Here We Go

Now the journey really begins.  Now I start the process this course has taught me.  The professors did such an excellent job guiding us through the planning process. This course has taught me the importance of action research in helping with professional development as an educator.  It has given me some wonderful examples of action research, and introduced me to some wonderful professionals who will help shape the future of our educational system.  I feel very fortunate to have been able to share my wonderings and thoughts about my research plan with my fellow colleagues to be able to have benefited from their expertise.  I look forward to sharing my research with these fellow researchers and following their research as I continue through on this journey of Action Research.  The last week has taught me how to begin the process of the research and planning it out.

The eight step model provided in the Harris text, (2010), was very beneficial in helping to think out the research project.  The CARE Model: Planning Tool was very helpful in organizing the thought process in developing the action research plan.  This model provided four specific areas that needed to be addressed in order to have a well developed plan.  The first step focuses the researcher’s thinking on the future.  It is important as a principal to always be looking for ways to make improvements and ways to improve efficiency.  The second step is just as important because if a program is working it needs to be managed and maintained.  The third step is the center of the research project making sure the data is clearly understood, interpreted and reported in a timely fashion.   The final step of the CARE Model is evaluation.  It is important that whatever changes are made they monitored and evaluated on a regular basis to maintain growth and aid in future research.

I am excited about beginning my research project and I never thought I would here myself say that.  I will just have to see where there journey takes me.

Revised Plan-This time I included the dates

After reviewing the comments and suggestions of my fellow bloggers  I went back and included dates for my project.  This has given me a starting date and helps me to stay on target with everything I need to be doing in order to be ready to begin by my start date.  Some of the "things" include sending out requests for committee members, researching different survey instruments to present to the committee and forming my goal statement for the committee.  I want to be sure I have carefully considered every aspect of the first meeting because I want the first meeting to be a pleasant and positive experience for everyone.  I want every member to feel this project is important to our school and its development.

Action Planning Template
Goal: To conduct research to assess our current campus climate and culture and to identify areas of weakness in order to improve community involvement and student success.
Action Steps(s):	Person(s) Responsible:	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
Form a committee of volunteer parents and faculty members to develop a survey to assess the campus climate and culture.	Julie Cummings	Begin May2, 2011 end by May 7, 2011.	Survey Tool to develop survey format	Readability of the survey
Surveys will be sent out to community.	Julie Cummings	May 16th sent out surveys.  Allow 5 days for responses to be returned.	E-mail addresses and mailing addresses for parents, paper supplies and postage for surveys mailed .	Number of survey replies received.
Based on the results of the surveys, the top three areas of concerns will be researched to determine current practices that may be applied in our district. Present committee’s suggestions to campus principal and superintendent for suggestions and approval.	Julie Cummings Julie Cummings	May 23,2011 June 2011	Professional journals and research sites These will be based on the results of the survey.	The committee will evaluate the survey responses and research data to evaluate suggested programs and plans. The evaluation of Mr. Smith and Mrs. Garrison
Plan will be developed and presented to the administration and faculty and parent committee to address the areas of improvement that will be addressed.	Julie Cummings	August 2011	These will be based on the survey and areas that are yet to be determined.	Approval of administration, school board, faculty, and parent committee. Monitoring of areas that were changed will be  completed through out the school year to evaluate their effectiveness and if they are meeting the committee's goals.

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

(Harris, Edmonson, and Combs, 2010)

Action Research Plan

I am ready to post my plan for the world to see.  The more I thought of this plan, the more it has grown in my mind.  I can see a lot of different directions this thing could go. It will be interesting to see how it turns out.  Please feel free to comment and offer any suggestions.


In the previous three years our campus has under gone some major organizational and leadership changes.  These changes have included a new superintendent, curriculum director, principal and new curriculum.  The middle school’s rating went from recognized to exemplary in two years and maintained the exemplary rating the next year.  The numerous changes in leadership on the middle school campus and in the district has made it hard to determine the school’s climate and culture both in the district and how it is perceived in the community.

