EDLD 5301 EA 1281 Final Reflection

Throughout this course I have learned many new ideas and concepts. The most important concept that I have learned is that action research differs from traditional educational research in many ways. Administrator inquiry, or action research, refers to the process of a principal engaging in 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 (Dana, 2009). It is cyclic in nature in that the administrator is constantly reevaluating and looking for ways to improve the current process. The administrator is eager to learn about different ways of doing things and conducts research by using books, journals, peer discussions and/or past experiences. Traditional educational research is often taken on and implemented by colleges or universities that are foreign to the everyday functions of a school or school district. The research is usually intended for academic audiences and it doesn’t allow administrators or teachers to become engaged in the research process. Traditional research is linear in nature and supports the idea that it is the administrator’s role to implement the research finding provided by “outside experts.”

I have also learned that reflection is an integral process throughout action research. Continuous reflection upon a wondering broadens perspectives and allows deeper insight of various methods. Researching, debating, and understanding different points of views on an issue are an important process and experience for both teachers and principals. It helps them to develop and grow into life long learners and role models that are much needed in an educational setting. Administrators must remember that action research is cyclic in nature and with the omission of reflection it becomes linear and more like traditional research. Martin, Wright, Danzig, Flanary, & Brown (2005) described reflection as learning to analyze prior experiences in order to better understand how they shape future courses of action. With reflection administrators are constantly questioning the current program and trying to identify ways that it could be managed more effectively for our teachers and students. In other words, a program is never perfect. Each school year brings new challenges with different perspectives and reflection on current processes by administrators and teachers is a must. This reflective practice through action research eventually, with much practice, becomes embedded in administrative duties and allows for enhanced professional and personal growth.

While learning about how to conduct an action research project, I realized there are many things that I wouldn’t have taken into consideration had it not been for this course. In the field of education there are so many things that can happen in one day to disturb a classroom. These disturbances, among many others, aid in the challenges to conducting an action research project. Typical examples of challenges may be time and daily demands, expected cooperation from others, administrative support, accurate and/or sufficient amount of data, student or faculty turnover, holidays, testing weeks, flu, or anything else that arises but was not planned for or expected (Arterbury & Jenkins, 2011). I now know that when planning an action research project, one must take into consideration the many daily challenges or issues that may arise.

Although there were many new things that I learned throughout this class, these three concepts are the ones that stand out the most. They have enhanced my understanding of action research in an education setting.

References:

Arterbury, Dr. (Interviewer) & Jenkins, Dr. (Interviewee). (2011). Week Four Video Transcript [Interview transcript]. Retrieved from Lamar University Academic Partnerships Web site: https://lamar.epiclms.net/Learn/Player.aspx?enrollmentid=2125309

Dana, N.F.  (2009). Leading with Passion and Knowledge: The Principal as Action Researcher. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.

             Martin, G., Wright, W., Danzig, A., Flanary, R., & Brown,F. (2005). School Leader Internship: Developing, Monitoring, and Evaluating Your Leadership Experience (2^nd ed.).  Larchmont, NY: Eye on Education, Inc.         

Updated Action Research Plan 9/13/11

Action Planning Template
Goal: I will research classroom positive behavior management systems that improve student motivation and overall academic performance. I will chart the amount of conduct folder write-ups and office referrals in my classroom each week during the first semester. During the second semester I will implement my findings and continue to chart the amount and reason for conduct folder write-ups and office referrals. At the end of the 2011-2012 school year I will compare the number of conduct folder write-ups and office referrals from the first semester to the second semester. Hopefully, I will see a decrease in a number of write-ups. Every week throughout the first semester I will chart the amount of failing papers in my classroom. During the second semester I will implement my findings and continue to chart the amount failing papers each week.  At the end of the 2011-2012 school year I will compare the number of failing papers from the first semester to the second semester. Hopefully, I will see a decrease in a number of failing papers as well.
Action Steps(s):	Person(s) Responsible:	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
I will conduct a student survey and see what ideas students describe and/or which motivation techniques they prefer.	Angie McLeod	September / October	A student motivation assessment survey.	I will compile the findings and see what ideas I can implement into my classroom.
I will conduct an informal/verbal teacher survey and find ideas that I could implement into my classroom positive behavior management plan.	Angie McLeod and 3rd – 5th grade teachers.	September / October	A teacher questionnaire designed to make it easy for the teachers to share their ideas.	I will compile the results and decide on which ones to implement into my classroom.
I will put together a focus group where we can bounce motivation techniques and positive behavior management ideas and thoughts off of each other.	Angie McLeod and focus group of at least 6 other teachers.	October / November	Table and chairs to accommodate up to 8 teachers. Compiled list of ideas from teacher and student surveys.	I will list suggestions and concerns about each student motivation and positive behavior management techniques.
I will conduct a search on the internet to discover/analyze various methods on student motivation and positive behavior management plans.	Angie McLeod	September / October	Computer with internet service	I will list other ideas for student motivation and positive behavior management techniques.
I will post blog reflections where I can process and log my thinking about how some of my actions in my classrooms are working.	Angie McLeod	September 2011 – May 2012	Computer with internet service	This will allow me to look at and analyze my thought throughout each step of the research.
I will create and develop an excel spreadsheet to input data found. (Number of write-ups and failing papers each week.)	Angie McLeod	September 2011 – May 2012	Computer with excel program.	This will help organize the data so that I can easily compare and analyze my findings.
I will also include claims and assertions from my students and myself as a form of data collection.	Angie McLeod and students	May 2012	Round table, pencil and paper.	I will provide claims and assertions in the final summary of my action research topic.

