Action Research Plan

Well I am not sure this is correct but here it is.  As I began to type up the plan it started to look like this may not be a subject with enough depth to it, but it is what I have been discussing with my site supervisor.  That being said there is a chance that we are going to change principals and this whole idea may fall apart.  At any rate here is the first draft.

Action Planning Template
Goal: To show that character education would reduce the number of referrals in the freshman class.
Action Steps(s):	Person(s) Responsible:	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
1.  Met with site supervisor and select an action research topic.	Trey Gardner Carrie Conley	March 2013	List of topics, internship plan	Develop action research question and goal.
2.  Gather data on number of referrals for the freshman class before class was instituted.	Trey Gardner Carrie Conley	June 2013	Student Discipline Files for 2012-2013	Compile data into “Before” spreadsheet
3.  Gather data on number of referrals for the freshman class after class was instituted.	Trey Gardner Carrie Conley	May 2014	Student Discipline Files for 2013-2014	Compile data into “After” spreadsheet
4.  Survey students about their personal experience with the character education class.	Trey Gardner	May 2014	Student surveys for freshman class	Summaries of surveys
5.  Research and read current research on character education.	Trey Gardner	May 2014	Internet search engines	Printouts of current literature
6.  Compile data into one report	Trey Gardner	May 2014	Both data spreadsheets, survey summaries, professional literature	Create final action research report
7.  Present information to principal and superintendent	Trey Gardner Carrie Conley Amy Jacobs	June 2014	Final action research report	Feedback from principal and superintendent

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

(Harris, Edmonson, and Combs, 2010)

Choosing A Topic

     When I first saw what this course was to be over I was not sure that I would be able to come up with a suitable topic.  Now was we are in week two between speaking to my site supervisor, hearing the lectures, and reading other students post I am now not sure I can narrow it down to one I want to do.  Every idea I hear seems to be a good one.  While I do think I have decided on a topic every suggestion seems to try to pull me away to a new one.  I guess I am beginning to see the usefulness of action research and how it could be used to solve several issues in our profession.

Importance of Blogs

Blogging by educational leaders allows them to quickly share ideas and collaborate about issues they may be facing on their campuses.  It has the ability to get the information out to a large number of people very quickly, with the visitors having the ability to offer advice in a quick and timely manner.  It also could be used a way for educators to record their reflections.  Once again allowing them to receive feedback from peers.

Thoughts About Action Research

What is action research?

Action research is a method of professional development within an administrator using self-discovery. Action research involves five steps – pose questions, collect data, analyze the data, make changes, and finally share your findings. This is where this blog comes into play, it will serve as a news medium with which I can share the discoveries I make while performing my research.

Action research represents a change in the way that research is used in education. Research had previously been done by outsiders then presented to administrators to be used in their districts. It was to some degree a one size fits most arrangement.  Administrators were given information which they were then expected to make fit their situation. With action research, teachers and administrators have taken a larger role in determining not only what the issues are, but also what solutions make work for their district in solving them. It is this process of action research that gives administrators an opportunity to gain insights into not only what other researchers are saying on the topic, but also what might be actually working for their campus or district.

How might I be able to use it?

In the first part of this course, we have to explore various possibilities for action research investigations. This has led me to think of several areas which I could apply this method.  While I am a big believer in looking in the window of people that are being successful to see what they are doing, I also realize that no two situations are completely identical.  I believe action research allows you to take into account what might work for others and still adapt and change it to work for your district.  With that being said I can think of several areas where we could put this into effect at my district.  The challenge now has become choosing a topic with which I could enact the most positive change for both our students and faculty.