EDLD 5301- Week 3 Tool 8.1 CARE Model: Planning Tool

Review Tool 8.1 CARE Model: Planning Tool and complete the form explaining how your Action Research Plan corresponds to each of the tools of the CARE Model: (e.g., identifying what future focused concerns will be addressed by your Action Research Plan; describe at least three positive aspects of your current campus that need to be sustained to support the Action Research Plan; describe how your Action Research Plan has SMART recommendations or goals; and identify how you will evaluate your Action Research Plan).

The CARE Model review will provide you with a strong rationale and framework to enrich your Action Research Plan conference with your site supervisor.

Examining What We Do to Improve Our Schools Sandra Harris, Stacey Edmonson, Julie Combs

Tool 8.1 CARE Model: Planning Tool

Identify Concerns that must change (look to the future)

(Assign points to concerns from 1 to 3 in the order of the most important issues to consider.)

1. Motivating 7^th graders, through the use of technology, to engage in learning, be organized, and responsible

2. Creating good study habits for 7^th graders

3. Improving trimester grades

Identify Affirmations that must be sustained (look to the present)

(Assign points to affirmations from 1 to 3 in the order of the most important issues to consider.)

1. Teacher’s time & commitment

2. Constant and open communication between students, parents, teachers, and administration

3. 8^th grade promotion requirements

SMART Recommendations that must be implemented:

(Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Timely)

(Assign points to recommendations from 1 to 3 in the order of the most important recommendations to implement.)

1. Students will become familiarized with the use of technology software/hardware

2. Parent Conferences, and/or scheduled meetings with parents as it becomes pertinent 

3. Students will read, analyze, and discuss the book “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens” by Sean Covey

EVALUATE – Specifically and Often

(Identify the best ways to evaluate the implemented recommendations.)

1. Students will use technology throughout the school year to reinforce and motivate their learning experience in order to improve their grades.

2. Teacher reflective journal throughout the school year

3. Final Trimester 3 Report Card Grades, which will be a cumulative evaluation of the whole year.

EDLD 5301/ET8027- Week 3 Action Planning Template

Action Planning Template
Goal: In what ways does integrating technology, to create, improve, and/or motivate good study habits for 7th grade Jr. High students, help to improve their grades?
Action Steps(s):	Person(s) Responsible:	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
Introduce Action Research Project	Sherrie Jamero, Principal Supervisor/Mentor	May 2012- June 2012	My action research plan, Internet access to communicate via email	Describe Conference
Site Supervisor Conference and Consensus on my action research project	Sherrie Jamero, Principal Supervisor/Mentor	June 2012	Internet access to communicate via email	Email from site principal for approval.
Literature Review in Research Topic	Experts, Mentors, Self	June 2012- May 2013	Books, Internet, Search Engines	Book Reviews
Meet regularly, Discus Action Research Plan with Team Teacher	C. Welch Team Teacher	August 2012-May 2013	Internet to communicate, classroom for 1-on-1 meetings.	Emails, Student Progress Reports Collected from Team Teacher
Collect Data, Meet with Mentors, Complete Action Research Project	Sherrie Jamero, Principal Supervisor/Mentor, Michelle Crippen Curriculum Specialist/Mentor C. Welch Team Teacher, Students, Self	August 2012- May 2013	Internet, School, Computer Lab, Grade Software, Student Sample Data, Progress Reports, Report Cards, Parent Conferences	Finalizing and report on the Action Research Project findings

EDLD 5301/ET8027- Week 3 Developing & Sharing My Action Research Project

Action Research Project: In what ways does integrating technology, to create, improve, and/or motivate good study habits for 7th grade Jr. High students, help to improve their grades?

The purpose of my proposed action research study would first of all be to identify the learning style of each of my students. By identifying their learning style I could find ways in which I can integrate technology into their style. I believe I would also need to research about particular technology, software, programs, applications that interest middle school students. Another area of interest for me would be to gather demographical data of each of my students to see how there is a correlation between this data and their grades. I am sure that along the way of my action research project I will come upon practical research that will guide my project forward.

