Action Research Plan Revisions

I received some interesting feedback on my action research blog.  I am researching the effectiveness of Promethean Boards on learning in the ELA classroom.  Kathleen Mansfield pointed out that interactive whiteboards are used by the teacher 85% of the time and that students have little interaction with the boards.  While this wasn't a suggestion for change to my ARP, I found this an interesting area to explore in my research. Joan Evans suggested I use surveys for qualitative data.  I do currently plan to use surveys; however, Joan’s suggestion was to ask students about their feelings towards interactive white boards.  I thought this was an interesting direction since teachers simply assume students like interacting with the IWBs. I have decided to include Joan’s questions in my student survey.  Likewise, Kathleen’s comment gave me something to ponder, and I plan research teacher versus student interaction with Promethean Boards.  Once again, blogging is a great tool for getting thoughts flowing.  

Effectiveness of Promethean Boards

Action Research Plan
Goal:  Increase student learning and engagement through the use of Promethean Boards in the English language arts classroom.
Action Steps(s):	Person(s) Responsible:	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
Obtain permission from site supervisor to conduct research	Rosemary Grimm	July 22, 2013- July 26, 2013	Site supervisor letter of permission	Letter of permission
Participate in Promethean Activinstruction training	Rosemary Grimm	August 5, 2013-August 8, 2013	Promethean technology, Promethean manual, conversations with teaching and learning consultants	Documentation of resources and tools available through Promethean
Research articles and studies related to the effectiveness of Interactive White Boards on student learning	Rosemary Grimm	September 2013	Articles, journals, and studies related to Promethean Boards or Interactive White Boards (IWBs)	Notes on research
Give parents consent letters for participation in research group	Rosemary Grimm	October 2013	Sample parent consent letter	Consent letter
Use parent consent letters to determine participants	Rosemary Grimm	October 2013	Signed consent letters	Compile consent letters and create a list of participants in two classes (Class A and B)
Create a survey to determine students’ experience with Promethean Boards	Rosemary Grimm	October 2013	Website: Survey Monkey	Surveys
Give survey to students	Rosemary Grimm	October 2013	Online survey, computers	Compile and analyze survey results as qualitative data. Results show experience with interactive learning with Promethean Boards
Develop ELA  lessons that are interactive and utilize Promethean technology	Rosemary Grimm	November 2013	Promethean resources, interactive websites, flip charts and tools, Common Core Curriculum	IWB technology lesson plans
Develop ELA lessons using traditional teaching strategies	Rosemary Grimm	November 2013	Workbooks, notes, outlines, worksheets	Traditional instruction lesson plans
Develop assessments	Rosemary Grimm	November 2013	Computer, curriculum assessments and task examples	Quizzes and performance task
Present instruction to participants in classes A and B	Rosemary Grimm	December 2013	Promethean Board, flip charts, interactive lessons, notes, outlines, and  worksheets	documentation of student engagement and instruction reflection
Give Assessments to  classes A and B	Rosemary Grimm	December 2013	Assessments and quizzes	Assessment results for analysis
Data analysis and comparison	Rosemary  Grimm	January 2014	Test results, jpams assessment graphs	Quantitative data:  Data results and comparisons
Write final action research report	Rosemary Grimm	February 2014	Surveys, consent forms, participant list, lesson plans, reflection notes,  assessments, data, graphs and charts	Action research report with conclusion
Share results with teachers, site supervisor, and technology coordinator	Rosemary Grimm	April 2014	Results and final report from action research	Feedback from teachers, site supervisor, and technology coordinator

Format based on Tool 7.1 from Examining What We Do to Improve Our Schools

(Harris, Edmonson, and Combs, 2010)