Good Watch: Schools Kill Creativity by Sir Ken Robinson

What I've Learned in EDLD 5301 Research

EDLD 5301 Research class has been an eye opener for me. Not only has it been instrumental for in helping with my internship plan, but this class has also helped me understand many issues I have had on the job. I have read up on some of the research topics that my fellow classmates are researching, and I now know that I am not alone in how I feel about some areas in education and what is happening in schools. I was not so sure about how the blogs would truly be beneficial to this program, but they have been a great help also. There is so much transparency within the blogs. Sharing of information according to research topics is not only a way to achieve objective feedback from fellow educators, but also from others who are not in education. I have followed the blogs of my classmates who currently work in DAEPs. My action research plan may actually have an impact my campus and that gives me great hope for the upcoming school year. As I participate more and more in the research needed to complete my action research plan focusing on engagement in professional development, my inquiry qualities are being further developed. The final assignment focusing on the quality indicators will help me stay within the parameters of my inquiry question. I believe this course is perfectly positioned in the program. I have stated before in discussion boards that five weeks is definitely not enough time to become an expert on anything, which includes action research. Before, I used to believe that research into what happens on a school campus was the individual result of the principal’s findings. Now that I know how to pose an action research inquiry, and then follow through on the research, I am completely open to tackling some issues that I have questioned for the years I have been in education.

CARE Model: Professional Development

Tool 8.1 CARE Model: Planning Tool

Identify Concerns that must change (look to the future)

(Assign points to concerns from 1 to 3 in the order of the most important issues to consider.)

1. Resistance to change by staff.

2. Support of staff; especially concerning academic support for teachers

3. Diversity in professional development

Identify Affirmations that must be sustained (look to the present) 

(Assign points to affirmations from 1 to 3 in the order of the most important issues to consider.)

1. Opportunities to attend professional developments

2. Current behavioral supplements that are in place to assist with classroom management

3. Staff that is in place.            

SMART Recommendations that must be implemented:

(Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Timely)

(Assign points to recommendations from 1 to 3 in the order of the most important recommendations to implement.)

1. Implementation of professional development support for teachers by beginning of school year

2. Teachers participate in professional development during the current school year (2012-2013)

3. Feedback from teachers concerning PDs – pros and cons, review, lessons learned

EVALUATE – Specifically and Often

(Identify the best ways to evaluate the implemented recommendations.)

1. Teacher implementation of strategies learned from professional development

2. Student assessments

3. Student engagement

Each section is listed in order of importance according to the numbering with 1 being the most important for my action research plan.

Supporting and Sustaining Improvement

After reading chapter 8, I have decided to apply the 3 strategies for Sustaining Improvement to my action research plan. The following is a description of what these strategies look like as it pertains to my Action Research Plan – Professional Development.

                     

Force Field Analysis – Assessment of the driving and resisting forces that affect change. The current situation with my organization is that resources are utilized to support teacher professional development that will assist in academic growth and student engagement and success. My proposed plan is that for the upcoming school year, my principal incorporates a couple of professional developments that will support the teachers academically, which in turn further minimize some behavioral issues, as well as assist teachers in helping their students be successful academically.

Driving Forces           

1)      Teachers who embrace change

2)      Teachers who are willing to participate in professional development on their own.

3)      Principal’s support

Resisting Forces

1)      Organization that thinks it knows best

2)      Teachers who are content with where they are

In order to implement this change, I will primarily need the full support of my principal, which I have been given, to research professional developments that will be beneficial for teachers. Due to the nature of the organization I work for, having full support of the organization is not completely necessary as each school, at times, works as individual entities.

Delphi Method – A panel of experts or people who answer questions about a problem, then respond to the same questions after seeing how others in the panel responded to the same group of questions. As stated in the Harris text, this strategy would be extremely time consuming, not just in the one area , but the entire strategy when it comes to my campus. There are only 12 teachers total, and with the population of students that we have, no one has time to respond electronically. I would have to modify this strategy to a survey or make it similar to the evaluations that we respond to at the end of the year for my organization. Even at the end of the year, it becomes an issue getting employees to respond to evaluation.

Nominal Group Technique – A non-judgmental way to build consensus that leads to school improvement. Although I never knew there was a name for this strategy, we often use this strategy on my campus when we discuss the Campus Improvement Plan. The only problem that I’ve noticed with this plan is that once we discuss the needs of the school during one meeting at the beginning of the school year, we never revisit any of our concerns. I do plan to incorporate this strategy along with following through on my action research plan. I will not do this with the entire group of teachers on my campus, but those teachers who are open and ready for change will be the group that I feel I would receive the greatest response from.

Initial Action Research Plan

Professional Development Plan
Goal: Increase effective and relevant professional development training during mandatory in-service training and staff development assigned days on my school campus
Action Steps(s):	Person(s) Responsible:	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
Meet with Site Supervisor and discuss Action Research Plan and Problem Statement.	Site Supervisor (Calvin Singleton)	October 22-26, 2012	Action Research Plan Dana, N. F. (2009). Leading with passion and knowledge: The principal as action researcher. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press. Harris, S., Edmonson, S., & Combs, J. (2010). Examining what we do to improve our schools: 8 steps to improve our schools. Larchmont, NY: Eye on Education.	Site Supervisor discussion and approval of Action Research Project
Attend Professional Development and Trainings (Internal & Out of District)	Site Supervisor (Calvin Singleton) HPN Teachers	October 2012 –May 2013	www.hcde-texas.org website (search for internal workshops and trainings) Region 4 www.esc4.net search for out of district workshops and trainings	Feedback Forms Surveys from Teachers
Survey Students	Teachers Students	October 2012 – May 2013	Self-created survey forms
Discuss Findings with Site Supervisor	Site Supervisor (Calvin Singleton)	May 2013	Surveys Feedback Forms Review of Professional Developments attended by teachers	Findings and Conclusions drawn from meeting with Site Supervisor
Suggest Two or More Professional Developments that can be Implemented at the Beginning of 2013-2014 School Year	Site Supervisor Teachers	June 2013	List of Possible Professional Development & Trainings for Upcoming School Year Research and Information for PD Selections for New School Year	Site Supervisor (Principal) selection of Professional Development to but put on calendar