Action Research Plan

It has been fun and interesting in designing my action research plan. I can't wait to see the results. It will be interesting to see if the technology increases the scores or not. I am nervous and overwhelmed at the same time. I am finding it difficult to get everything done! I have learned so much from all the reading about action research, and I am excited to put it into practice and see what kind of results come from it!

Goal: To see how using the Classroom Performance System effects the student scores for benchmark purposes.

Activities designed to achieve the objectives: All students are required to take the benchmark test every 6 weeks in all subject areas. I will compare scores, from students who are on the same academic level; one class will use the CPS system to enter their scores into the computer, while other classes will use a bubble sheet and answers will be scanned into the computer. All scores will be sent to Eduphoria Aware, which generates various reports of student scores. I will use the data to see if there are any differences between those who used the CPS and those who did not.

Resources & research tools needed: CPS system, CPS software with class information and benchmark questions loaded, link the CPS system with Eduphoria Aware, students and student scores.

Draft timeline for completion or implementation of activities: May 2012, we will have taken 4 or 5 benchmark tests; giving me 4 or 5 opportunities to gather data.

Persons responsible for implementation of the action research plan: Jana Dugas, help from Jana Cash (mentor, technology coach for our district), data from students in Johnna Brinkley’s and Amber Simmons’ class (4th grade at Vidor Elementary).

Process for monitoring the achievement of goals and objectives: I plan to collect data from all subjects. Even though student data will be taken from 3 different classes and three different teachers, I believe the students are all being taught very similar. We all use the same curriculum, have similar teaching styles, and spend the same amount of time teaching the subjects tested. We all plan our lessons together to make sure our students are all on the same page. I will gather data after every benchmark from a sample size of about 3 above average students, 3 average students, 3 below average students, and 3 at-risk students. I plan to track their achievement, noting any increases or decreases in scores through out the school year. Some of the students will use the CPS system while others will use the paper and pencil system to record answers.

Assessment instrument(s) to evaluate the effectiveness of the action research study: I will use the data from Eduphoria Aware; it reports student scores from the test.