When I share my work with others I open up a form of critical thinking that leads to questions, discussions, debate, and other related topics. This whole sharing process would help us push and extend our thoughts. Therefore, leading to other action research ideas. In the Dana text a great simile was given, “An unshared practitioner inquiry is like the stone lying beside the pond. Unless that inquiry is tossed into the professional conversation that contributes to the knowledge base for teaching and administration, it has little chance of creating change. However, once tossed in, it disturbs the status quo of educational practices, creating a ripple effect…” (Dana 135-136).

Any one inquiry can have more than one audience. Therefore it is important to share your inquiry with others who share your same role. The sharing can be either informal or formal, depending on each situation. When sharing we must keep in mind that not all audiences will agree with our inquiry, which may lead to controversy or discomfort. So, we need to be careful about who, what, and how we share our work with. (Dana 138-139)

Throughout the school year 2012-13 in which my action research project will take place, I will regularly share the progress and process of my action research project with my mentor, team teacher, and with other teachers within my grade level. I will share, and collaborate, my progress and process to gain feedback from other teachers on what technical strategies they are using in their classrooms to improve their student’s grades. Most of my preliminary work will be shared orally in various formal and informal meetings and emails with other coworkers, and mentors. Throughout my research I will collect data, such as lesson plans, progress notes, report cards, email logs, and teacher reflective journal. It is also critical that I gather data from experts, and/or other resources available that support my action research project. Once I have gathered the data, analyzed it, reflected on my finding (on what works and what doesn’t), I will have gathered enough evidence to provide concluding thoughts and share my findings with my colleagues and other audiences who may follow my professional blog: http://www.lamaestramartinez.blogspot.com/

 This action research project is most important because it will prepare our 7^th graders for when they become 8^th graders and have to fulfill the promotional requirements. We want our promotional rates to be as close to 100%, if not 100%, as possible. My goal is to use technology to engage these students in improving and motivating them to create better study habits in order to improve their grades. I will learn about new ideas, strategies, and techniques that will help me become a better teacher and prepare me for an administrative position. It is essential that I share my finding with my colleagues and that I am open to suggestions/concerns. By doing so, I will be exposing myself to new future inquiries. In addition, my action research project would be mostly significant to the students because they will be the ones benefitting the most, they will create life-long habits that will be with them throughout their education and beyond.

EDLD 5301- Week 3 Reflection of the Targeted Population

Action Research Project: In what ways does integrating technology, to create, improve, and/or motivate good study habits for 7th grade Jr. High students, help to improve their grades?

Description of the context or setting of your study

My action research will take place within my two groups of 7^th grade students in my classroom, approximately 60 students. We will use my classroom as the primary setting, and our schools computer lab will be another setting, where learning will take place. I team teach the same group of students with another teacher, so I would be working with him in collecting student data (grades). I will be meeting with my students for 2-3 periods of the day. My action research project is a year-long project and my goal is to integrate technology to create, improve and/or motive good study habits for 7^th grade Jr. High students, help to improve their grades. 

Target Population

My targeted population for my action research would be my two groups of 7^th grade students, which consists of about 60 students.

Sample Selection

I will be selecting ten students from each class, who struggled with their grades during their 6^th grade year. So practically, I will use a sample of lower performing students.

Rationale for Sample Size

The basis for the sample size that I have chosen is based on the fact that 15-20% of our 8^th grade students are not going through the promotion ceremony at the end of the year due to their grades, proficiency scores, and/or citizenship. My focus in my action research project is to help these students improve their grades, and in turn that can improve proficiency scores and/or citizenship.

How will the research be conducted?

