Monday, November 8, 2010
Continuing Journey
It's been a long time since my last post and I apologize for the delay. I am still going to have to get used to this blogging "thing"!. My action research project is going fine at this point. I did get all my pre-testing done and some of the data for my project collected relating to student grades. More collection of data will not be needed until the students have been tested during the first part of next year. I promise that I will make every effort to continue this blog on a regular basis and until next time I wish everyone the best of luck with your own action research projects!
Monday, August 30, 2010
Action Research Project Update
Just getting prepared to administer my pre-test for my action research project over the "effectiveness of our science labs" in our high school. I have a pre-test that is done over the computer to evaluate students knowledge of the skills that are required on the Science TAKS Test. I will be administering these tests I hope on friday of this week. This will be the beginning of my project and will be followed closely by my collection of course grade data on my students in previous science classes. I hope that everyone's projects are going well and I will be back to share more soon!
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
5301 Course Highlights
Just wanted to post my own personal highlights from our EDLD 5301 Course. These are just a few of the things that stand out in my mind from the last five weeks. I have learned many new things in this course that will help me out in the future as an administrator. I appreciate all the feedback that my colleagues have given me as well throughout this course.
Have a great day and I will talk to you soon!
I have learned a lot of new information during the EDLD 5301 Course. I look forward to being able to utilize this information in the future as I pursue a career in administration.
Learning how to write blogs and how to use them to benefit myself as well as others is an important skill that I am starting to develop. The book “Leading With Passion and Knowledge” by Nancy Dana has been very beneficial to me in learning about blogs and how to use them(p.149-151). I believe that I will continue to improve in regard to being able to utilize blogs effectively.
The use of the discussion boards has also helped me in this course. I have been able to use the feedback of other students to help me analyze my research project and identify possible problems that I may encounter in the future. One of the comments that I received on the discussion board prompted me to reconsider one of my possible research topics and focus on another problem area for study.
The video interviews of educational administrators that we watched during this course also were beneficial to me. Dr. Timothy Chargois who is the Director of Research, Planning and Development for Beaumont ISD brought to my attention the importance of taking our research data and putting it into immediate use. Dr. Chargois made the point that we cannot wait for a year to make changes. We need to be able to take the data we have and make immediate changes to improve student learning. This is an important statement that I believe is very relevant to learning in our schools.
In “Leading With Passion and Knowledge” Nancy Dana provided some good information on the different ways that we can share our research and what the benefits of sharing research are for other educators(p. 135-169).
Harris, Edmondson, and Combs discussed “Strategies for Sustaining Improvement” including Force Field Analysis, the Delphi Method, Nominal Group Technique, and the CARE model(Examining What We Do To Improve Our Schools, p. 91-103). These different strategies for sustaining improvement will be a part of my future data collection techniques that I will use in my research.
These are just some of the highlights of the EDLD 5301 Course that stand out in my mind. As a future administrator I realize that I will be continually learning throughout my career. I believe that this course has been a good start in helping me to understand how action research is conducted and how it can be used to help improve our schools.
Have a great day and I will talk to you soon!
I have learned a lot of new information during the EDLD 5301 Course. I look forward to being able to utilize this information in the future as I pursue a career in administration.
Learning how to write blogs and how to use them to benefit myself as well as others is an important skill that I am starting to develop. The book “Leading With Passion and Knowledge” by Nancy Dana has been very beneficial to me in learning about blogs and how to use them(p.149-151). I believe that I will continue to improve in regard to being able to utilize blogs effectively.
The use of the discussion boards has also helped me in this course. I have been able to use the feedback of other students to help me analyze my research project and identify possible problems that I may encounter in the future. One of the comments that I received on the discussion board prompted me to reconsider one of my possible research topics and focus on another problem area for study.
The video interviews of educational administrators that we watched during this course also were beneficial to me. Dr. Timothy Chargois who is the Director of Research, Planning and Development for Beaumont ISD brought to my attention the importance of taking our research data and putting it into immediate use. Dr. Chargois made the point that we cannot wait for a year to make changes. We need to be able to take the data we have and make immediate changes to improve student learning. This is an important statement that I believe is very relevant to learning in our schools.
In “Leading With Passion and Knowledge” Nancy Dana provided some good information on the different ways that we can share our research and what the benefits of sharing research are for other educators(p. 135-169).
Harris, Edmondson, and Combs discussed “Strategies for Sustaining Improvement” including Force Field Analysis, the Delphi Method, Nominal Group Technique, and the CARE model(Examining What We Do To Improve Our Schools, p. 91-103). These different strategies for sustaining improvement will be a part of my future data collection techniques that I will use in my research.
These are just some of the highlights of the EDLD 5301 Course that stand out in my mind. As a future administrator I realize that I will be continually learning throughout my career. I believe that this course has been a good start in helping me to understand how action research is conducted and how it can be used to help improve our schools.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
The journey continues......
