Update on Action Research Plan

I am admittedly a little behind schedule based on the timeline that I created when enrolled in 5301.  According to my original plan, I should have, at this point, gathered all quantitative data which entails choosing three charter schools and three traditional public schools (one elementary, one middle, and one high school from each category) and analyzed each school’s AEIS data from 2009-2012.  At this point, I should also have constructed an interview questionnaire that each administrator completes at each campus for the purpose of gathering quantitative data.  I should be in the process of completing qualitative and quantitative data analysis by the end of the spring. 

At this point, I have chosen each of the schools for the action research project and gathered AEIS data on them for a total of approximately 12 hours.  I still need to construct an interview questionnaire for administrators to complete, give to them for completion, and then gather and analyze their feedback.  When this occurs, I can put all data together in order to begin data analysis and then move on to the next stages of the plan, which are to determine results, determine future concerns and suggestions, and share research data and results by the beginning of the fall semester of the next school year.

 

As part of my job at the service center, I am able to make site visits to different schools, both charter and traditional public, which adds to my knowledge base the differences and similarities between the two.  I have not yet been able to fully discern whether one sector has any advantages over the other, but I am going to include this information in my qualitative data bank.  I feel this information will be of value to the project overall.

"Whew": EDLD 5301 Reflections

I am very excited and pleased about how much I learned during this class.  To be honest, the term, “research” doesn’t always bring to mind warm, fuzzy thoughts.  However, the insight I gained about action research study and what that entails was profoundly interesting.

 

Dr. Arterbury’s and Dr. Jenkins’ insights helped guide me through each week.  It was helpful to hear all of the steps and processes that go into an action research study and their tone and words of encouragement were surprisingly comforting, giving me verbal confidence that I can, in fact, be successful in the great undertaking that is conducting an action research study.  For their weekly videos I am truly grateful.

 

I also greatly appreciated Dr. Briseno’s, Dr. Chargois’, and Dr. Lewis’ examples of action research study put to work and their reflections on the importance of supporting one’s action research study with qualitative and quantitative data, sharing the results with others, and learning from others who have previously conducted similar action studies and determining the relevance to any given situation without reinventing the proverbial wheel.  It was also helpful to read through their dissertations to glean an idea of what may lie ahead in my own continuing education/professional development.

 

I found myself engrossed in all of the readings during the past five weeks.  I learned the difference between traditional research and action research (“qualitative or interpretive studies” rather than “process-product research”).  It was helpful to read about action research studies in educational settings as well as the real life benefits of conducting successful ones.  Reading the nine passions that drive an action research plan was extremely helpful (Dana, 2009).  It gave me a credible, relevant frame of reference from which to operate as well as the motivation to formulate a plan about which I am passionate.

 

As data collection is, of course, extremely important in conducting an action research plan, I was grateful for all of the different means for data collection cited in our readings (the use of field notes, interviews, documents/artifacts/student work, digital pictures, video, reflective journals, surveys, and literature) (Dana, 2009).  Through reading how each one could possibly be used in an action research study, I was able to pick the ones that I feel will be most relevant in my own study with confidence.

 

Although the lectures and readings were extremely helpful during this course, perhaps the most exciting tool I’ve taken from it is the creation of and participation in blogs.  Before this course, I had never even read a blog before.  Now I’m excited about posting to my own and reading the posts of fellow classmates.  In an ever-growing information age, blogs are a very effective tool and, quite frankly, easier to use than most think.

In looking back at the past five weeks, I am appreciative of how things all came together.  Each reading, lecture, and assignment functioned as its own little piece of the puzzle.  By staying the course, my action research study is off and running.  Now comes the hard part – conducting it in its entirety.  I will keep the field experts’ words of wisdom in mind, considering the potential methods – Force Field Analysis (the forces of change must exceed the forces against the change in order for it to work), the Delphi method (rounds of stakeholder questionnaires), and the Nominal Group Technique (assessing needs in particular group format).  I will also heed the guidance found in the CARE Model: Planning Tool (Harris et al, 2009) which provided a rationale and framework for conducting my action research study.

