Revised Goolsby Action Research Plan

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Revised Goolsby Action Research Plan

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Sharing My Work

I will share my work and learning from the Action Research on implementing Professional Learning Communities in order to promote collaboration and communication while facilitating CSCOPE implementation through my blog and with a PowerPoint presentation that I will be able to share easily with other campuses in our district and other colleagues that I work with, such as at Region VIII ESC. In my blog and PowerPoint presentation, I will include the four critical tasks in order to better explain my work. First, I will give background information and explain the context/setting of the action research. This will better enable the reader to understand the need for the action research and the initial planning that took place. Next, I will give information on the design of the inquiry. This will include data used in the initial phases of planning for the action research and began the inquiry process, data collected throughout the year/action research period, and data from the end of the year which was used to gauge the impact of the action research. Then, I will share what was learned from the inquiry. In doing so, I will share data that will help the reader to understand the benefits of implementing PLCs. Because the topic I have chosen for action research will focus on collaboration and communication, I will include quotes from teachers and our principal in order to give those viewpoints to the reader, in addition to using data to give evidence of the positive impact of PLCs. Last, I will provide concluding thoughts. This is where I will be able to share the answers learned to the initial inquiry questions. This could also be the place where I could share new wonderings that I have after completing this action research.

Goolsby action research plan

Check out this SlideShare Presentation:

Goolsby action research plan

View more presentations from Melissa Goolsby.

Week 2 Reflection

This week I have learned the significance of action research and its impact on the quality of education our students receive. As educators it is crucial that we be life-long learners. Action research enables us to research topics which we have an interest in and which will benefit our students.

Because our district is using CSCOPE and striving for a better understanding of the curriculum, we are working towards having Level 5 implementation and leadership which would include PLCs. My site supervisor and I discussed the possibility of researching PLC implementation in order to better facilitate the implementation of CSCOPE. At the beginning of this course, I was planning to research teacher perception of professional development, but the direction our campus is taking might lead me to research implementing PLCs to facilitate CSCOPE implementation. My site supervisor and I will discuss this during the upcoming weeks to determine which topic would be most beneficial for me to study.

How can Educational Leaders use Blogs?

Blogs can be a beneficial tool for educators to start using. One of the major benefits of blogs for educators is as a tool for reflection and collaboration. Educators can document their thoughts and observations in a blog and use this information to reflect in the future. The blog is a great tool for getting input from colleagues and discussing "hot topics."

What are your thoughts on educational leaders using blogs?

Action Research

During this first week in EDLD 5301, I have learned a great deal about Action Research. I understand that it is different from traditional research and can be more beneficial to the actual practitioners, teachers and principals. Educators can use action research to closely examine the issues that are most important to them and that they can influence. Action research can be an effective tool in better understanding areas of concern on a campus or in a school district and then planning for a solution. Action research can be beneficial to educators because it helps them to identify areas of need, keep track of the data that has been identified and analyzed, then plan for steps to be taken in order to improve student learning. A major component of action research is reflection. Once practitioners have studied an issue or problem, they take time to more closely exam the issue, then plan for action to be taken, look at the results, and then reflect on action taken. This process spirals because once practitioners reflect on work and actions they will continue to use inquiry to improve student learning and school success. Harris, Edmonson, and Combs (2010) stated, “the need for inquiry is an essential component in order to establish a firm foundation for school improvement” (p. 5). As a campus leader, I can use inquiry and action research to collaborate with teachers and improve instructional practices. We could use action research to identify concerns such as, discrepancies in content and cognitive level of Mathematics instruction in Kindergarten-4th Grade, improving instruction in oral expression, and improving teacher morale and attitudes towards professional development. I plan to use action research to further examine teacher attitudes towards professional development. Please check back later and give me your input!