop sessions, trainings, and/or staff developments to meet the needs of the new teachers based on the data collected from the questionnaire, prior SPOT Observations, Staff Developments and Feedback.	Myself and CILT	May-Sept. 2013	SPOT Observation Data, Staff Development Data, Feedback Data	Match the needs from the questionnaires with sessions, trainings or staff development.
5. Implement sessions, staff developments or trainings twice per month focusing on the information that was gathered from the questionnaire and other data.	Myself and CILT	Sept. 2013-  Feb. 2014	SPOT Observation Forms and Campus Trackers	We will use SPOT Observations to evaluate new teachers while they are implementing their skills in the classroom. They will be given feedback and additional help, if needed. This will be recorded and followed on our campus tracker.
6. Have teachers complete post questionnaires to examine the benefits for each of them and for the group.	Myself and CILT	March 2014	Questionnaire created with Google Forms	Compare the post questionnaire with their original questionnaire to examine the benefits of the support they received as individuals and as a group. Evaluate the feedback and see if changes need to be implemented to continue improvement..

Week 2 Reflection

I learned a lot from this week's assignment. The number one thing that I will embrace is that action research is a tool that can be utilized to help bring about change at every level and in every area of a school campus, beginning with staff development  and ending with social justice. I also learned that one should not shy away from the research that has been done by others, but embrace it and use it to benefit the needs of one's own campus.

Action Research

What I Have Learned About Action Research

Before beginning the course about action research, I had very little understanding of the subject as it refers to administrators. I have learned that action research allows the school leader to have more of a self-reflective, proactive role on any inquiry based school initiative. It is a tool that can be used by administrators to untangle the intricate web of day to day demands and take charge of their own professional development and become a "head learner" at the school. Action research does not require "outside experts" who have no clue about the climate or needs of a school. It involves the practitioner, the one who understands what is going on in the school, in the research process. With action research, the practitioner is more involved in the process, actively gains insight into problems, and searches for possible recommendations all within the walls of the school. To become an effective leader, I would consider action research a vital tool to use. It would allow me to function on an as needed basis. I would be able to take on the problems that arise, collect data on specific practices and then make changes to better serve the need of my campus. Since the data collected will be for a defined problem, the solution would be specifically for the problem identified. Action research works on the basis of determining what works and how to make it better.

How Educational Leaders Can use Blogs

I can see many benefits for us, as educational leaders to use blogs. One of the great benefits is the collaboration that it will allow. As a principal, you are the only one like you in your building and that is sometimes a very lonely place. It is also the place where almost everyone else in the building expects to come for answers. Blogging is way of gaining insight from other principals, sharing ideas with them and exploring ideas to a deeper level than you would all by yourself. In other words, it gives you a larger audience for your thoughts and a way to receive feedback.

Reference:
Dana, Nancy Fichtman, (2009), Administator Inquiry Defined. In Leading with passion and knowledge: The Principal as Action Researcher, Thousan Oaks, CA: Corwin