Week 3 - EDLD 5301 Research - ACTION RESEARCH PLAN

The Harmony School of Discovery is a Charter School that offers higher education and college preparatory courses to students in grades Kindergarten through 10^th grade.  Our campus is three years old and will continue to add one grade level until we are complete with our High School.  Although we are affected by the budgetary restrictions like many other districts, we are fortunate to be building of our High School as an extension to our existing building.  In addition to the facilities, we already have two existing computer and science labs on campus.  As far as technology, we do have Smart Boards, Mimios with clickers, and projectors are among the resources we have on campus.  However, some resources are not being utilized in the classrooms by both teachers and students due to lack of knowledge and/or training.  This is definitely an area where we want to improve. With the new facilities plus additional funding and grants, we will be adding new technological advancement needed to implement a plan of action to incorporate more trainings and support to encourage the use of technology connecting to higher learning. 

The plan of action will start with collecting data, analyzing needs, drafting proposal, and implementation.  This will require all of the participants to be dedicated throughout the entire process.  We will use different ways to gathering information and analyzing the data collected.  To begin, interviews will be conducted which is the most informative technique because it provides a baseline for initial screenings as well as continued feedback which reinforces the steps necessary for implementing technology in the classroom.  The use of many different Questionnaires, Classroom Walk-Throughs, Formal and Informal Observations will be very beneficial for the success of this project.

We will meet and update often in order to effectively and efficiently implement the use of technological advancement in the classrooms to enhance student learning.  This will allow all participants to evaluate the challenging curriculum, assess individual student learning, provide support to ensure student academic progress, ensure a safe learning environment, and enhance communications between staff, parents, and students.

During the implementation process of the project, we will be sharing and providing information about all the relevant updates to our staff members.  At the end of the project, we will present the information and results to show students their progress with the implementation of technology in the classroom.  The results will show that technology directly increases student knowledge, outlook, and eagerness in learning of all subject matters.  Staff input, feedback, and recommendations will be collected to improve the overall project.  All of these steps will build camaraderie, team work, confidence, and collaboration among staff members.

Technology is constantly changing. Our main goal is to implement the use of technological advancement that directly impacts student learning in the classroom. Students are going to be required to use multimedia in their jobs and exposing them now will help student to be more prepared for the future.

Action Planning Template Goal: “Implementation of Technology in the Classroom” Action Step (s) Person (s) Responsible Timeline: Start/End Needed Resources Evaluation 1. Gather Data Monica Gudiel Hoa Le Laura Mattingly Zhanibek Makhym August – September Project Leader Project Mentor Staff & Students What technology is available on campus? Which documentation should be provided? 2.Brainstorm Monica Gudiel Hoa Le Susannah Ahlhorn Celil Basol September – October Project Leader Project Mentor Team Members How do we use the existing technology? What other technological resources do we need? 3.Proposed Plan Abdullah Zorba Monica Gudiel Hoa Le Isabel Williams September – October Project Leader Project Mentor Team Leader Mentor How do we incorporate everything into our plan? 4.Monitoring Monica Gudiel Hoa Le Susannah Ahlhorn Jacklyn Worthy October – June Project Leader Project Mentor Team Members How do we determine progress? What are the necessary steps? What needs to be changed or modified? 5.Edit & Revise Monica Gudiel Hoa Le Jacklyn Worthy October – June Project Leader Project Mentor Team Members How do we detect when something needs to be changed? 6.Evaluate Monica Gudiel Hoa Le May – June Project Leader Project Mentor How can this plan be improved for future use?

SIP or PIP  (SCHOOL or PROFESSIONAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT) PLAN OF ACTION SCHOOL VISION Harmony’s vision is to lead our students from the classroom into the world as productive and responsible citizens... and even Nobel laureates. GOAL                                        “Implementing Technology in the Classroom” OUTCOMES ACTIVITIES RESOURCES /RESEARCH TOOLS  NEEDED Responsibility To address Activities Timeline Benchmark assessment Revisions to SIP/PIP based on monitoring  and assessments Information about available technology in campus Meeting with IT Manager and Principal Inventory of Technology available including software and programs Monica Gudiel Hoa Le August 2012 Grades of Students Students progress report of each six weeks during all school year to measure improvements Copy of 6th and 7th grade Student  progress Monica Gudiel Hoa Le September thru May 2012 Progress Report Form Completion of the Progress Report to Monitor implementation Completion of the 1st Progress Report (Mandatory) Monica Gudiel Hoa Le September 2012 Trainings schedule Prepare and Organize schedules for teachers to be trained Select Leaders and Trainers according to tech. available Monica Gudiel Hoa Le October & November 2012 Preparation and Implementation of technology in classrooms Help & Teacher support to  implement technology  Technological devices ready in classrooms and proper creations of technology activities  Monica Gudiel Hoa Le Jackly Wortht Isabel Williams November & December 2012 Classroom Walk-Through (CWT) and Observations Follow the timeline created with CWT and Observations Timeline and taking notes of progress observed Monica Gudiel Hoa Le IT Mangater November 2012  thru June 2013 Interview to students, teachers and parents Gather opinions on benefits of technology implementation Interviews, Students, Teachers, Parentes Monica Gudiel Progress Report Form Completion of the Progress Report to Monitor implementation Completion of the 2nd Progress Report (Mandatory) Monica Gudiel Hoa Le January 2013 Observations Formal observation to supervise students’ interaction using technology Timeline Hoa Le Monica Gudiel Dates according to timeline scheduled Progress Report Form Completion of the Progress Report to Monitor implementation Completion of the 3nd Progress Report (Mandatory) Monica Gudiel Hoa Le May 2013 Sharing results with Staff Presentation of the Project implementation and analysis of the benefits Questionnaires to gather feedback and recommendations from teacher to improve same project Monica Gudiel Hoa Le Principal IT Manager May 2013 Review of Data to improve project. Tabulate information from teachers Questionnaires Monica Gudiel Monica Gudiel June 2013

Week 2 - How educational leaders might use blogs

Blogs provide excellent opportunities for sharing ideas and receiving feedback about important topics related with education. Leaders in education who use blogs are interested in developing and learning new technology skills used in this new century.

Week 1 - What I have learned about Action Research

Action research is a process that alternates between action and critical reflection.  This process is an effective tool for improving teaching and learning. Action research involves observing students closely, analyzing students’ need and adjusting the curriculum to fit the need of all students. Action research allows teachers to increase our teaching. In my opinion, using this process students are able to internalize learning; making real connections, connecting theory to practice, analyzing and interpreting information. Students are being empowered to create their own conclusion about a new topic learned. Incorporating action research in my classroom will be not an easy process, but it is relevant to education and beneficial to students. My first step using action research will be observing and studying my students to create a lesson plan focused on student’s needs. Second, find valuable teaching tools that permit students understand, analyze and connect theory to practice, and finally, working in groups to share, suggest, study, observe, demonstrate, learn and change actions when necessary.  The main goal using this process is focused in student’s achievement.

The action research allows teachers to be successful in achieving their outcomes. Teachers can learn what does work and can make professional decisions about promoting students learning.