Putting Action Research to Practice

My research potential research topic is: How does the current inclusion model impact student performance in mathematics for special education and general education students? What can we do as a campus to improve the current inclusion model to close the achievement gap and improve student performance?

Goals and objectives/outcomes of the research investigation

The objective of the research investigation is to look at the current inclusion model and determine how it has impacted the academic performance of the students enrolled in the classes.  The goal in which I would like to accomplish is the development of a comprehensive inclusion model that addresses and closes achievement gaps specifically in mathematics.

Activities designed to achieve the objectives

The activities I will implement to achieve my objective are:

·         Identify the current inclusion students

·         Look at data such as test scores, benchmark assessment and TAKS data

·         Survey and interview students regarding their perception of the inclusion class

·         Interview teachers

·         Look at professional development records to gather information on how teachers are trained for inclusion/ mainstreaming

·         Review current inclusion model to determine main areas of concern

Resources and research tools needed for data gathering

·         PEIMS data

·         District permission to conduct research

·         Surveys

·         Articles of successful inclusion models

·         Demographic information

·         Academic achievement data

Draft timeline for completion or implementation of activities

·         Review current inclusion model to determine main areas of concern (Begins 1/12)

·         Identify the current inclusion students (Now -1/12)

·         Look at data such as test scores, benchmark assessment and TAKS data (Begins 1/12)

·         Survey and interview students regarding their perception of the inclusion class (Begin 2/11)

·         Interview teachers (Begin 3/11)

·         Look at professional development records to gather information on how teachers are trained for inclusion/ mainstreaming (3/11)

Persons responsible for implementation of the action research plan

The persons responsible for the implementation of the action research plan will include me, an Assistant Principal, and the Special Education Administrator.

Process for monitoring the achievement of goals and objectives

The process I will implement to monitor the achievement of the goals and objectives will include continuous data disaggregation, regular meetings with team to evaluate progress and constant re-evaluation of activities to determine effectiveness.

Upon completion of the study, the data will be used to develop a new inclusion model or to make improvements to the current model.  The effectiveness of the research study would be determined by comparing the improvements made with the initiation of a new inclusion model.

Passions of an Educator

This week I studied nine areas that promote "wonderings" for school Principals and administrative teams. These nine areas or passions are: staff development, curriculum development, individual teachers, individual students, school culture/ community, leadership, management, school perfornmance and social justice. (Dana, 2009) Each of these areas are critical to the a school's success, therefore principals should explore each area by conducting action research.

During my four years as a teacher I have been exposed to a lot of new experiences in the education profession.  Some were good experiences while others. However through these experiences, combined with the knowledge I am aquiring through my studies, I have now gained more insight as to what an efficient school environment should look like.  One of the things I learned through my readings this week is that the role as principal is limitless.  The school prinicpal wears several hats and is responsible for many tasks.  A principal's success is determined by his or her ability to continuously evaluate every aspect of the campus and use action research to implement continuous improvement plans to make adjustments. 

As I embark on my journey to becoming an administrator I will evaluate my experiences and use them to discover my personal passions.  This is just the beginning of the journey. 

Educational Leaders as BLOGGERS?

Technology has certainly impacted education!  When I was in school you couldn't receive tutoring via video chat or post blogs in response to assignments.  This was unheard of! However the utilization of technology has contributed to the dissemination of valuable information necessary to facilitate best practices in education.

Educational leaders should embrace the use of blogs as a means of facilitating conversations relevant to the improvement of the educational system.  Blogging allows individuals to virtually interact and share relevant information with peers.  As an education leader blogging can provide another research tool by allowing leaders to collaborate with individuals with various levels of expertise.

The competitiveness of education has caused some leaders to feel isolated from their counterparts preventing them from engaging in meaningful conversations relevant to administrative duties or concerns.  Blogging provides a non-threatening method of communication in which information is shared, learning takes place and the leader can address his or her concerns while obtaining feedback from others. 

So now that we have a better understanding of how educational leaders can use blogs- let's start blogging!  I look forward to sharing information with you.

Welcome! Get ready to put action in your research!

Hello!  I am Rey Smith, a graduate student at Lamar University.  My program of study is Education Administration.  Welcome to my BLOG! This blog will provide insight to my studies as I pursue my Masters degree.

My first topic is Action Research in Educational settings.  Action Research is the process of an administrator studying his or her own administrative practices and using the information collected to take action or facilitate changes. Action research allows the principal to actively participate in analyzing problems and developing strategies to resolve the concerns, thereby awarding the principal ownership of the process.  During this process the principal poses a question from the administrative perspective, collects data relevant to the question and analyzes the information to resolve the problem.

 This process is essential because it promotes an environment for learning and leadership while advocating for collaboration.  In the administrative inquiry model the principal becomes an instructional leader fostering an environment conducive to learning and best practices.  Three examples of action research in educational settings are individual research, collaborative research and school wide research.  Individual research refers to one person, a principal, administrator or teacher, conducting an action research project.  Collaboration can come in the form of Professional Learning Communities.  In PLCs a specific problem is identified and the “community” collaborates to develop effective strategies and implement change. The third example of action research is school-wide research led by a leadership team.  The leadership team consists of administrators and teachers who consult, plan, make decisions, collaborate and facilitate change. 

As an administrator I would use action research to identify and solve problems relevant to student achievement.  My passion is Special Education.  As an administrator I would apply action research to recognize dilemmas associated with service delivery in the Special Education Department and to develop a comprehensive action plan and resolution to eliminate challenges associated with how special education students are educated.

Conducting action research is beneficial to educational settings because it incorporates a systematic and collaborative approach to improve teaching and administrative practices.  Conducting action research is one of the best tools an administrator can use to ensure success in student achievement, operation and overall campus culture. 

Please continue to read my posts and post comments.  I hope you enjoy them and I look forward to hearing from you!