5301 - Final Reflections

I have learned a lot during this course and discovered that I had been participating in action research on an informal basis for years now under different names or without knowing the name for it at all.    Based on the course material and my personal experiences, I believe action research is a key part of being an effective administrator.   Schools are constantly getting new students, new staff and new standards.  A good administrator recognizes that and evaluates the current situations and poses questions about what is going on and how it can improve.  Dana (2009) says a benefit of principal inquiry is that “principals become role models for the teachers and students in their building.”   I do believe that principals should model the culture of being a life-long learner and action research seems to be a good way to get this accomplished.

The Dana text (2009) was very good at laying out the process of establishing an action research plan from developing a question, determining what type of data is appropriate to collect, how to analyze that data and how to share your results with others.  I do plan on referring back to this text as my how to manual during my research project. 

Several of the assignments helped me focus on what is needed to conduct a successful project.  This week’s activity to summarize the five quality indicators as identified by the Dana (2009) text was very useful for me.   I was able to walk through my plan and see if it lined up in each area and what I might be missing.  In week 4 getting feedback on the plan from my site supervisor and from others in the class was good as it gave me a look at my plan from a different pair of eyes.  Going through the process of summarizing the responses helped me take a deeper look at what comments were the most helpful and helped me think about what type of comments I leave for other people.

I have also enjoyed  blogging about the process.  I have had a how-to type of blog for several years now, but have never had a blog to track my learning and thoughts on a topic.   I have found that by having to compose blog posts about the topic I have had to give more thought to what I am doing and to the process as a whole.  I am looking forward to keeping my blog postings going to hold myself accountable to this process as I take other courses and need to be keeping up with the action research project as well.   I have found a few blogs that have similar projects to mine and have added those blogs to my iGoogle account so that I can keep up with their progress as well.

The web conferences were helpful in the beginning to get some direct feedback about my chosen topic and to hear what others were doing as well.  It is always nice to put faces with names.  I also learn from hearing other people’s questions and insights.   I did find the last few weeks that the conferences got bogged down in trying to explain the technical issues and requirements of TK20 and blogs.  Those conferences were better heard recorded so I could skip over the parts I understood.

I look forward to conducting my action research project.   I have chosen an area that I think I need to grow in and have difficulty doing well.   By focusing on this area I hope to improve as an educational professional and develop a blueprint for other instructional technology specialists to follow as they work with the people on their campus.

Dana, N. F. (2009). Leading with passion and knowledge: the principal as action researcher. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Corwin Press, a Joint Publication with the American Association of School Administrators.

Action Research - Revision

After input from my supervisor I am adding in a student component to my Action Research Plan.   I plan on surveying students to gather their feedback on the role technology plays in learning in the classroom.  I am excited to see their opinions on the topic and hope that I can use this information when working with teachers in the future.   Here is my Revised Action Research Plan please feel free to take a look and provide any insight!

Thinking it Through

As I read through the assigned texts and start thinking about the classrooms I am to work with next year I am getting a bit nervous.   There are several unknowns at this point:

1. The impact of the budget rollercoaster on the campus.  When I left campus we had cut down to 3 teams at each grade level and every teacher would be teaching more students.  Since then more money has become available but no word on what impact that has on the number of teachers on campus.
2. Schedule - a variation of block scheduling was proposed at the end of last year to try to make the best use of the staff we have.  The master schedule was still a work in progress when I left for the summer and word was there was resistance at the district level for approving the proposed schedule.
3. New grading policy - Standards Based Grading - the campus is moving towards standards based grading and this is not an item that has the full buy-in of the staff.  With the transition away from traditional grading comes a lot of preparation to build assignments that meets with the philosophy of standards based grading.

And now I come along and will ask that they use technology in ways they have not done before and add to the stress level that is already high.  

I have worked hard this past year to lay a foundation for what is to come.  I have tried to recognize teachers who use technology in meaningful ways.  I have baked cupcakes and provided chocolate for teachers willing to learn something new.   I began teaching a series of week-long technology "camps" for students to remind the teachers that I am first and foremost a teacher.   I have tried to convince teachers that above all else I am on their side and I can be trusted.   Now to see if that will pay off in the coming year as I push a little harder for teachers to reach a step outside their comfort zone and move towards the land that the digital natives are living in.  Wish me luck!

I welcome feedback on ways to work with the teachers or on any part of my action research plan!
Action Research Plan

Developing an Action Research Plan

This week I have been thinking through how to put my action research plan into action.   I have chosen a grade level that traditionally has been the most challenging to work with.  It should be a fun year.  My action research plan is my job, or at least what I want my job to be:  Work closely with teachers and students to ensure technology is being used in the best possible ways to enhance the teaching and challenge the students.  So often other parts of my job take me away from that focus.   Laptops have to be fixed, networks crash, light bulbs burn out, paperwork has to be done, the  benchmark scanner/printer needs help. I now have an excuse to let those items linger from time to time in order to work with teachers and to be in the classrooms.

I have also been looking for ways to get into classrooms that are non-threatening.  I don't want to evaluate anyone and I don't want to intrude on a classroom.  Teachers feel so much pressure from all directions and the last thing I want to do is to add stress.   I know that incorporating technology is what is best for students and instead of a gotcha I can blame my presence on Lamar -  "It's for my graduate classes."

I'm posting my initial plans for my action research plan if anyone wants to read it and give feedback.   Input is always welcome!
Action Research Plan

Reflections on Action Research

I did not know what to expect when I entered this course, and in reality I was scared to death of it.  Let's face it, it's been a few years since I was a student and had to officially research anything.   Reading through the second chapter of the Dana (2009) text I am realizing that action research really is nothing to be scared of and I would love to work on a campus that embraces this philosophy of school improvement and professional development.  I found myself wanting to know the results of several of the "wonderings" mentioned throughout the chapter and was inspired by some of the solutions presented.  
I have chosen the topic of technology integration and LoTi levels for my own investigation and I am excited to start planning on how to conduct the research.   I have already talked with my librarian to partner with me as well as the Director of Instructional Technology to gather support for my project.  My summer has just gotten a bit busier in preparation to role out the plan in August, but it is a preparation to which I am looking forward.
As I move through my educational career, I want to remember the imporatance of being reflective and focusing on how to identify what is working on my campus and what can be improved.  I want to demonstrate what a life-long learner looks like and follow my "wonderings" whenever possible.

Dana, N. F. (2009). Leading with passion and knowledge: the principal as action researcher. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: Corwin Press, a Joint Publication with the American Association of School Administrators.