Action Research Plan – Technology Devices in Classrooms
Goal:  To determine the overall effectiveness the implementation of mini I-Pads has on classroom performance, student engagement/participation , and attendance issues at Boyd ISD, as well as how classroom utilization is impacted with the devices.
Action Steps(s):	Person(s) Responsible:	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
Survey students in grades 6 - 12 using questionnaires to gage true feelings of engagement in class and how they are reached on an everyday basis.	Daniel Bourgeois will create survey with input and approval from site supervisor, Scott Nedrow	May 6, 2013 – June 4, 2013	Internet Resources through computer lab using survey monkey software.	Students will complete the survey on engagement and participation in the classroom.
Survey teachers and support staff in grades 6 - 12 using questionnaires to determine levels of technology used in class, knowledge on technology, and how they feel technology can be better integrated into class.	Daniel Bourgeois will create survey with input and approval from site supervisor, Scott Nedrow and assistant superintendent, Barbara Stice.	May 6, 2013 – June 4, 2013	Internet Resources through computer lab using survey monkey software.	Teachers and staff will complete survey on technology uses in the classroom setting.
Survey area schools who have implemented I-Pads in their classrooms	Daniel Bourgeois	June – July 2013	School districts information as well as interviews from curriculum directors and technology directors.	Utilize information form similar schools to find how implementation of devices has influenced classrooms and students.
Research attendance rates from 2010 – 2014 in grades 6 - 12 to find attendance tendencies within the school district.	Daniel Bourgeois	August 2013 – June 2014.	AEIS  data from Texas Education Agency on Boyd ISD for all grade levels	Compare attendance reports over last few years to 2013-2014 to evaluate the impact use of new technology has on attendance if any.
Evaluate cycle grades from the 2012-2013 school year for 2nd -5th six weeks from each class in grades 6 - 12 and compare to same time frame for 2013-2014 school year.	Daniel Bourgeois, Charlene Wilson (PEIMS)	May 2013 – May 2014	Six weeks grade reports from each class from PEIMS coordinator for both school years	Compare grades from same grading cycles using the same curriculum plan to evaluate the impact of technology on classroom performance.
Interview random sampling of students in grades 6 -12 to determine usage of devices	Daniel Bourgeois, Nina Coody (Intermediate School Principal), James McDonald (Middle School Principal)	Every grading cycle of 2013-2014 school year.	Random number of students with same sampling questions.	Determine the continuous use, growth, and effectiveness of devices in the classroom.
Interview random sampling of staff in grades 6 - 12 to determine usage of devices in classroom.	Daniel Bourgeois, Nina Coody (Intermediate School Principal), James McDonald (Middle School Principal)	Every grading cycle of 2013-2014 school year.	Random number of staff with same sampling questions.	Determine the continuous use, growth, and effectiveness of devices in the classroom.
Student and staff follow up survey on I-Pad implementation in the classroom.	Daniel Bourgeois	May 2014	Internet resources from mini I-Pad tablets and survey on survey monkey	Determine the results of the survey at the completion of the school year to evaluate usage of devices in class and compare with the previous surveys taken.
Dissemination of findings	Daniel Bourgeois, with site supervisor, Scott Nedrow, assistant superintendent, Barbara Stice, and superintendent, Ted West.	June 2014	All materials gathered including survey results, attendance percentages, cycle average comparisons and any other data relevant to the research.	Complete and finalize data for research.

Action Research - Week 2 Understanding

This week, I realized that action research can be used in many different ways in the scope of the school setting.  For the most part, I assumed of only looking at school performance or testing when I heard the words action research.  I guess that I thought that was the only thing worthy of studying and trying to improve upon as a school district since that is obviously how we are "graded" in the eyes of the community or state. However, this week I was able to understand that any area is ripe for action research, and they all ultimately lead back to the same point...improving and understanding schools for the better. 

Educators and Blogs

I believe blogs can be very beneficial to the education process.  Education leaders can use blogs in the following ways to help in their school sytem:

• Communicate with parents and community members about upcoming events
• Ask for comments and concerns with the occurences at the school
• Praise for students and their successes
• Praise for teachers and their successes
• Have a news blog to help inform the public of school situations
• Provide an open forum to show transparency and promote involvement for the school

These are just a few ways in which educational leaders could use the beneficial aspect of blogs.

Action Research in Education

Whether it is from new administrators to veteran ones, action research is extremely crucial to the education setting.  Times are changing and so are the school systems in which we are involved in, send our kids to, or support with our taxes.  Traditional roles of research are no longer relevant to the education process as they have been in the past, but instead action research is now at the forefront. 

Action research allows for administrators and teachers alike to be more involved in the questions and “wonderings” that they have.  It puts the people asking the questions as the ones doing the research and answering the questions, all the while learning about all aspects that their question has raised.  I believe that action research puts the onus on individuals instead of relying on what steps people have done in the past.  It allows for individual freedom and clarity in the research process and instills a sense ownership in the researcher.

I will be able to use action research not only in my development as an administrator, but in my continuous development as an educator.  Action research will help me over the coming months and years develop new game plans for the school, and expand on new strategies from raising test scores to community involvement and every avenue in between.