Action Research plan........(Revised)

Action Research Plan

Goal: To find out what impact an after school program has on a school/student (In this case the

GAP program).

Action Step(s) .....Responsible ..........Time line ..........Resources ........Evaluation

1.Will interview parents/teachers/ students to find out if GAP program has benefits outside program.	Mr. Garza	9/2010-5/2010 (Program start and end date has yet to be determined)	Student observations/ interviews as well as teacher and parent interviews	Before and after data of students/teachers involved in the GAP program
2.Will conduct interviews with GAP students teachers outside program to determine if student knows difference between GAP rules and daily classroom rules.	Mr. Garza	9/2010-5/2010 (Program start and end date has yet to be determined)	Regular classroom teacher interviews and student interviews to determine if rules of both GAP and School are being confused by students since rules are different	Use interviewed teacher/student data to determine outcome
3. Conduct interviews with GAP program director and administration to determine: What qualifications dictate admittance to program?	Mr. Garza	9/2010-5/2010 (Program start and end date has yet to be determined)	Data or documentation determining how/why students are selected for program	Use provided documentation to determine outcome
4. Conduct teacher interviews and student interview to determine if GAP behaviors(positive or negative) carry over into their regular school day.	Mr. Garza	9/2010-5/2010 (Program start and end date has yet to be determined)	Student/Teacher interviews of both GAP program and regular classroom	Interviews/ observation data used to determine behaviors
5. Interview parents,students, teachers to determine if program does indeed serve it's purpose and steer students involved away from gang activity.	Mr. Garza	9/2010-5/2010 (Program start and end date has yet to be determined)	Before program and after program data by interviewing teacher/ students	Use documented teacher/student research to determine if students have been steered away from gang activity

Action Research Week 2

I have learned from watching these scholars that it is very important for an administrator/teacher to continue his/her education throughout his/her career. Once a degree is attained one must continue to take a class now and again through university coursework or by taking as many staff development sessions as one can since the world and students are always changing. I have also learned that by conducting action research one has a better chance of watching results happen immediately rather than in the past where one learned by pure pedagogy. Gathering data is key to making action research a success. Administrators can no longer wait years for results that action research can give them now.

Why an Educator Might Blog

An educational leader might use blogging to uncover thinking that is occurring all the time. They then can go back and reflect on their thought processes at the time. Blogging is a type of diary but online and can be used instantly via any internet connection. What makes blogging unique is the ability to be able to also include images and links to another blogger who may be writing on the same topic. Blogging allows feedback and comments from readers who might provide some insight into the topic at hand or provide positive feedback if a question/problem needed answering. Blogging in this manner will allow one to go back and revisit old blogs/thoughts and one may have a new insight or simply share them with other colleagues or administrators who might need assistance in that same area.

The Value of Action Research

Action research incorporates collegial discussions and action planning, with measurable results of instruction and learning among teachers and students (Calhoun, 1994: Sagor, 2004). It gives an administrator the tool for strengthening a teacher’s confidence and efficacy. Teachers are able (through action research) to see the learning that is happening in their classroom by stepping back and incorporating it into the curriculum. Teachers can reflect on their teaching practices and what effects they are having on student learning. It is an extension of “good teaching.” Action research can be used in a variety of way from an administrator taking University Coursework so that he/she can interact/learn from others to forming leadership teams that share problems, responsibilities, and decision making with administrators. This allows an administrator to have a personal approach rather that in the past where they learned from just a textbook. Now an Administrator can learn from what is happening at his/her school as each school environment is completely different. After problems are found an administrator needs to make time to reflect on how they can improve. Action research allows teacher/administrator to be motivated and to continue working at improving oneself and others surrounding them hereby strengthening the school environment and students in the process.