Action Research Plan

Goal: Investigate increasing college readiness at the middle level. 

This topic is very personal to me from both an educator and parental perspective.  I believe that the US (K-12) education system needs reform.  We have some great programs and opportunities for our students but I feel that students would become more focused on the things that really matter if we increased college readiness and did a better job of making families aware of expectations from colleges and universities and preparing children for college entrance exams early.  

Description of study:  Explore ways to increase college readiness at the middle level.  Research past studies:  Explore testing (ACT), Duke’s TIP program, Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth, Research past studies that others have deemed effective, cross reference findings to put together a program that works for students on my campus, virtual school, high school classes, and educate parents and students about ways to pay for college.  I plan to use the internet, test data from Eduphoria, interviews, and surveys to tie all of the data together. 

Operational definition of your target population:    The target population is the students of Spring Oaks Middle School.  Other populations who will benefit from this research are:  parents, educators, administrators, and future SOMS students. 

How will you select your sample:  Each component of the survey will be handled differently:  TIP sets its own requirements:  Students must score in the 95^th percentile or higher on a state level test (TAKS) or score 125 on an IQ test. I will select students who may not be in that 95^th percentile but exhibit a tremendous amount of motivation when it comes to education.  Lastly, I will select random students to test and record the results to compare to those counterparts in the 95^th plus percentile.  All samples must total at least 20% of Spring Oaks Middle Schools population. 

Rationale for your sample size: I feel that if a school district is truly successful then we must work to educate more than our top students.  We need to create programs that appeal to all different levels of students. 

Conducting research:  I plan to use the internet to review past studies that have been deemed successful, Eduphoria to review student data, interview staff, survey staff, students, and parents, and lastly participate in a training to educate parents and students about financing higher education.  Below are a few websites and sources that I plan to use for my Action Research Plan:

http://www.act.org/

http://www.txgifted.org/files/pdf

www.nasponline.org/NEAT/resources.htm

http://cresst96.cse.ucla.edu/

http://www.tea.state.tx.us/

http://www.telecampus.utsystem.edu/index.cfm/4,0,64,html

http://www.tip.duke.edu/talent_searches

Tool 8.1 CARE Model: Planning Tool

Tool 8.1 CARE Model: Planning Tool

Identify Concerns that must change (look to the future)

(Assign points to concerns from 1 to 3 in the order of the most important issues to consider.)

1. The greatest concern I have is educate students and parents about testing available to middle level students.  My campus has a large population of non-English speaking parents and although translators are available sometimes the parents do not return phone call or they are hesitant to communicate with the school. We have to address this issue to move forward.

2. The next concern I have is if funding and the approval will be there to add more high school level classes.  Funding is always an issue but because this plan is truly aligned with our campus and districts plan of becoming the premier district in the state of Texas I feel that we will have to find the funding because this will truly be beneficial to the majority of our students. 

3. Lastly I am concerned about expanding method of delivery of instruction; virtual classroom, online class, etc.  Increasing college readiness at the middle level can be achieved by adding the higher level classes and testing alone but I feel this will only enhance the program and definitely move the district and the campus in the direction of their goal of being a premier district.  If we want stand out and be a great example for other campuses then we much incorporate this aspect of the plan.

Identify Affirmations that must be sustained (look to the present)

(Assign points to affirmations from 1 to 3 in the order of the most important issues to consider.)

1. A positive aspect is the current method used to evaluate and extrapolate data and testing procedure. Currently I feel so proud to be a part of my campus when it comes to how they use data and our testing procedures.  We need to continue the way that we use data and incorporate better ideas when they are discovered either through staff development or by chance. 

2. Another positive aspect is the current technology integration (Act iv boards in every room, Mac books, I touches, and new state of the art library).  Last year we were awarded bond funds and you can really see the funds at work in our new library that has not officially opened.  Ipads, I touches, flip cameras, Mac computers, modern furniture, café style study area, large screens, Act IV board in the class are phenomenal.  We need to keep the technology integration.    

3. Another positive aspect is the staff development and cross training teachers offered by the district. Anything that a new teacher or a veteran teacher of 25 years feels that they need to be trained on it is available.  One thing that has been great is a great number of these trainings have been held on the campus and that is great for teachers.  We want to continue offering meaningful staff development and cross training teachers.    