I have still been in the process of refining my action research project for the last week. I have been examining the data collection process that I will need to use and looking at how I can make sure that I will be able to draw valid conclusions from my research. There are many variables that can affect data that must be considered when conducting research and drawing conclusions from that research. With that being said I believe that my project that is evaluating the effectiveness of our science labs will be very beneficial to our school and our science program in general.
I want to thank everyone who has offered suggestions and tips and please continue to do so! I look foward to speaking with you again soon!
I want to thank everyone who has offered suggestions and tips and please continue to do so! I look foward to speaking with you again soon!
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Action Research Plan: Effectiveness of TAKS Science Lab
I am posting my action research plan template below. I have had a difficult time in deciding exactly what project to pursue but I have decided on the research problem below due to the importance of Science TAKS scores as well as my close connection to the science department. The most difficult part of the planning process has been trying to determine how to define a successful TAKS Science Lab. Evaluation of research and data and drawing conclusions is something that requires careful consideration when considering action research projects.
Please do not hesitate to comment on any aspect of this research project. I welcome any suggestions or advice that you may have!
Talk to you soon!
Action Planning Template 7.1
Goal: How effective are the Science TAKS Lab Classes at Weimar High School in addressing student needs related to improved learning and successfully passing the Science TAKS Test.
Action Step #1
Document all TAKS Science Lab students grades from the last science class that they were enrolled in.
Person Responsible:
Vincent Brown
Timeline:
August 15th-August 30th
Needed Resources:
Science grade reports from 2009-2010 for all students enrolled in TAKS Science Labs in 2010-2011.
Evaluation:
I will have all science grades for 2009-2010 school year documented for all students enrolled in TAKS Science Labs for 2010-2011 school year. Data will be placed in folder.
Action Step #2:
Document Science TAKS scores for those students who have failed the Science TAKS test previously.
Person Responsible:
Vincent Brown
Timeline:
August 15th-August 30th
Needed Resources:
Science TAKS Data for those students who have previously failed the Science TAKS Test.
Evaluation:
Science TAKS Scores for those students who have previously failed the Science TAKS Test will be collected and placed in folder and secured in locked cabinet in office.
Action Step #3:
Administer Science Pre-Test to all TAKS Science Lab Classes
Person Responsible:
Vincent Brown/Rebecca Moreno
Timeline:
August 20th-29th 2010
Needed Resources:
Standardized Science Pre-Test
Evaluation:
Science Pre-Tests will be graded and data recorded in notebook for each student.
Action Step #4:
Administer Science Post Test to all TAKS Science Lab students
Person Responsible:
Vincent Brown/Rebecca Moreno
Timeline:
May 15th-25th 2011
Needed Resources:
Standardized Science Post-Test
Evaluation:
Science Post-Tests will be graded and data placed in notebook
Action-Step #5:
Collect Science TAKS results for those students who took the Science TAKS Test during the 2010-2011 school year.
Person Responsible:
Vincent Brown/Rebecca Moreno/Mr. Darrin Bickham
Timeline:
May 15th-30th 2011
Needed Resources:
2010-2011 TAKS Science Test Results for those students in Science TAKS Labs
Evaluation:
Science TAKS data will be documented and placed in folder in locked office
Action-Step #6:
Analyze collective data from action steps #1-5 and record results in folder that is secured in locked office.
Person Responsible:
Vincent Brown
Timeline:
June 5th-June 30th 2011
Needed Resources:
All data from action steps #1-5
Evaluation:
A written report will be composed utilizing charts and tables to show student data comparisons from action steps #1-5.
Please do not hesitate to comment on any aspect of this research project. I welcome any suggestions or advice that you may have!
Talk to you soon!
Action Planning Template 7.1
Goal: How effective are the Science TAKS Lab Classes at Weimar High School in addressing student needs related to improved learning and successfully passing the Science TAKS Test.
Action Step #1
Document all TAKS Science Lab students grades from the last science class that they were enrolled in.
Person Responsible:
Vincent Brown
Timeline:
August 15th-August 30th
Needed Resources:
Science grade reports from 2009-2010 for all students enrolled in TAKS Science Labs in 2010-2011.
Evaluation:
I will have all science grades for 2009-2010 school year documented for all students enrolled in TAKS Science Labs for 2010-2011 school year. Data will be placed in folder.
Action Step #2:
Document Science TAKS scores for those students who have failed the Science TAKS test previously.
Person Responsible:
Vincent Brown
Timeline:
August 15th-August 30th
Needed Resources:
Science TAKS Data for those students who have previously failed the Science TAKS Test.
Evaluation:
Science TAKS Scores for those students who have previously failed the Science TAKS Test will be collected and placed in folder and secured in locked cabinet in office.