Action Research Plan

Action Planning Template
Goal: I will research classroom positive behavior management systems that improve student motivation and overall academic performance. I will monitor/chart the amount and reason for conduct folder write-ups and office referrals in my classroom each six weeks during the first semester. During the second semester I will implement my findings and continue to monitor/chart the amount and reason for conduct folder write-ups and office referrals. At the end of the 2011-2012 school year I will compare the number of conduct folder write-ups and office referrals from the first semester to the second semester. Hopefully I will see a decrease in a number of write-ups. Every week throughout the first semester I will monitor/chart the amount of failing papers in my classroom. During the second semester I will implement my findings and continue to monitor/chart the amount failing papers each week.  At the end of the 2011-2012 school year I will compare the number of failing papers from the first semester to the second semester. Hopefully I will see a decrease in a number of failing papers as well.
Action Steps(s):	Person(s) Responsible:	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
I will conduct a student survey and see what ideas students describe and/or which motivation techniques they prefer.	Angie McLeod	September / October	A student motivation assessment survey	I will compile the findings and see what ideas I can implement into our classroom.
I will conduct an informal/verbal teacher survey and find at least 10 ideas that I could implement into my classroom positive behavior management plan.	Angie McLeod and 3rd – 5th grade teachers.	September / October	A teacher questionnaire designed to make it easy for the teachers to share their ideas.	I will compile the results and decide on the top 5 that I will implement into my classroom.
I will put together a focus group where we can bounce motivation techniques and positive behavior management ideas and thoughts off of each other.	Angie McLeod and focus group of at least 6 other teachers.	October / November	Table and chairs to accommodate up to 8 teachers. Compiled list of ideas created from student and teacher surveys.	I will list suggestions and concerns about student motivation and positive behavior management techniques.
I will conduct a search on the internet to discover/analyze various methods on student motivation and positive behavior management plans.	Angie McLeod	September / October	Computer with internet service	I will list other ideas for student motivation and positive behavior management techniques.
I will post blog reflections where I can process and log my thinking about how some of my actions in my classrooms are working.	Angie McLeod	September 2011 – May 2012	Computer with internet service	This will allow me to look at and analyze my thought throughout each step of the research.
I will create and develop an excel spreadsheet to input data found. (Number of write-ups each six weeks and number of failing papers each week.)	Angie McLeod	September 2011 – May 2012	Computer with excel program.	This will help organize the data so that I can easily compare and analyze my findings.

Reflection: Action Research Week 2

After learning more about action research, I realize that it doesn't have to be this huge project or undertaking. It can be implemented in any situation or problem that may arise throughout the day. Here are a few ideas for action research that I read about this week. 

I am eager to learn more about different ideas for implementing effective staff development. I love the idea of peer staff development. I believe the teachers would be more open to ideas from someone who is currently working with students in the classroom than from someone from an outside source that sits behind a desk all day. Some teachers think that what they are doing in the classroom is common knowledge. Little do they know, because there hasn’t been one week that has gone by that I haven’t learned something new from my colleagues. There are so many great ideas out there that need to be shared.

I also believe that dissecting and analyzing data is imperative as an administrator. Looking at data and determining a campuses needs is important in order to gain insight and awareness of each weakness or need.  Investigating school districts or campuses that have similar demographics and culture can help one determine what programs will or will not work at their district or campus. Being able to look at and analyze another districts implementation process will be beneficial. Throughout the implementation process an administrator will be aware of and know how to handle certain problems as they arise. 

These are both great ideas for action research. As a future administrator, I look forward to looking into these concepts and developing an action research team.

Action Research and How an Administrator Can Use It

Action research refers to the process of a principal engaging in a study of his or her own practice and taking action for change based on what he or she learns as a result of the study. The administrator analyzes, questions, and reflects upon an issue. He or she is eager to learn about different ways of doing things and conducts research by using books, journals, peer discussions and/or past experiences. It is cyclic in nature in that the administrator is constantly reevaluating and looking for ways to improve the current process. This allows the administrator to correct issues from the inside of the school by using those closest to the problem or idea (teachers and administrators). Collaboratively they analyze, evaluate, and reflect upon what change needs to take place. This process encourages administrators to take charge of their own learning and become fully engaged. Reflective inquiry eventually becomes embedded in their administrative duties and allows for enhanced professional growth.

There are many questions or wonderings in an educational setting that would benefit from an action research investigation.

1.  How can we make staff development more effective for our teachers in order to improve student learning?

2.  How can we establish, increase, improve and maintain parental involvement at each campus through PTO?

3.  How can we improve the RTI process in order to make it more effective for both our teachers and our students?

Continuous reflection upon a wondering broadens perspectives and allows deeper insight of various methods. Researching, debating, and understanding different points of views on an issue are an important process and experience for both teachers and principals. It helps them to develop and grow into life long learners and role models that are much needed in an educational setting. Working collaboratively with colleagues provides many challenges, but is necessary to develop relationships, mutual respect, and trust. Empowering teachers and encouraging them through the process of research inquiry also helps them to feel a sense of accomplishment and understanding that they are truly an important asset to the school. Gaining trust and respect encourages coworkers to open up about issues that may be going on in that department or grade level that as an administrator you were not aware of. This, in the long run, will benefit both the teachers and the students.

Educational leaders can use blogs as a reflection tool on their day-to-day decisions and tasks at hand. It is form of data collection that can be very beneficial. It allows the principal access to multiple blogger’s ideas and thoughts as they respond to the reflections. Each blogger’s background knowledge of the subject will differ and allow for various suggestions and or opinions. It may allow the administrator to see things in a different light after reading others responses. Administrators could also implement blogging into the school curriculum for students to use as a tool for improving writing or knowledge/use of technology.