My Action Research Plan

GOAL/OBJECTIVE:

To increase awareness on internet safety and cyberbullying to primary ELL students and parents in their native language.

 

ACTIVITIES:

• Questionnaire to parents about technology use at home, internet safety and cyberbullying
• Conduct a pre and post test on internet safety and cyberbullying with ELL students and parents
• Data analysis of survey, pre and post test results
• Questionnaire to parents on knowledge gained on internet safety and cyberbullying practice at home
  

RESOURCES:

• Teacher/Mentor created questionnaire
• Online resources on internet safety and cyberbullying in English and Spanish languages
• Online quizzes on internet safety and cyberbullying
• Classroom computers (6) and computer lab computers (25)
• Interviews with ELL students and parents (volunteer basis)

PROPOSED TIMELINE:

• October, 2010-implement action research plan
• November/December, 2010-send parent questionnaire
• January, 2011-Student and parent pre-test
• February, 2011-Student and parent post-test and surveys
• March/April 2011-Complete action research plan

PERSONS RESPONSIBLE:

Esmeralda Perez-Principal

Jason Norman-Campus Technology Specialist

Raquel Britton-Bilingual Teacher and Action Research Plan Leader

Mrs. Britton’s 4^th grade bilingual class for 2010-2011 school year

MONITORING

The process for monitoring the achievement of goals and objectives is to review the responses from the parent questionnaire. Review students’ and parents’ pre and post test results. Monitor use of online resources on internet safety and cyberbullying. Review comments from student and parent interviews.  Review parents responses from end-of-plan questionnaire to assess knowledge that parents and students gained on internet safety and cyberbullying.

ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENTS:

• Parent pre and post questionnaires
• Student and parent pre-test and post test
• Student and parent interviews

EDLD 5301-Week 2 Reflection: Real Life Research Action Examples

This week I learned about how school leaders identify areas of need in which they conduct research plans.  Some of the areas which the textbook identified were staff development, curriculum development, individual teachers, individual students, school culture/community, leadership, management, school performance, and social justice or equity issues.  Each area contains many different topics which can be important for action research.  For example, in the area of staff development, one might research how an elementary school principal can best facilitate teacher professional development that promotes the growth in veteran and first-year teachers.

Analysis of how educational leaders might use blogs

Blogs can be a useful technology tool for educational leaders.  Blogs can be used to share research with district colleagues and college classmates.   They could be used for a presentation to be shared internally with your campus or district.  Blogs can also help in sharing insights, ideas, and issues in a forum where other educational leaders can read, comment, and contribute. It gives educational leaders the opportunity to reflect on their own practice which can help educational leaders become more intentional about what they do.

What I learned about Action Research?

I discovered that action research is a reflective process.  It is a tool used by school administrators to help them become better leaders and to improve student learning in their school.   Action research can be used in many educational settings such as in university coursework, superintendent/district meetings, leadership teams, and professional learning communities.   Action research focuses and occurs on your campus, whereas other types of research typically focuses on outside groups.  The process of action research is that of a cycle. The administrator will begin by reflecting on his/her practice and then gathering data through input, scores, interviews, journals, surveys, etc. This is most beneficial when done collaboratively with a group of staff from the campus. Together, they can help identify a problem or area in need of improvement. Then, the search begins through literature research to find a possible strategy that might help make improvements in the identified area. A plan of action is created, and the strategy is implemented for a specific period of time. After which more reflection is required to determine how successful the strategy was in making improvement in the identified area. Thus, the process repeats itself in a cycle that begins and ends with reflection.

I am a bilingual teacher and a student of the Master’s Degree Program for Educational Technology Leadership.  I would be able to utilize an action research to reflect on the effects of implementing technology in my classroom, and how it has helped increase language difficulties for my ELL students.