Research for Teachers Course Reflection:

Lectures:

Throughout this course there have been many things that I have learned and look back at that help mold and shape my action research plan.  I though the lectures throughout the study were very informative.  The professor’s knowledge and leadership being communicated was vital in my guidance of this course.

Readings: 

I also thought the readings were very helpful in executing my assignments.  Without the readings I believe I would have been left wondering if I had done things right in my action research plan.  The readings were very pertinent and aided me throughout this course. 

Searches:

The research and topics that were studied were awesome because I got a great deal of knowledge from these.  It allowed for me to look at things that I probably would have never even thought of before this course.  I really felt like I grew as an educator through this research and I’m glad for that.

Assignments and activities:

All the assignments and activities were very relevant to enhancing my studies of the action research plan.  I really enjoyed doing them because I got to develop my own plans and discuss them with other scholars and see my strengths and weaknesses within the plan.

Discussion Boards: 

The discussion board was incredibly helpful.  This is a place where I could post what my plan was about and get feedback from other students.  This was neat because they (students) were all in the same spot I was in.  We were all in it together so to speak.  I received a lot of encouraging feedback in this area and it helped fuel me to go for it!  I really think this is the most important part of the course because you get to share and reflect while receiving feedback from your peers and professors. 

Blogs:

The blog is fairly new to me in my studies.  It is similar to the discussion board but with the blog it allows for a more personal touch.  Anyone can visit your blog and give feedback over what I am doing.  It’s a great place to go and reflect over what were working on.  I can log in and look to see what everyone else is doing and give them feedback as well.  We all can critique and give each other pointers and tips on how to improve on are own action research plan.  Blogging was a great part of this course and I enjoyed it. 

Action Research Planning Template

Action Planning Template
Goal: To raise student attendance and the awareness of how attendance can affect student achievement.
Action Steps(s):	Person(s) Responsible:	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
Appoint student committee	Bryan Vardeman/ Student council members	May 1, 2012 – May 4, 2012	Collect Data from students over why attendance is low.	Students from each grade level agree to serve on committee
Appoint teacher committee	Bryan Vardeman/ Faculty members	May 1, 2012 – May 4, 2012	Meeting with each grade level and subject level team to delegate committee member.	Teachers from each grade level agree to serve on committee
Build Survey for student and teacher input on why attendance is so low.	Bryan Vardeman	May 1, 2012 – May 7, 2012	Survey builder	Survey ready for completion
Evaluate survey responses	Bryan Vardeman	May 14, 2012 – May 19, 2012	Completed survey information including data from interviews with students and faculty.	Compare/contrast surveys from both groups for common ground and counterpoints to be addressed.
Meet with each students and faculty	Bryan Vardeman/ Campus Administrator	May 21, 2012	-Survey results -data collected from interviews, -data from online research of other schools attendance	Come to an agreement on ways to boost attendance and achievement in the classroom.
Bring students/faculty together	Bryan Vardeman/ Campus Administrator	May 23, 2012	-Survey results -Discuss ways of raising attendance and rewarding good attendance.	Agreement on rewarding success for attendance.
Faculty meeting	Bryan Vardeman/ Campus Administrator	May 31, 2012	Report ways for boosting attendance awareness and how to implement strategies for success.	Acceptance for implementation in the 2012-13 school year
Evaluation	Bryan Vardeman/ Student/Faculty/ Campus Administrator	December 2012 May 2013	Data from 1st semester attendance and grade reports	-Decreased number of days absent from school and increased time in classroom. -student achievement reflects with attendance

Blog reflection

I found that in my action research plans that I developed there was one that stuck out above the rest.  I will be looking at the effects of student attendance on grades and how to raise the overall attendance of students in school.  This is a very relative concept.  I believe there is a direct correlation between the two.  I will continue my efforts to find ways on how to raise the attendance and also look at data from other schools/districts to compare and see what works for them. 

Educational Leaders and Blogs

Educational leaders can use blogs in a many different ways.  More schools are becoming a lot more technological and turning to the internet for instruction.  I feel that educators that blog can effectively reach students in ways that a traditional classroom cannot.  This in return can help with data collection, student collaboration, and resources at the student and teachers fingertips.  Leading through a blog can be very helpful and supportive of students and faculty across the globe.

Action Research

Action research is a great way to look at data and improve on what you’re doing.  It’s a great way to evaluate and research all areas.  Action research is going to benefit all those around you.  From the other teachers and administrators to the students.   The knowledge that can be gained through action research can help in developing goals and the overall development of a school.  At my school there is a great need for action research.  We are always looking for ways to improve the structure of our campus.  Getting the actual change to take place in the school is where we run into problems at times.  Everyone has to be on-board to make the action research plan be effective.  Overall, I believe that action research should be a part of every educators plan.  Everyone has to not only look at the campus as a whole for improvement but also themselves.  Evaluate the job they are doing and try and find ways to improve and get better.

Test blog

Just testing to see if this works!