Action Research Plan

Action Research Planning
Goal:  To improve African American male student performance on the STAAR test in math and science To better equip our teachers with the techniques to better serve our African American male students on campus
Action Steps(s):	Person(s) Responsible:	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
Compile research on learning styles of African American male students	Justin Mork	September 2011/October 2011	Journal articles about learning styles and teaching techniques for African American students, Books written on African American student learning styles	Data collection on literature, Strategies gained that can be implemented into the classrooms
Analyze the previous years’ TAKS scores to determine the appropriate course of action	Justin Mork with cooperation from the Webb Middle School administration	September 2011/October 2011	2010-2011 TAKS scores for African American male students	Data will be grouped to determine where we need the most work
Compile data from the 2010-2011 school year for math and science benchmark tests specifically looking at African American male students (6th & 7th grade students still at Webb MS)	Justin Mork with cooperation of the Math and Science Departments of Webb Middle School	September 2011/November 2011	Edugence reports from the 2010-2011 school year in math and science for 6th and 7th grade African American male students	Data will be grouped to determine where we need the most work
Examine the 2011-2012 district assessment testing schedule(benchmarks) for both the math and science departments (all grades for current school year)	Justin Mork with cooperation of the Math and Science Departments of Webb Middle School	September 2011/September 2011	Curriculum planner access,  Math and science teachers	Schedule data collection times based on when the tests are to be taken and recorded in Edugence
Students will complete a survey which identifies their learning styles and ways they are motivated to learn more (this survey will be given to all students )	Justin Mork	October 2011/October 2011	Survey questions and builder, computer access for the students to complete the survey sometime during the given week	Data collection from survey information
Implementation of various teaching strategies and motivational techniques	Entire staff at Webb Middle School	September 2011/May 2012	Desired goals clearly stated and conveyed to the staff	Observations and feedback from the staff and students
Analyze district assessment scores for the 2011-2012 school year in math and science for all grades (6th-8th)	Justin Mork with cooperation of the Math and Science Departments of Webb Middle School, Webb administration	September 2011/May 2012	Edugence reports from the 2011-2012 school year in math and science for African American male students for all grade levels	Progress monitoring through test scores
Analyze STAAR testing scores for the 2011-2012 school year in math and science for all grades (6th-8th)	Justin Mork with cooperation of the Math and Science Departments of Webb Middle School, Webb administration	March 2012/ June 2012	Edugence reports from the 2011-2012 school year in math and science for African American male students for all grade levels, State of Texas reports	Progress monitoring through test scores

Educational Leaders Using Blogs

A blog provides an administrator with an avenue for reflecting on their own thoughts and ideas.  It serves as a journal that can be used as the action research is taking place.  It allows principals to link to pertinent information on the internet, as well as receive feedback from anyone in the world, anytime of the day.  Reflection is a must in administrator inquiry and this serves as a way to reflect on changes being implemented and progress with the research that is being done.

Action Research

Administrative inquiry, also known as action research, is defined as the process of principals engaging in systematic and deliberate studies of his or her own practices and making changes based on the results collected from the research.  Inquiry is examining data, asking questions, and requesting more information based on those findings, sometimes referred to as wonderings.  This is becoming one of the best ways to improve schools and learning by all involved in the process.  Administrators can use action research to gain insight into their practice as administrators and their leadership roles in school improvement.  Administrative inquiry takes dedication and commitment to becoming a learner in the school and leading by example.  Action research is interactive and is driven by the needs that the principal has determined need to be met.  It focuses on the concerns of the practitioner and the design and data collection that is needed to answer the question of the administrator.  According to Dana (2009), action research “heavily contributes to the possibilities for real change in schools.”

At my current campus, we are having a problem reaching our African American male population.  The last two years of testing has shown this group to be the lowest on all tests, especially math and science TAKS.  I feel we could benefit from action research to determine exactly how to get through to them a little better and bring them up to the same levels as the other students on campus.  Our campus demographics are slowly changing and we all know that can have a significant impact on learning in our schools, and we need to do our best to make sure all of our students needs are met.