SMART Recommendations that must be implemented:

(Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Timely)

(Assign points to recommendations from 1 to 3 in the order of the most important recommendations to implement.)

1. I will need to take part in the implementation of the Explore (ACT) testing for all eighth graders.  Here I will work to see if we can improve our practice and procedure by observing students when I am not administering the test (during breaks).  Review the data after we have the scores and discuss with the counselors and CIS how we are using the data to see if we can make some improvements.  

2.  Next I will need to work to increase the number of parents involved in the PTA.  Our parent representation of the PTA is a small percentage of the students but they are wonderful and do a great job.  Our teachers support the PTA by making a strong effort to have 100% join.  If we can increase the number of parents maybe the other parents will not have to work so hard.

3.  Last I will need to register students to take the ACT and SAT test…  Review results for Action Research plan.  I listed this recommendation last because although it is important we will have the 20% of the student population needed for the plan with the Explore test data but if we can have a small number of students participate in the SAT and ACT it can only be beneficial to the students and add to the data.

EVALUATE – Specifically and Often

(Identify the best ways to evaluate the implemented recommendations.)

1. Survey staff prior to testing the students to get recommendations about increasing college readiness at the middle level. My goal is to have those that are most affected by the plan to be directly involved in sharing their knowledge and feelings about what can make us stronger.   

2. I will use the teachers and students top recommendations and incorporate the top three recommendations into the survey. 

3. Then I plan to survey students after testing to see if they felt this experience will help prepare them for college.  Record student recommendations pre-test and post-test. Use the student recommendations to improve the plan.  Again, those directly affected by the data are involved in the action research process.    

Final Reflections EDLD 5301

Final Reflection

Truly, I have acquired a vast amount of knowledge from this course in research. 

The information that I have acquired has been useful in order to complete this course and I feel positive that I will continue to use this knowledge in my current position, as well as, in future positions as an administrator.  The two most significant tasks during the past five weeks have been learning to create a blog and completing a blue print for the action research plan.  The overall affect of learning both of these processes have been enjoyable and I feel that I will continue to use them throughout my career.  Leaving a course with things that you can continue to use is an accomplishment.   

Every week I have learned so much from my colleagues.  Reading posts, commenting on posts, and reading other peoples responses creates a phenomenal opportunity to share knowledge.  Educators are great about sharing knowledge so that we do not have to reinvent the wheel.  Throughout the course so many colleagues offered useful advice and suggestions that I enjoyed reading. The discussion comment that sticks out the most in my mind came from Mike Nunez during week 3 discussion.  Mike gave me the thumbs up on my action research plan and he concurred that college readiness is very dependent on middle level students having future goals.    Sharing our knowledge on the weekly discussion board has been very powerful, equipping me with tools that I can use presently in my classroom.

Having that visual presentation from our professors every week was very useful for me; especially in the beginning of the course.  When professors Arterbury, Ph.D. and Jenkins, Ed.D.  introduced us to action research and gave us tips and pointers, one thing sticks out in my mind from week one video, stay on topic.  This is so important and I have so much I would like to share I have to make sure I stay on topic.  Throughout the course I thought about this on every discussion and every blog.  Also, I have taken other online where there was not video available and I enjoyed having different modes of delivery for my information.   

 I really enjoyed reading about Pinellas County Florida schools, and I applaud their efforts to break the status quo by: saving the district money, saving time, and giving the teachers more time to spend with students.  Their plan seems very simple but the impact has been enormous.  I began to ponder, why more of us using these great tools aren’t.  Pinellas County is really thinking outside the box and it seems to be paying off for the district and the students. Examining what we do to Improve our Schools: 8 Steps from Analysis to Action was a great selection and provided information that I could use today and I really appreciated this selection. 

I gained a great deal of insight from the Dana text, Leading with Passion and Knowledge: The Principal as action researcher.  The different examples of inquiry in which schools shared effective techniques were very interesting: Friday school option, Saturday school option, and my favorite, does a student need to be in the classroom to learn (Dana, 146-147).  At some point I think many campuses will ask themselves these questions rhetorically.  Now that we understand action research we can really find data driven answers to many questions that if we have answers can build stronger campuses.

