Reflections 5301 Research Action Plan

Starting Research 5301 I thought I would be going about a whole different approach. I was expecting to write long research papers over different scholar researchers, but low and behold the first week I was told I am the researcher. I actually found this motivating, and exciting that I would be conducting my own research by following veteran researcher’s methods. And in the end I will be able to reflect, grow, and develop my own research, which I found very intriguing. It is also evident after this course that most people don’t realize that they are all action researchers but they are doing it un consciously. The thing is the more effective an action researcher is the more in detail and process oriented that person must be. The blog and discussion board and the blogger site has been a great tool in sharing my concerns and thoughts along with the help of my peers. I have also found that I was able to deliver some ideas to help others out. I believe I will be able to share my ideas and help other staff members out on growing professionally along with myself. I think the Dana text really gave me a good sense of direction and guidance on how to approach action research and what it is all about. I also believe that Barth’s text on The principal as staff developer gave me insight on quality leadership skills.

Area for growth

I just hope to grow on collecting valid data, and being able to fully change the concern to motivate others. I know that I have some room to grow on reflection. Dana really emphasized that reflection is vital to leader success. If you don’t schedule daily time and reflect on your leadership and the research then the plan will never fully be reached. The last thing that I want more than anything is for my school district and athletes to benefit from me and my research. I want myself and the population of our school to change in a positive way.

Growth plan

I plan to jump right in this research, use trial and error along with reflection and know that I am doing the best I can. I know that I will have support from staff and students to get me through this research. The discussion board will be a key component to my success in this  I know that I will learn more from this course than any other. I want to grow confidence in myself and by that using action research to back up my confidence.

Dana, N.F. (2009). Leading with passion and knowledge: The principal as action  

              Researcher. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.                                                                     

Barth, R. (1981). The principal as staff developer. Journal of Education.

Discussion Board Lamar University Peers

Action Plan Agreement

  This week I had a chance to discuss and agree upon my action plan. My site supervisor had some great insight and recommendations. It was also interesting for me to see the excitement and upbeat attitude it brought to her. I think teachers, adiministrators, and staff members get burnt out because there isnt inquiry going on in their profession. If you make your daily teaching life routine it becomes like that office job where you do the same thing every day and it becomes monotnous. 
 I could tell that this was a spark to her, and me which I am excited to start doing. She recommended that I write a description each month to teachers and staff to let them know what was going on so they could help and see how maybe they can do research themselves on topics of concern. At the end of the research she wants to share with all administrators to see what we can do to incorporate methods that we saw that could benefit the school.
  All in all I hope to change myself, staff, students, and anyone involved in the school system to understand why or why not participation and sense of belonging bring academic success.

Action Plan Template Week 3 5301

Action Planning Template
Goal: To sustain the work ethic and behavior of students and determine whether or not there is a positive correlation between students participating in school athletics and classroom work ethic and performance.
Action Steps(s):	Person(s) Responsible:	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
1. Receive permission from principal to conduct action inquiry on LaPoynor high campus. Survey teachers in regards to their general knowledge of athlete’s performance in the classroom verses non athletes performance in the classroom.	Kody Evans	September 15, 2012– September 20, 2012	Survey questions created online.	Assess the surveys and compile data to excel spreadsheet.
2. Select and obtain permission from 3 coaches and 3 core teachers to conduct action research with. Perform interviews with the 6 teachers/coaches regarding the correlation between high school athletes and positive work ethics and behavior in the classroom setting.	Kody Evans	September 20, 2012- September 26, 2012	Interview Questions, notebook, recording device.	Review interview answers on voice recording device and transfer to a document.
3. Observe state exams, benchmarks, and classroom conduct reports of all students to gain a standard performance level.	Kody Evans	September 30,2012- October 5, 2012	Student data for athletes and non athletes: EOC, Benchmark, progress reports, semester averages in all core classes, demographic data. DMAC software	Spreadsheet using DMAC and excel to compile performance levels.
4. Meet once a month for four months to mentor-ship and implement new ways of creating stronger work ethic and motivational skills to students who are not actively involved in school athletics.	Kody Evans	October 10, 2012- March 10, 2012	Use proficient expansion mentoring and brainstorming techniques in conjunction with teachers and coaches.	Review data with teachers and coaches to asses a plan of action for mentors.
5. Access results with teachers and coaches via email and phone.	Kody Evans	March 15, 2012	DMAC software	Compare data of spreadsheets and of interviews. Evaluate student’s scores and identify strategies to help improve work ethic and behavior.

