Week 4 Reflection

In my opinion, this week has been the most productive as far gaining a deeper understanding into the action research process is concerned.  I enjoyed reading other plans developed by my peers.  Although I believe my plan is more than adequate for my situation, I was able to see steps from plans that I will be able to apply when trying to improve future issues.

One of the advantages of action research is the opportunity to collaborate.  That is exactly what we did this week.  I enjoyed collaborating with my classmates to improve our plans.  I also learned three strategies (Force Field Analysis, Delphi Method and the Nominal Group Technique) that help reach a consensus in a group setting.  Each technique can help to identify future issues as well as sustain improvement.

Week 3 Reflection

As I started the process of practicing action research, I found myself getting frustrated with my lack of understanding.  I was not making the connections between the concepts in the book and the practical application.  At times, I was trying to digest information without relevance to a specific situation that I was experiencing.  However, as I began to design my own action research plan, I began to see the connection between the theory and the practice. 

Although I am no where near as efficeint at the inquiry process, I feel like I am a lot further along than I was at the beginning of the week.  Through reflection, I identified practices that were slowing me down while honing practices that sped me along.  Like I said, I have a long ways to go in becoming an effective researcher, but through reflection, I will become more efficeint which will allow me to make more informed decisions.

Improve Effectiveness of Tardy Policy

Action Planning Template
Goal:  Implement a more efficient process of both tracking and enforcing the tardy policy to ultimately eliminate discipline referrals due to tardies, consequently increasing the number of students actively engaged in the learning process throughout the entire class period.
Action Steps(s):	Person(s) Responsible:	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
Collaborate with Site Supervisor Discuss possible action research topics based upon campus needs.		4/18/2011 - 4/29/2011	Internship Plan and School Improvement Plan	Goal, focus and driving questions will be adapted to meet the specific needs of the campus.
Collect Data Define the magnitude of the tardy problem using our discipline referral software while assessing its effectiveness and efficiency.		5/2/2011 - 6/3/2011	Total Discipline Software	Quantitative analysis.
Disaggregate Data Sort tardy information by students and teachers to identify reoccurring trends.		5/9/2011 - 6/10/2011	Total Discipline Software	Determine commonalities amongst individuals in the sample to identify possible solutions.
Design Student Permission to Participate Forms Prepare appropriate documentation to satisfy all legal compliances regarding student confidentiality.		5/1/2011 - 5/8/2011	Computer and Internet for research and design	None
Formulate Interview Questions and Design Surveys Organize data collection instruments to allow for efficient and effective data collection and disaggregation.		5/1/2011 - 5/8/2011	Computer and Internet for research and design	Feedback from teachers will help determine details of new policy.
Observe and Interview Students Identify various causes of tardy issues.		5/9/2011 - 5/27/2011	Student Permission Forms, interview questions and permission from principal	Information will facilitate the design of a policy that addresses the issues that prevent students from being punctual.
Survey and Interview Teachers Identify teacher concerns and collect ideas on how to improve the tardy policy and the tracking system.		5/16/2011 - 5/27/2011	Computer, Internet for research Survey Monkey, and permission from principal	Feedback will facilitate the design  of a policy that addresses the needs of the teachers
Research Effective Tardy Policies Investigate tardy policies and tracking systems utilized by other school districts.  Specifically, compare and contrast the effectiveness of punitive based tardy policies versus incentive based tardy policies.		5/2/2011 - 6/9/2011	Computer, Internet and utilize informal phone interviews with other campus administrators.  Possibly might have to fill out paperwork to make a formal inquiry into another school district’s policy.	Quantitative analysis.
Collaborate with Site Based Decision Making Committee Seek questions and suggestions to gain a deeper understanding of differing perspectives.		5/2/2011 - 6/3/2011	Permission and access to meeting	Feedback will facilitate the design of a policy that addresses the needs of all stakeholders.
Analyze Data, Research Findings and All Feedback Filter and sort all information that is relevant to the improvement of Mount Pleasant High School.		6/12/2011 - 6/17/2011	Time	Appropriate information will be used to finalize an effective tardy policy.
Recommend Changes to the Tardy Policy Explain research process, findings and relevance to the administrative team while accepting their feedback.		6/20/2011 - 6/24/2011	School Policy Manual	Input from the administrative team will help ensure the logistics of school policy and procedures are followed when designing and implementing the new tardy policy.
Modify Tardy Policy Make appropriate changes to the process of tracking student tardies and enforcing the tardy policy.		6/27/2011 - 7/5/2011	Consent from principal	Make changes to the tardy policy with the understanding that future assessment will be utilized to promote school improvement.
Present New Tardy Policy to Faculty and Staff Communicate the relevance of the inquiry and the importance of consistent enforcement of the new tardy policy by all faculty and staff.		8/22/2011 - 5/30/2012	Video projector, screen, computer and PowerPoint presentation	Allow time for question and answer session to address related teacher concerns or questions.
Implement New Tardy Policy Cooperate with all students, faculty, staff and administrators in the enforcement of the new tardy policy at the beginning of the 2011-2012 school year.		8/22/2011 - 5/30/2012	Cooperation and manpower	Observations and feedback from teachers and students will allow for minor adjustments for a smooth transition to new policy.
Assess Effectiveness of New Tardy Policy Gather data and feedback from all stakeholders.		8/22/2012 - Ongoing Process	Interviews, surveys and Total Discipline Software or other tracking software if a more efficient tracking system is necessary.	Quantitative analysis and teacher satisfaction surveys.
Identify Resulting Issues and New Inquiry Possibilities Reflect upon issues that have been addressed and continually search out new areas for academic and school improvement.		8/22/2012 - Ongoing Process	Interviews, surveys and Total Discipline Software or other tracking software if a more efficient tracking	Feedback will identify issues with policies and procedures related to the new tardy policy as well as expose other areas of concern.
Share Results of Inquiry Post findings from the action research project in a blog format on the internet and create a link on the school website for future reference.		6/29/2012 - Ongoing Process	Internet	Post resulting questions that might lead to future inquiries.