Action Research Plan Process Overview

1. SETTING THE FOUNDATION
Through careful examination of my internship plan and discussions with my site mentor, technology integration in the classroom emerged as an important and critical theme.  From this vantage point, I looked into my experiences as a classroom teacher and reflected on factors that prevented me from furthering my knowledge on educational technology and using technology in the classroom.  After reflecting, I formulated the wondering of how can I facilitate professional developments to aid in the integration of educational technology?

2. ANALYZING DATA

I anticipate using literature, self-reflection, surveys, field notes from interviews and classroom observations, and quantitative measures of student performance in technology rich environments.

Through these data collection measures, I hope identify best practices for developing professional developments, to identify easily accessible web tools for educational use, as well as to identify ways to align the unique features of educational technology with continuing education efforts.

3. DEVELOPING DEEPER UNDERSTANDING

As I begin data collection through literature and self education, I anticipate developing more questions.  These inquires will facilitate the development of other data collection endeavors, such as interview questions, survey questions, and classroom observations.  For example, my understanding of web tools and other easy to use technologies will definitely affect the types of questions I pose in a technology knowledge and use survey.

 4. ENGAGE IN SELF-REFLECTION

Reflective questions that I may ask myself include:

• Have I gathered sufficient information to facilitate a professional development in educational technology that is specific to the needs of my campus?

• Do the questions I developed for survey and interview purposes have any biases?

• Have I explored and/or recognized all obstacles to the goal of increased classroom technology integration in my project?

5. EXPLORING PROGRAMMATIC PATTERNS

In exploring programmatic patterns, I plan to discuss my reflective questions with my site mentor, campus technology specialist and principal.  It is very important to the success of my action research that all issues and obstacles regarding the implementation of educational technology are addressed.

6. DETERMINING DIRECTION

This step demands that I take a step back from my research and review and revise my plan.  Here is where I will prioritize my goals.  I anticipate having to revert back to collecting more data in areas of my research that are lacking or that I have identified as a bigger priority.

7. TAKING ACTION FOR SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT

In order to implement my action research findings, I will need to lead an educational technology professional development of my own or in the very least, help facilitate.  After initial permission to lead a professional development of this type, I plan to systematically carry out the action steps I identified as necessary for success.

8. SUSTAIN IMPROVEMENT

Sustaining improvement will come from modeling the desired behavior in my classroom as well as carrying out the last two steps identified in my action research plan.  Through the encouragement of participation in teacher reflective blogs, ongoing tutorial sessions on web tools and other available technologies, as well as tiered professional developments, self-growth on behalf of the teacher will continue beyond the confines of the school.