Action Research Project - Week2 Discussion

The action research project I would like to complete is focused on improving our campus RTI/Student Success Team processes.  This project may appear two-fold, but I don't think I can focus on one without including the other.

 PURPOSE:  The current RTI/SST process on my campus can be both frustrating and extremely time consuming for teachers.  How much of what teachers are required to collect and submit in order to bring a student to SST is effective and truly needed?  Do we need hard copies of all the students prior test scores if those scores are available on-line?  Do teachers need questionnaires completed and submitted in writing prior to bringing a student to SST when they are going to discuss those questions in detail during the meeting? Additionally, with the RTI documentation process, what are the current needs of our teachers regarding how to best document student progress and ongoing interventions?  Do teachers need additional education in this area?  Do teachers have an effective RTI documentation process? 

SIGNIFICANCE:   When we overwhelm teachers with  paperwork and student questionnaires while failing to provide ongoing models and ideas for managing RTI documentation, not only does RTI suffer, but teachers may resist bringing students to SST because of the frustration associated with the SST process. Teacher moral can also be negatively affected as their workload increases.  Ultimately, student achievement and self-esteem suffers as support for the student is delayed.  My hope is that this project will shed light on the specific areas we can improve our RTI/SST process in order to make it more teacher friendly and a less daunting process. I would like to identify what is working well and where we can improve.  If teachers feel this process is more "user friendly" and there to support them as they do their job, they may use the process more effectively.

Blogs and Educators

As schools rush to keep up with the ever changing growth in technology, blogs are popping up everywhere. Blogs and wikis can be simple ways for educators to communicate daily information among campus staff members, within districts, and especially between schools and families. Blogs can be used to relay weekly due dates for students, post tutorial information, links to content information, and lecture notes, update test reviews, and share campus calendar dates and events. For faculty, blogs could be used to post calendar events, conduct quick surveys, complete campus wide book studies, publish literature reviews, share ideas and support team members struggling with specific issues. Blogs create virtual ways to connect, share, and grow together.

Action Research Reflection - Week 1

Within the district I have worked for the last 6 years, I have participated in and observed action research. However, I had no idea that it was called action research. "Practitioner inquiry [or action research] is defined as systematic, intentional study of one's own professional practice." (Dana, 2009, p 9) In my district I simply knew that we often worked in small groups with our administrators focusing on specific goals or concerns, analyzing data, reviewing and discussing current research, making recommendations based on the data, and then creating a plan based on those recommendations. The collaboration piece of this process was instrumental to the success of the whole process. It allowed teachers and specialists working with administrators to voice concerns together and have time for productive discussions. This process allowed us to survey our grade level teams or entire campuses if needed to determine patterns and common needs. Together, as a community of invested learners, we could tease apart the data and determine the best course of action for our campus.

The ability to study what is working and what is not working creates the opportunity to make small and large changes that have dramatic and real effects in student and campus success. I have learned that what sets action research apart from simple collaboration is that it is 1) focused around a specific question or concern, 2) it involves relevant data collection and review of current literature to help interpret the data findings and guide the recommendations, and 3) the research team uses their own valuable experiences and knowledge of the subject matter, the campus culture, and the students to design a plan that is supported by the research. Through this process a cohesive and invested group of campus leaders work towards a common goal of improving themselves and their campus.

Administrators that couple the action research process with on-going grade level meetings, campus improvement meetings, instructional team meetings, etc will make enormous strides toward campus success. Combining action research with these on-going meetings will eliminate off task and unproductive meetings while reframing the context and purpose of those attending the meetings. The benefits of action research that extend beyond student success are greater professional growth, more collegiality, and enhanced team cohesiveness.