Originally, I was planning on focusing my action research project on the impact of extra-curricular activities on student success. I have plenty of anecdotal evidence to support the idea that students that are involved in activities beyond the school day have greater academic success and fewer discipline issues than those that are not. It would be interesting to see if data supports those ideas.
My current situation, however, has given me cause to reconsider. I am changing schools this year, and changing subjects as well. I recently learned that I will be teaching a TAKS remediation class this year. This will not be the first time I have taught such a class, and my previous experience has me thinking of ways to better serve the needs of those students. I know that my approach to this type of class last time was not the most effective method, so I am looking at ways that might be more motivational and effective this time. Another important piece of information is that each student on my new campus will be isssued a laptop computer. This has me wondering if perhaps there is a computer based remediation program out there. And if not, if simply using the computer on a daily basis to teach the objectives of the TAKS test will somehow increase the motivation of these students to learn.
Considering all of this, I believe that the purpose of my action research project will be to test the effectiveness of computer based TAKS remediation. The significance of this study will be to find a methodology that best motivates struggling science students and effectively prepares them for the science TAKS test.
Obviously there are a few details that need to be worked out, but I feel better about the direction of the project now. I am at least headed in a direction. I now need to research the available computer based programs and check the available research on programs that have already been used. This will lead me to a determining which program I will focus on in my project.
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Friday, July 16, 2010
Using Blogs in Eductional Leadership Roles
As an educational leader, the gathering and sharing of information is very important. With all of the demands placed on the school principal it is often hard for one to find the time to meet with colleagues for information sharing purposes. It is often too easy for the school principal to get isolated inside the four walls and get inundated with the busy day to day running of the school campus. By taking the time to blog, a school leader is accomplishing several important tasks.
One, it is a great way to reflect and share your reflections with others. Sometimes simply writing ones ideas down gives clarity to your thought processes. That clarity, combined with the helpful input of others through comments, can help to focus our thoughts and keep our ideas headed in beneficial directions.
Another great advantage of blogging is to obtain helpful input from others. We tend to think of our situations as unique, and for the most part they are. Regardless, there are probably others out there who have faced similar situations and are willing to help. Blogging is a way to reach out to a community of like minded professionals and get plenty of free advise.
Because time is always an issue in schools and educational leadership, blogs can also be used to in place of some traditionally time consuming school functions. Faculty meetings that are expository in nature might be replaced by blogging information. Blogging is a way to get not only your thoughts, but other useful information to a large number of people in a short amount of time. Using the comments is helpful as well by allowing dialogue. Those who have concerns or questions can be heard and the entire staff is not held hostage until all questions are answered. This seems to be a much more efficient use of everyone's time.
By taking advantage of the technology available, and using blogs, an educational leader can expand his personal horizons and run a more efficient school at the same time.
One, it is a great way to reflect and share your reflections with others. Sometimes simply writing ones ideas down gives clarity to your thought processes. That clarity, combined with the helpful input of others through comments, can help to focus our thoughts and keep our ideas headed in beneficial directions.
Another great advantage of blogging is to obtain helpful input from others. We tend to think of our situations as unique, and for the most part they are. Regardless, there are probably others out there who have faced similar situations and are willing to help. Blogging is a way to reach out to a community of like minded professionals and get plenty of free advise.
Because time is always an issue in schools and educational leadership, blogs can also be used to in place of some traditionally time consuming school functions. Faculty meetings that are expository in nature might be replaced by blogging information. Blogging is a way to get not only your thoughts, but other useful information to a large number of people in a short amount of time. Using the comments is helpful as well by allowing dialogue. Those who have concerns or questions can be heard and the entire staff is not held hostage until all questions are answered. This seems to be a much more efficient use of everyone's time.
By taking advantage of the technology available, and using blogs, an educational leader can expand his personal horizons and run a more efficient school at the same time.
Action Research is a systematic / intentional study of one's own practices and taking action based upon what you learn from the inquiry. This process goes by several other names as well, and I particularly like Practitioner Inquiry. This name appeals to me because I feel it describes what is happening a little better. The practitioner (whether that is a teacher or administrator) looks into their own practices for answers to questions that relate directly to them.
This approach personalizes the research process and brings the responsibility for change home to the practitioner. By analyzing the problem and establishing the process that will be used to solve the problem the practitioner is more likely to buy into all possible action steps necessary to achieve the desired results.
Practitioner inquiry begins, of course, by identifying a problem or a need. In identifying an issue that needs study, the teacher/administrator needs to reflect on the issues that are urgent in their own circumstance. Spending time to consider the problematic area from all viewpoints will help more clearly define the issue and make the process of action research easier.
After identifying an area of concern, it is important to review the research that is already available on the topic. Many times this research can help to clarify the topic, and may also help direct the practitioner in developing action steps. The more information one has on the subject, the more likely the action research will result in useable data.
Once the topic is clearly defined and research has been reviewed, the practitioner can begin taking action. This is an exciting time for the action researcher, because, as the name implies, it involves taking steps that will ultimately lead to improvement. This may mean changing an instructional strategy, or simply quantifying data from strategies that are already in place. Either way, the action researcher is involved in action steps that will lead to some conclusion.
At the conclusion of the action steps, the practitioner then looks at all of the results and comes to some conclusion. The hope is, these conclusions will lead to improvement of some sort. Whether the outcome is what was expected or not, valuable information has been obtained that can lead to positive change.
Educators that I have known have been notoriously resistant to change. By engaging in practitioner inquiry, educators will surely be more likely to embrace change since it is driven by their own research. Taking ownership in your own practices and examining them in a fair trial makes sense. It also makes sense to act on the information that you worked so hard to obtain.
This approach personalizes the research process and brings the responsibility for change home to the practitioner. By analyzing the problem and establishing the process that will be used to solve the problem the practitioner is more likely to buy into all possible action steps necessary to achieve the desired results.
Practitioner inquiry begins, of course, by identifying a problem or a need. In identifying an issue that needs study, the teacher/administrator needs to reflect on the issues that are urgent in their own circumstance. Spending time to consider the problematic area from all viewpoints will help more clearly define the issue and make the process of action research easier.
After identifying an area of concern, it is important to review the research that is already available on the topic. Many times this research can help to clarify the topic, and may also help direct the practitioner in developing action steps. The more information one has on the subject, the more likely the action research will result in useable data.
Once the topic is clearly defined and research has been reviewed, the practitioner can begin taking action. This is an exciting time for the action researcher, because, as the name implies, it involves taking steps that will ultimately lead to improvement. This may mean changing an instructional strategy, or simply quantifying data from strategies that are already in place. Either way, the action researcher is involved in action steps that will lead to some conclusion.
At the conclusion of the action steps, the practitioner then looks at all of the results and comes to some conclusion. The hope is, these conclusions will lead to improvement of some sort. Whether the outcome is what was expected or not, valuable information has been obtained that can lead to positive change.
Educators that I have known have been notoriously resistant to change. By engaging in practitioner inquiry, educators will surely be more likely to embrace change since it is driven by their own research. Taking ownership in your own practices and examining them in a fair trial makes sense. It also makes sense to act on the information that you worked so hard to obtain.
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