I look forward to completing my action research and expanding my blogs.     

Action Research Plan Revisions

At this point into the research I am satisfied with the plan.  This week I reviewed the plan and attempted to predict any obstructions and then come up with a procedure to ensure the plan stays on course.  Because of the time constraints I am concerned that getting a significant amount of students signed up for the ACT and SAT may pose a problem.  I am attempting to devise a plan to get this portion of the research underway.

I am most satisfied that the Explore test data will be available for the entire eighth grade class.  This test will be given in October and has already been approved.  This data will serve as one of my most significant contributions to the plan because and entire grade level will be tested.  Data will be analyzed from the top 10% to the bottom 10% to determine how we can increase college readiness in all of our students at the middle level.       

7.1 Tool Action Planning Template

Action Research Plan

Goal: Investigate increasing college readiness at the middle level. 

This topic is very personal to me from both an educator and parental perspective.  I believe that the US (K-12) education system needs reform.  We have some great programs and opportunities for our students but I feel that students would become more focused on the things that really matter if we increased college readiness and did a better job of making families aware of expectations from colleges and universities and preparing children for college entrance exams early.  

Description of study:  Explore ways to increase college readiness at the middle level.  Research past studies:  Explore testing (ACT), Duke’s TIP program, Johns Hopkins University Center for Talented Youth, Research past studies that others have deemed effective, cross reference findings to put together a program that works for students on my campus, virtual school, high school classes, and educate parents and students about ways to pay for college.  I plan to use the Internet, test data from Eduphoria, interviews, and surveys to tie all of the data together. 

Operational definition of your target population:    The target population is the students of Spring Oaks Middle School.  Other populations who will benefit from this research are:  parents, educators, administrators, and future SOMS students. 

How will you select your sample:  Each component of the survey will be handled differently:  TIP sets its own requirements:  Students must score in the 95^th percentile or higher on a state level test (TAKS) or score 125 on an IQ test. I will select students who may not be in that 95^th percentile but exhibit a tremendous amount of motivation when it comes to education.  Lastly, I will select random students to test and record the results to compare to those counterparts in the 95^th plus percentile.  All samples must total at least 20% of Spring Oaks Middle Schools population. 

Rationale for your sample size: I feel that if a school district is truly successful then we must work to educate more than our top students.  We need to create programs that appeal to all different levels of students. 

Conducting research:  I plan to use the Internet to review past studies that have been deemed successful, Eduphoria to review student data, interview staff, survey staff, students, and parents, and lastly participate in a training to educate parents and students about financing higher education.  Below are a few websites and sources that I plan to use for my Action Research Plan:

www.nasponline.org/NEAT/resources.htm

http://cresst96.cse.ucla.edu/

http://www.tea.state.tx.us/

http://www.telecampus.utsystem.edu/index.cfm/4,0,64,html

Ways to Increase College Readiness at the Middle Level

The United States Department of Education was created in 1867, its purpose, to establish an effective school system.  I applaud the efforts of our predecessors but it is time for change.  We need to reform our current K-12 system; offering students more options.  Offering students more options encompasses many different areas; Academics, extra curricular, and the arts are few areas that this Action Research will focus on. 

Throughout my career I have worked with Pre-Kinder students through adults.  I see the joy and excitement that the elementary level students possess about learning.  At the middle level I see that excitement dwindle for a large number of students.  If we offer students more options and ensure that our curriculum, arts, and extra curriculars are appealing I believe we can reestablish that excitement and joy in our students.  I am exploring a topic for Action Research in the area of increasing college readiness at the middle level.  The purpose of my action research is to provide more options for students and better prepare them for higher education.  My plan is to offer ACT and SAT testing in the 7th and 8th grade.   The plan is to offer more high school classes on campus, field-trips, hands on exploration, college planning, and offer students an opportunity to take virtual classes. 

I am ecstatic about the opportunity to conduct action research in an area that I am so passionate about.  I look forward to searching for ways to improve this sector of our education system.  I welcome all suggestions and comments on this topic. Please check out my future blogs for updates.