Format based on Tool 7.1 from Examining What We Do to Improve Our Schools

(Harris, Edmonson, and Combs, 2010)

Week 2 reflections

   After completing the week 2 assignment I have found out that action research is meant to be detailed and thorough for professional development to take place. It is important to ask as many questions you can, record valid data with the plan implemented, and reflect on results. I believe that this program will train my brain to practice this method and will only set me up for success as a future administrator.
  
  I learned from the readings in part 2 of the assignment how all the leaders of the school benefited from the action research that the encountered. Every scenario was in depth, well thought out, and had questions that were well thought of and planned out for professional growth to take place. It seemed that the students, the teachers, and the leader all took positive steps in the right direction.

  If there is one thing I will do as an administrator, it will be using action research to fully present myself to the district and school setting to ensure the best possible experience for the community. I want to create a safe environment, and create memories that were good in academics, and socialization in the school.

Athletic Participation in Correlation to Academic Achievment

After long thoughts of exactly what I wanted to do my action research over, it finally hit me, "I am a coach and a teacher, why not see the correlation between athletics and education." I have had my mind so focused on the process and what I should do to take the steps but didn't take my focus to my interest, which is sports and teaching. So, with that being said I am now wondering what is the difference in academic success when student participate in athletics compared to those that do not. I honestly believe that if I can bring the athletic team work mentality to the class room that I will see a positive influence. First I will see what the difference is between students success to non participation to participation. Then once I can get the data from that, I will try and incorporate the way we run things in athletics to the classroom. I really think this will be an effective tool for me as an administrator. Team work within the school can only build unity, discipline, and togetherness.

        I have learned that action research is an effective tool on establishing leader qualities that it takes to be an administrator. Action research is identified as a person in professional practice establishing a planned method that will bring change. It is identifying the conflict and finding a method within the school instead of outside society influences. I believe administrators use action research without even being aware that they are using it. But it is important that you take the right steps and actions while being able to identify that you are using action research. Taking the proper steps and being able to evaluate will be more effective in professional development.
      What I have observed in my years as a teacher is this: Principals are faced with numerous problems each day. They often seek advice from within the school personnel on some problems that they are not sure about. I have visited with principals about problems, I have seen the principal seeking advice from the superintendent, which are all within the school and not outside society. They then put into practice what they believe is the best solution, along with the advice they got from within the school. They are able to evaluate that the idea that they created, positive or negative change. This allows the administrator to experience professional development within the process by reviewing the data and outcome.
      I most definitely will use this type of method when I become an administrator. The advantages that I see one gaining is unlimited. Being able to effectively use this process is the key to using action research. Knowing who is involved (within the interest of the school), knowing how to approach the people at stake, creating the planned idea, and taking action is the basic foundation of this approach. Then, being able to reflect on yourself, the problem, and data you are able to see yourself and the school grow. It starts with you taking the initiative and you ending with a positive experience.
       Administrators can also use blogs to their effective leadership roles. Blogging allows an educational leader to collect data through comments on blogs they have prepared. This allows feedback from numerous sources. You can use surveys to see what majority of the educational body is in favor of an issue, or certain feelings that are imposed towards a problem. Blogs can also be useful to keep school interest groups informed on certain issues that are going on. If everyone is aware, and up to date on school district every day life, then I believe the school can run smoother. I can guarantee that most problems come from the root of communication. Communication is the underlying most important tool in effective every day life. So if blogging keeps a higher percentage of the community informed, why not use it as a tool for effective leadership roles.
     As reflection is vital to becoming a successful leader, Dana states in Data Collection Strategy 7 as this: blogging can serve as your personal pensive to capture and store your thoughts and recollections safely so you can share them with teaching colleagues or other administrators and return to them at various times in the evolution of your inquiry, gaining newer and deeper insights with each visit. (Dana 2009, pg 88).

                                                              References

Dana, N.F. (2009). Leading with passion and knowledge: The principal as action researcher

           Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press