My action research plan!

SIP or PIP (SCHOOL or PROFESSIONAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT) PLAN OF ACTION Action Research Plan: Understanding the importance of cooperative groups and what makes it work more effective. SCHOOL VISION: Student-centered learning Goal: To become aware of effective cooperate groups for further student success. Outcomes Activities Resources/research tools needed Responsibility to address activities Timeline Benchmarks/Assessments Revisions to SIP/PIP based on monitoring and assessments Understand importance of student centered learning Pair students based on different factors Research importance of student centered learning in classrooms Ashley Williams May 2011 None Lesson planning may be changed to address the needs of student centered learning. Develop my system of pairing students Pair my students based on sex, demographics, socioeconomic status, TAKS score, and ability AWARE Data system, Excel Ashley Williams May 2011 Use previous TAKS score and unit assessment for some of my trials of pairing students. To determine the most effective pairs, a system of groups must be tested and determined Develop data collection Design and implement data collection in my research Excel, and Skyward grade book Ashley Williams May 2011 None Implement my data into lesson planning Survey students on partner effectiveness and concept learned Provide students with a survey asking partner effectiveness, ability, and scores Survey, Microsoft word Ashley Williams May 2011 Use survey results to determine effectiveness of the pairings Include student input in classroom processes and procedures Conclude my findings of student success Disaggregate my data and share my results with others Excel, Blog site Ashley Williams May 2011 None My findings will reinforce the need for specific groups Identify strengths and weakness with each trial Identify what works and doesn’t make my research effective. Identify what worked with my research. Excel Ashley Williams May 2011 Use assessment and reinforcement scores to determine strengths and weaknesses. With all research, strengths will be utilized and weakness will be addressed and new plans to alter research will be recorded To learn new teaching strategies With my pairs, I will come up with new  teaching strategies to better serve my students working with partners. Lesson delivery, assignments, and assessments will be different due to partner work. Research teaching strategies for student-centered learning. Ashley Williams May 2011 If scores improve, I will use that data to improve further assessments. Implement new strategies into lesson planning. Share research findings with others I will share via my blog and co-workers my research findings to better improve student success. Blog Ashley Williams May 2011 Provide samples of assessment and reinforcement work scores to verify my findings to my co-workers. Share results with other teachers. Inform them of the importance of student centered learning and how it is effective in the learning process.

Week 2 findings...

I learned in week 2 of action research that it is important and effective. "Why reinvent the wheel?" I need to learn to rely more on the research of others. If I can lean how to effectively research ideas of interest, I will be more effective for my students as well as in my future administrative career.

What is action research?

Action research is the process of a principal engaging in systematic, intentional study of their own administrative practice and taking action for change based on what they learn as a result of the inquiry. Taking action is the key to action research. Action research can be done on many different things. Many of my classmate in my masters course are researching reading and reading readiness. I plan to do my action research project on the effects and benefits of cooperative learning. As a classroom teacher, I use cooperative learning often. Sometimes I will see positive results and sometimes I will see negative results from cooperative grouping. I believe that the grouping process is very important to the effectiveness of the activity. I plan to group my students based on ability, language, and sex all similar and different. I will post my findings and conclusions at the end of each trial. In the end, I will use formative assessments and surveys to determine the effectiveness of the group. Of course, content will also be a factor. I will have to look at the success of the whole group and the percentages of it to determine effectiveness of the group based on the assessments.

Why is it important to educational leaders?

It is very effective for educational leaders to use these blogs. Educational leaders may not have the time or resources to complete the research. Chances are, the research has already been done by another professional. In the event that it has already been done, if the researcher has blogged about it, they have just provided many educational leaders with the information that they were needing.