Action Step #3:
Administer Science Pre-Test to all TAKS Science Lab Classes
Person Responsible:
Vincent Brown/Rebecca Moreno
Timeline:
August 20th-29th 2010
Needed Resources:
Standardized Science Pre-Test
Evaluation:
Science Pre-Tests will be graded and data recorded in notebook for each student.
Action Step #4:
Administer Science Post Test to all TAKS Science Lab students
Person Responsible:
Vincent Brown/Rebecca Moreno
Timeline:
May 15th-25th 2011
Needed Resources:
Standardized Science Post-Test
Evaluation:
Science Post-Tests will be graded and data placed in notebook
Action-Step #5:
Collect Science TAKS results for those students who took the Science TAKS Test during the 2010-2011 school year.
Person Responsible:
Vincent Brown/Rebecca Moreno/Mr. Darrin Bickham
Timeline:
May 15th-30th 2011
Needed Resources:
2010-2011 TAKS Science Test Results for those students in Science TAKS Labs
Evaluation:
Science TAKS data will be documented and placed in folder in locked office
Action-Step #6:
Analyze collective data from action steps #1-5 and record results in folder that is secured in locked office.
Person Responsible:
Vincent Brown
Timeline:
June 5th-June 30th 2011
Needed Resources:
All data from action steps #1-5
Evaluation:
A written report will be composed utilizing charts and tables to show student data comparisons from action steps #1-5.
Friday, July 23, 2010
Still Learning!
In continuing my quest for an action research project I have come up with many possible areas in which research would benefit my school. The reading from Nancy Dana's "Leading with Passion and Knowledge" has been a great help in brainstorming important areas that can be used for action research.
One of the hurdles that I have found that I must address is being able to narrow down my research question and focus on one specific aspect. I have found that I also must be able to come up with research data to support or refute my action research questions. Sometimes it is hard to be able to come up with answers to questions due to a large number of variables. We must always make sure that our research is accurate and actually answers the question that we are trying to answer.
So in conclusion I am learning that my action research questions and topics must be analyzed beforehand to make sure that this is a question that can be answered and that I will be able to collect research data on. I must have the tools and ability to conduct the action research project that I have chosen.
Have a great week and I will talk to you soon!
One of the hurdles that I have found that I must address is being able to narrow down my research question and focus on one specific aspect. I have found that I also must be able to come up with research data to support or refute my action research questions. Sometimes it is hard to be able to come up with answers to questions due to a large number of variables. We must always make sure that our research is accurate and actually answers the question that we are trying to answer.
So in conclusion I am learning that my action research questions and topics must be analyzed beforehand to make sure that this is a question that can be answered and that I will be able to collect research data on. I must have the tools and ability to conduct the action research project that I have chosen.
Have a great week and I will talk to you soon!
Thursday, July 15, 2010
How Can Educators Use Blogs/Journals
I am new to the "blogging" scene so I am still in the process of learning how and why blogging can be beneficial to me as an administrator. I am familiar with the using journals to record our thoughts and ideas but I must admit that I have never been one to record my thoughts personally.
In researching Journals and weblogs I have used Nancy Dana's book titled "Leading with passion and knowledge". Dana states that using journals and weblogs is one way that principal-researchers can capture their thinking as an inquiry unfolds (p.87). Weblogs are easy to create and publish as is evidenced by the fact that I have been able to do it pretty easy!
Blogging allows us to also add images and links to our text which we are unable to do in journals.
Dana also states that "capturing your own thinking over time can lead to critical insights into your administrative practice, insights that may only occur when you revisit a thought or when you string a number of thoughts together that have come to you intermittently over a longer period of time"(Leading with passion and knowlege, p.88).
I believe that using a blog is also beneficial in that we can easily share our thoughts with others if we so desire. I know that blogging has become more popular in recent years and I am just a little behind the times in catching on but I have a feeling that "blogging" is going to be a regular part of my daily routine before long!
Have a great day and I'll be back real soon!
In researching Journals and weblogs I have used Nancy Dana's book titled "Leading with passion and knowledge". Dana states that using journals and weblogs is one way that principal-researchers can capture their thinking as an inquiry unfolds (p.87). Weblogs are easy to create and publish as is evidenced by the fact that I have been able to do it pretty easy!
Blogging allows us to also add images and links to our text which we are unable to do in journals.
Dana also states that "capturing your own thinking over time can lead to critical insights into your administrative practice, insights that may only occur when you revisit a thought or when you string a number of thoughts together that have come to you intermittently over a longer period of time"(Leading with passion and knowlege, p.88).
I believe that using a blog is also beneficial in that we can easily share our thoughts with others if we so desire. I know that blogging has become more popular in recent years and I am just a little behind the times in catching on but I have a feeling that "blogging" is going to be a regular part of my daily routine before long!
Have a great day and I'll be back real soon!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)