Research Goal:  To conduct research to assess our current campus climate and culture and target areas of weakness to improve community involvement and student success.

1.     A committee of volunteer parents and faculty members and I, will meet to develop a survey to be sent out to middle school parents and community leaders.  This survey will identify the demographics of the participants, their connection with the school and number of their children (if any), enrolled in the middle school.  This will be an anonymous survey to promote participation. 

2.     After the survey has been developed, it will be sent out via e-mail through a survey program.  The questions will based on a rating system and target the goals of the middle school both academically and socially. The participants will be given 5 days to respond.   I will then gather the responses together.

3.     The data will be analyzed to determine if there are other areas that need to be addressed. What are the major areas of concern? What are we doing well?  How can we do better?  How can we improve our relationship with the parents and the community?  I will present the results to the committee. 

4.     I will conduct research based on the results of the survey over the top areas of concern and ways to address that need.  I will use published articles over school climate and culture and interview principals in the area to gather information concerning ways they may have improved their school climate and culture.  I will look for programs that other schools have used and if they were beneficial.

5.     After researching these areas, I will present a plan for improvement to the committee.  We will discuss the plans and if they feel they would be appropriate for our school.  Will the plan meet the goal? How long will it take to determine if our plan is working?  How can we monitor the results? How will the plan improve student performance or attitude?

6.      Upon their approval and adding any suggestions they might make, I will present the plan to my site supervisor.  We will analyze the plan and determine the resources necessary (if any) that are needed to implement the plan the time line for implementation and what it should look like.  It will be presented to the faculty for their endorsement.

7.     Upon agree upon the plan we will develop a criteria to monitor the plan and make adjustments as it is implemented or as needed based on the goal of the project. 

8.     The committee will meet periodically to monitor the progress and look for other areas of concern or opportunities for growth.

Action Research ideas

I have had a week. I am learning more everyday about this action research project.  I think I may have my topic.  I think I am going to do the one my principal recommended. Mainly because I think this one will be more manageable for a first timer and it is a project that directly applies to my school.  In the interview with Dr.  Lewis, he stated the research project should be something that you are interested in and that directly effects you.  So I think my research project will be school climate.  I am going to form a committee of middle school parents and develop a survey concern our school's climate and culture.  We will use Survey Monkey and gather data from all the parents of the middle school.  I can then take the data and working with my colleagues we can develop a plan to improve the areas that need improvements.

I know it still sounds a little rough but hopefully it will become more specific as I continue to formulate the plan.

In the Beginning...

I feel from what I have discovered thus far that action research is a great way to do research.  This form of research allows the researcher to become part of the project.  Instead of studying other people's findings and trying to gleen what you can from it, in action research the process drives the research.  That is not to say it is subjective.  Action research is data driven, but there is a more human element to the results.  Through the researcher's observations, participant surveys, and evaluations the subject of the research is more pliable. Action research can change a principal's perspective.  Everything in the school could possibly become an area of study.  The principal becomes more focused on the process and the factors that influence the process and that particular outcome, than with just the results.  For instance, the principal researcher can personally research the curriculum being used in his school by analyzing students' performances, seeing how it is being applied in classroom and gathering teachers'  input and research if the curriculum is meeting the needs of the students or if there are other factors that are influencing students' outcomes.

In my research project the action research model will be very beneficial.  I will be able to work with parents in our community to develop questions for the parent survey and have their perspective concerning the importance of parental involvement in the child's educational process.  It will be interesting to see if there is any real correlation between a student's success and the level of parental participation or involvement in their child's educational process.  Using  action research I wiil be able to see how my school compares with studies that have been done over this topic.  I look forward to discussing the results of this study with my colleagues and my site supervisor.  This is another benefit of this type of research.  It naturally lends itself to professional development with everyone involved.  I believe that I will benefit from the research, but I also feel my colleagues will benefit,too just in my sharing the results of the study. 



The blogging process is such a great way to share ideas and suggestions. You can share ideas and thoughts with other people who have the same goals and values as you, but may offer another perspective over the topic.