Thoughts on the 2nd week in 5301

This weeks assignments focused a lot on developing an action research question.  The way it did this was good, it made you look into several different areas, or nine "Wonderings" as they are called (Dana, 2009).  This was good for me, as it got me opened up to quite a few more areas and topics than I had originally thought about.  I didn't really think the video interviews were extremely beneficial.  I thought they jumped around quite a bit and didn't really explain what it was they were talking about.  Having the questions they were asked may have helped.

After meeting with my site supervisor, I developed my action research question.  What is the impact and success of double blocking algebra 1 classes for students who failed their 8^th grade math STAAR?  

This is something our school has done for two years now.  It seems successful, but no real comparisons have been made to this point.  Additionally, with it I plan on looking for trends and see if this program has had an impact on those trends.  I will have to look at students from both years and look back into not only their 8th grade scores, but also their 7th grade scores.  

Reflections for Video Interviews

Reflecting on listening to and watching Dr. Chargois; he was focused on improving the different campuses.  He wanted to make sure that not only the students continued to learn, but that the teachers and administration did as well.  He felt that it was important that the teachers be taught how to use data, how to conduct their own local research so that they were accountable for all of the students.  He stressed that in today’s educational climate that you couldn’t be satisfied with improving a few students; that you had to bring everyone up to standard (Chargois).

 

Dr. Lewis spoke a lot on using data from their research to improve the instruction.  He wanted to improve the instruction in various ways, but focused on the instructional strategies based on what the data showed.  He was big into having research conducted at all levels in the district, all the way from administration to the campus down to the individual students.  While he knew that all teachers hadn’t had formal action research instruction, they had been shown in PD and they knew what they were looking for in data.  He also stressed that they should look at other research and see how it compares to their schools and that the data has to be practical (Lewis).

Chargois, T. (n.d.). Interview 2: Dr. Timothy Chargois [Video file]. Retrieved from https://luonline.blackboard.com/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_62326_1%26url%3D

Lewis, K. (n.d.) Interview 3: Dr. Kirk Lewis [Video file]. Retrieved from https://luonline.blackboard.com/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_tab_group_id=_2_1&url=%2Fwebapps%2Fblackboard%2Fexecute%2Flauncher%3Ftype%3DCourse%26id%3D_62324_1%26url%3D

How educational leaders might use a blog.

Teachers could use blogs in a variety of ways.  One of the simplest ways a teacher could use a blog would be to communicate with other teachers in an attempt to share their thoughts and feelings.  This would provide a simple release in helping to keep the teachers remain strong mentally.  Another way I think could be great would be to set up blogs for different classes, having the students join them.  This would allow them a way to communicate outside of class and hopefully develop a better understanding of the material from class.  Administrators could use the blog to help keep teachers and staff updated on current issues, while being able to receive feedback. 

What I've learned about Action Research

Through this first week of class I have learned of a type of research that is new to me, Action Research.  While the term “Action Research” is new to me, the process is not.  Action research is “the process of a principal engaging in systematic, intentional study of his/her own administrative practice and taking action for change based on what he/she learns as a result of the inquiry (Dana, 2012).”  This is a process that I believe a lot of teachers use already in the classroom, though probably not enough.  As an administrator, action research can be used to confront numerous issues in the school.  Nancy Dana discuss in her book Leading With Passion and Knowledge (2009) a principal who’s school had not made AYP.  Through action research the principal developed a plan based off of her reflections and after looking over data.  All of her work and reflection by using the Action Research model, allowed her to gain a greater understanding of what to do and how to do it.  A major way I could use Action Research would be in dealing with the freshman at our school.  As one of my administrators stated, “it takes about a year and a half to reprogram them into how things are done here.”  I feel that we could develop an inquiry to address this issue and facilitate a quicker assimilation into the school.  Having the freshman “get into the groove” quicker would improve overall achievement in the school, and could help to limit the students falling behind and playing catch up the rest of their high school career.  Overall, action research is a great tool that should be utilized by administrators to improve themselves and their school.