I have the passion for the topic.  I have the tools at my disposal for conducting it appropriately.  I have the goals in mind for its effectiveness.  My hope is that I can execute a relevant action research study the produces sustainable educational change.

5301 - Research - Initial Post

What I have learned about action research and how I might be able to use it:
Through this week's readings and studies, I have learned that action research is not the same as traditional, go to the experts, read, and copy what they do research.  It requires the researcher to act in a systematic way by gathering data, analyzing it, and comparing it to industry literature so that one may be introspective regarding one's actions so that he/she may make improvements.  I really like that it is consistent with guidelines and suggestions for effective principal professional development.  I am constantly working to make sure that I am keeping up to date and that I never stop learning.

I can use action research through the use of leadership teams.  By strategically selecting administrators and teachers who all have an interest in the betterment of the school, we can share, collaborate, compare, and problem-solve together in order to systematically make improvements to the school.

I can also use action research through the development of a professional learning community.  Currently, that does not take place with the regularity that it should.  It is extremely important for small groups of teachers to get together to study and compare with one another more effective teaching and learning practices.  I learned a great deal about the parameters that are set with regard to PLC's to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in providing the best instruction for all learners.

How educational leaders might use blogs:
Educational leaders can use blogs as an effective communication tool with other teachers, students, and parents.  It is a platform by which they can express their viewpoints in a professional, yet honest manner regarding educational policies, legislation, best practices, and hot topics.  It can also be a unique way to share positive occurrences that the educational leader encounters to serve as a motivating tool for the blog's readers.

EDLD 5301 Action Research Plan

Below is my action research plan.  I have undergone some changes in employment from a campus administrator to a consultant at a region service center in the recent past.  Because of this, I chose to conduct an action research plan that is applicable and appropriate given these circumstances.  Further, I feel like this topic is extremely relevant and valuable at a time when there are still quite a few educators and non-educators alike who are unfamiliar with charter schools.  It is my hope that I can shed some light on the subject through my action research project.  Feedback is certainly welcomed.

Thank you,

Billy Schewee

Tool 7.1 Action Planning Template
Goal:  The goal of this research is to determine what advantages, if any, charter schools have over traditional public schools regarding student achievement.
Action Step(s)	Person(s) Responsible	Timeline:  Start/End	Need Resources	Evaluation
1. Gather quantitative data	Billy Schewee	October 2012-December 2012	*Choose three charter schools and three traditional public schools (one elementary, one middle, and one high school of each type)                                                             *AEIS data from each school from 2009-2011	*I will be looking at data from schools who have been in existence for at least the past three school years               *Break down demographics of each school                 *Is there any additional data that would be useful in answering the research question?  *Has my site supervisor approved the steps of analysis I plan to take when evaluating the data?
2. Complete quantitative data analysis	Billy Schewee	October 2012-April 2013	*AEIS data from each school from 2009-2011	*Evaluate data disaggregated by sub-populations       *Create a chart, graph, or other appropriate representation of data
3. Gather qualitative data	Billy Schewee	October 2012-December 2012	*Interview questionnaire completed by an administrator at each campus	*Create questionnaire for each administrator to complete
4. Complete qualitative data analysis	Billy Schewee	October 2012-Apil 2013	*Interview questionnaires completed by all administrators	*Review the answers given by administrators from each school
5. Determine results	Billy Schewee	April 2013-August 2013	*All previously reviewed resources and data determined from them	*Based on research data, I should be able to make a determination regarding whether or not there are, in fact, advantages to charter schools versus traditional public schools
6. Determine future concerns and suggestions	Billy Schewee	April 2013-August 2013	*All previously reviewed resources and data determined from them	*After reviewing data from action research plan, make suggestions for changes and/or improvements
7. Share research data and results	Billy Schewee	August 2013-August 2013	*All previously reviewed resources and data determined from them                              *PowerPoint for presenting research, data, planning and results	*Are the results produced from this action research plan understood by the intended audience?                   *Are suggestions for changes and/or improvements feasible and relevant?
Examining What We Do to Improve Our Schools             Sandra Harris, Stacey Edmonson, Julie Combs
Copyright Eye on Education 2010