Week 2 Findings

              One vital lesson I learned this week is that you don't have to reinvent the wheel. This cliche is often heard and I know it's been repeated in my presence countless times. However, for some reason after hearing it one more time this week , I internalized and acted on this recommendation.
              I also learned and gained ideas/knowledge from the nine common action research topics addressed in the Dana text.

3 Possible Action Research Topics

I haven't decided which one of these to pursue. All three are of interest so I know that I'll be engaged and passionate about whichever one I select.

1. Topic: Student mentor program
Purpose: An evaluation of this program's effect on student performance(attendance,class, formal assessments,tutoring) will be conducted.
Significance: This research will benefit students, teachers, administion, and the mentors. Effectiveness will be noted and improvements conducted as necessary.

2. Topic:Supplemental literacy programs (Compass Lab and/or Reading Renaissance) on student performance(target pop.- 10th grade ELL).
Purpose: Both programs' influence on students' literacy will be evaluated. Both programs are in their second year of implementation at our campus.
Significance: This research will benefit the following stakeholders: Students, Program facilitators, administration, teachers, District supervisors and directors

3. What is the effect of the new tardy system on student promptness/maximizing class instruction, and does it provide a deterring effect?
Purpose: The program's effectiveness in increasing student promptness,meximizing learning time, and deterring students from repetitive infractions will be assessed.
Significance: This evaluation will benefit the following: Administration, teachers, students, parents

Blogs among Educational Leaders

Educational leaders can utilize blogs as a means of communication, interaction, and support for a professional learning community. Blogs allow for a more personal and non-threatening manner of communication. This is beneficial in promoting unity among educational leaders. The text states, principals are often “isolated”(Dana,2009) due to the nature of the job. Just as action research promotes personal engagement, blogs foster interaction as well. This interaction then lends itself to building a network of support for a community of individuals who have similar interests, experiences, and dilemmas.

Learning Reflection

This week has again proven to be knowledge-filled. I had heard the terms “action research”, but never ventured into the meaning. Ironically, after my readings this week, I realized that I’ve been living and participating in action research at my campus over the past two years.

 The campus’ main mission over the past two years has been to deliberately increase student learning via a thorough inspection of a targeted group of students’ data. This data has then been taken into consideration for class scheduling, and providing instructional, and empathetic support. In my readings this week there is reference made to a set of four components of action research that are continuously spiraling. These are: indicating a situation that needs to be improved or resolved, creating remedies for the situation, implementing and evaluating outcomes, and clarifying the circumstance which results in new definitions of areas for improvement. The process then repeats. This is the continuous spiral.

The information I learned regarding action research this week can be utilized in my classroom. I feel that I’ve used it, but have not fully followed through with the process. Now that I know more about it, I will be more deliberate in all four phases of action research. By making it a regular drive for my teaching, student learning and performance is sure to increase.