I will collect data, i.e., progress reports, report cards, interventions notes/emails, for the 2012-13 school years. I will meet with students to discuss progress, problems, and/or concerns. I will also meet with parents for the first two trimesters, and as needed throughout the school year. I will also meet/email and collect data from my partner teacher, in regards to my selected group. I will also collect student work sample (by paper and/or by electronic means) to support my data. I will create observational notes throughout the year and use them to monitor progress. The goal is that by the last trimester, these students learn how to integrate technology to create, improve and/or motive good study habits to help them improve their grades. 

EDLD 5301- Week 2 Reflection on Learning

It was very resourceful to have seen the interviews of the three scholars, and having access to their dissertations. This helped me have more understanding about the action research project. The advice that each scholar gave was very meaningful: Collaboration, Ethical, Practical! The Dana text was very detailed and had lots of great examples which focused on the nine major areas of wondering of many school leaders. By learning about these specific and most important areas I have acquired different perspectives that could lead into other action research projects.

EDLD 5301- Week 2 Purpose/Significance of my Action Research Project

The purpose of your proposed action research study (in other words, answer: what you will research- you may identify more than one topic of interest)

The purpose of my proposed action research study would first of all be to identify the learning style of each of my students. By identifying their learning style I could find ways in which I can integrate technology into their style. I believe I would also need to research about particular technology, software, programs, applications that interest middle school students. Another area of interest for me would be to gather demographical data of each of my students to see how there is a correlation between this data and their grades. I am sure that along the way of my action research project I will come upon practical research that will guide my project forward.

The significance of your proposed action research study (please explain who will benefit in some way(s) from the information that your action research project will provide, and how they will benefit)

This action research project is most important because it will prepare our 7^th graders for when they become 8^th graders and have to fulfill the promotional requirements. We want our promotional rates to be as close to 100%, if not 100%, as possible. My goal is to use technology to engage these students in improving and motivating them to create better study habits in order to improve their grades. I will learn about new ideas, strategies, and techniques that will help me become a better teacher and prepare me for an administrative position. It is essential that I share my finding with my colleagues and that I am open to suggestions/concerns. By doing so, I will be exposing myself to new future inquiries. In addition, my action research project would be mostly significant to the students because they will be the ones benefitting the most, they will create life-long habits that will be with them throughout their education and beyond.

EDLD 5301- Week 1 How might educational leaders use blogs?

Communication is essential in our everyday routine. When educational leaders use blogs to communicate, they are going above and beyond the norms of communication.  It is extremely necessary to keep up with the 21^st century technology, and blogging is no exception. Educational leaders might use blogs as a means of communication between: students, parents, faculty, administration, and community members. Blogs keep people informed about particular situations happening at school or in the community. In addition, blogs allows students, parents, faculty, and community members to give input, make comments or suggestions. Other that helping with communication, blogs can also be a means of educating, a means that would lead into inquiry, among a few. Blogs have become part of our communication in the 21^st century.  

EDLD 5301- Week 1 Action Research

Action research refers to a systematic process in which the administrator intentionally collects data, analyses the data, and takes action for change based on his/her findings of the inquiry.

When administrators are faced with problems or peculiar situations, they tend to seek out change in order to solve the problem. An inquiry begins from a questions/wonderings. Once the specific questions are developed, data is collected in order to acquire knowledge about the inquiry. Studying the data and reading relevant literature is important for the inquiry analysis. The purpose of researching and analyzing is to add something new to what is already known, and going beyond. The purpose of this would be to make change in how we practice, based on the new understandings developed throughout the inquiry. After going through all these rigorous steps of inquiry/research it is extremely important and beneficial to share our findings with others in order to learn and make improvements/change.

I could personally use action research in many ways or in many situations/problems within my classroom. It would all begin with a question/wondering that might be triggering my curiosity to explore, learn, and improve. For example, in the next year I will be creating my action research plan in researching/inquiring ways on how to integrate technology to create, improve, and/or motivate good study habits for 7th grade Jr. High students in order to improve their grades.