My Action Research Plan Pt. 2..

Since the format of my plan in template form is messing up, I will just post it as a summary. Thanks for reading it! Any input is welcome and needed :)

 

Goals and objectives/outcomes of the research investigation:

1. Within the time allotted to complete my action research project, I want to see what improvements need to be made in regards to the interviewing portion of vocational curriculum within the MISD transition for special education students

Objective: Within the allotted time frame, I want to use surveys and a questionnaire to assess the area for needed improvement in the interviewing portion of MISD vocational curriculum. 

2. Within the time allotted to complete my action research project and given the data to confirm we need to improve, I want to collaborate with the other Occupational Preparation teachers across the district about ways to improve the curriculum.

Objective: Within the allotted time frame, we will meet two times in regards to this matter.

Activities designed to achieve the objective:

Part of the Occupational Career Experience class is to take the skills you learned from Occupational Preparation and use them in the interviewing process. We highly suggest the students obtain a job within the first 6 weeks off school.  Due to some students disabilities, this process may take a little longer so we give them a form to fill out to prove they have been attempting to find employment by filling out applications and following up with potential employers, even going on some interviews.  I will create a survey to give to the employers after they interview. I will then follow up to collect the data.  From there, I will see what areas need improving and praise the students on what they did correctly. 

Research and Resource tools for data gathering:

I will work hand and hand with DARS to collect any data they may have. I will also find other school districts that have this same program and ask for their success rate for students obtaining a job due to good interviewing skills.  If possible, I would like for the other school districts to fill out a questionnaire that I will create to give me insight to their scope and sequence.

Draft timeline for competition or implementation of activities:

October ’13-November ‘13: Create and send out survey to employers.  Continue to walk along side of students in employment process and help them be successful.

December ’13: Research and contact other school districts that have this program and gain insight to their curriculum.

January ’14: Start implementing what was learned for my action research plan into my Occupational Preparation class so they can benefit from it the following year. Also, share data with other teachers across the district so their students can benefit from it as well.

July ’14: Take data and share it across the districts and have specific meetings to help come up with a more effective method of teaching the interviewing curriculum to Occupational Preparation student for the upcoming school year.

October ‘14-November ’14: Send out same survey and assess the success and or failure.

Persons responsible for implementation of the action research plan:

Karlee Wilson, Academic Principal, other MISD vocational teachers.

Process for monitoring the achievement of goals and objectives:

Create a spreadsheet in Excel to document all the surveys and questionnaires.

Assessment instrument(s) to evaluate the effectiveness of the action research study:

I am going to send out the same survey in October-November of ’14 to see the success or failure of my action research plan.  Also, another assessment could be if students obtained job while still in my Occupational Prep. class. 

My Action Research Plan..

After thinking about a few different avenues I could take with my action research plan, I decided to land on a portion of the curriculum I teach in Occupational Career Experience class.  The question or “wondering” that I have is, ‘what is the effectiveness of the vocational curriculum with a focus on interviewing in regards to a student’s successful obtainment of a job?’  My operational definition is the results of MISD special education students enrolled in Occupational Career Experience class in obtaining a job due to interviewing skills taught in the pre-requisite class, Occupation Preparation.  I selected my sample size based on if the student has had Oc. Prep and is currently in OCE.  The quantitative analysis of my study is a yes or no if student has a job.  The qualitative portion of my research will be a survey that I will distribute to employer’s who interview my students for job positions.  From this research, I hope to gain insight as to how we, as a district, can improve the interviewing portion of our vocational curriculum offered to our special education students.  Please feel free to leave a comment with any input on how this plan can improve! Thanks!

What I Learned from Week 2...

I learned many things while completing the week two assignments.  While it was beneficial researching the different areas in which action research is needed, I liked the simplicity of how different principals and administrators found things to improve/research.  Like figure 2.1 in the Dana text shows, it’s solely a collision of the complexity of the principal’s work in the school and felt difficulties and real-world dilemmas.  I also enjoyed reading within the area of “individual teacher(s)” how it is not about creating a program for this and that. It is about the individuals in that program.  If they are not passionate about making the program be successful, it will not be.  Dr. Chargois reiterated this point in his interview as well.  He said it’s not simply about “touching one student’s life anymore.” He said the times are changing. Yes, you want the kids to know you care but the world is moving so fast, that action research is much needed.  It’s needed to know exactly where the school must improve, especially with the advancements in technology.  I really benefited from watching the interviews, because it put all that was in the text to reality. 

How Educational Leaders Might Use Blogs

Blogs serve many purposes. They can connect friends, family members, and professionals. In my opinion, a blog can be useful in the PLC's model of administrative inquiry. I think you could form a group over a blog if there was no way you could meet.  You can also share ideas regarding policies and such.  It is a great and useful way to make your ideas public and even up for critique.

Action Research

Before reading the Dana and Harris texts, I had a very traditional way of viewing research. I actually had just been exposed to researching in the realm of college.  I honestly had no idea how school districts and such went about researching.  The knowledge gained from this week has been eye-opening and educational to me.  Action research, in my humble opinion, is the only type that makes sense in a educational setting.  Why would an outside researcher be brought in to a school to tell that school how to improve? As stated in the text, "...many principals and teachers have learned that it is sometimes best not to problematize their lived school experiences or first-hand observations because to do so may mean an admission of failure" (Dana, 4).  On that same note, I feel when the pressure is put on the principal solely, it can lead to the same thing.  That's why I think, as an administrator, you have to constantly and honestly be evaluating yourself.  I think it would also be beneficial to have a leadership team. There is so much accountability within that and the work load can be a little more evenly distributed.  I will be able to use it many ways as an administrator.  For my action research plan, I would like observe the differences between uniforms and not requiring students to wear uniforms.