Steps to Consider in Action Research

1.    Examining the work: Setting the Foundation – in other words, identifying needs or topics for action research and this may emerge from the Site Based Decision Making Committee, or from needs like those identified in your intern plan.

Improvement of increasing Critical thinking skills as well as problem solving skills of the student body.

2.    Analyzing data: you have had many opportunities to do this, and you  examined at least 9 data gathering strategies from your text in Part 2 of this week’s assignments

There are many examples students utilizing Edmodo (an educational based blogging/Facebook style website).  Some students have also been exposed to it during their elementary years.  If students can focus educational discussion on Edmodo, it can increase peer support of critical thinking.

3.    Developing deeper understanding: these are additional data collection techniques, as well as, examining qualitative data through active listening, focus groups, etc.

Utilizing data collection strategies 4 (Docs/Student Work) and 7 (Reflective Weblogs) will help see improvement in critical thinking among the student work.  It is also accessible anytime and anywhere there is an internet connection.

4.    Engaging in Self-Reflection: this summarizes much of what you have been doing in this course, and throughout the program, beginning with your many self-assessments of leadership in EDLD 5311

·         Is utilizing Edmodo as a critical thinking building tool easy to implement?

·         What could be some of the road blocks that the non-tech natives will be intimidated by?

·         Even though there are many tools in Edmodo, what would keep the teachers intrigued on using Edmodo?

·         Will be something that will also need to utilized on a professional level, so teachers are more consistently exposed to Edmodo?

5.    Exploring Programmatic Patterns: This includes asking the appropriate questions, identifying data patterns and gaps, and learning to address equity issues

See what Robyn (CITS Rep) can do to help putting out “fires” for teachers struggling with Edmodo.

How to enforce feedback from students and/or possibly grade student feedback to so that students will frequent the Edmodo program.

6.    Determining direction: Working collaboratively to address action research questions, monitoring progress, and assessing achievement

1. Are you clear on what you are attempting to solve? – YES
2. Have you adequately addressed the skills and resources questions? – YES
3. Have you established a collaborative approach to the issue? – YES
4. Are your timelines realistic? – YES
5. Do you have a reasonable plant to monitor the project? – YES
6. Do you have a reasonable plan for determining the level of success – how do you evaluate if the plan is effective?  -- This will be based off of student improvement and teacher participation.
7. How will you revise and improve the plane based on monitoring and evaluation?  If students/teachers are not participating, what is action is needed to ensure teacher participation.  What is it that making it difficult or obstacles for the students and/or teachers to be participating in the Edmodo program?

7.    Taking action for school improvement: Using appropriate steps or templates like the SIP or PIP Plan of action to guide the action research.

Plan was implemented in Part 2

8.    Sustaining improvement: Learning to use the tools of action research as an on-going process for professional development and school improvement.

Utilize these skills and online resources to improve students’ critical thinking and problem solving skills.  I’m sure Edmodo will not be around forever, but the trend of online collaboration and communication will not be going away anytime soon. I’m sure there will be a “new and improved” tool, but at least we’ve learned the basics of how this can be implemented on a campus level.