Action Research Paper Template

here is a link to my paper.  this is only a draft, but I want to do things correctly.  If you have tips or suggestions, please leave them in the comment section.  I'm going to leave this post up for a couple of weeks, check back in and see what I need to do to make a great paper.

Thanks in advance!

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ezz0z10f8rf4lp7/Humphrey%20Action%20Research%20Template%20rev%20June%202013_01.docx

What????????

So, after a couple weeks of nervously waiting for TAKS results regarding my Junior American History class, the scores finally came back yesterday.


The results?


My "flipped classroom" guinea pig juniors had 100% passing and 67% commended on their Exit-Level TAKS Social Studies test.        


Not too shabby!  Of all of my social studies preps (and I teach ALL of the 8th-12th social studies classes here), this was the only that finished their course content ahead of schedule.  My World History, World Geography and 8th grade history classes struggled to get in information because to all of the class time missed in the spring due to stock shows, ag contests, sports, one-act play and band.

My juniors were involved in all of those activities, but never missed a beat academically due to our flipped classroom set up.  I presented my proposed project to the school board earlier in the year.  I need to be sure to give them a copy of our results as well.

ALLRIGHT!!!!

So, I've been using my flipped-classroom environment all semester with my seniors and juniors and today was benchmark day.  Of course, I was dreading the results, knowing that I would have to pull off a tremendous reteaching week next week due to low scores.

But the results turned out better than I expected!  I gave my class 45 minutes to take the 2009 exit level TAKS test online in the library.  They took the test dead cold and, without any review, all of my juniors passed the Exit level test the first time!

Great results for my Action Research Project!  We'll do 2 more benchmarks just to verify that the project was a success, then begin putting together the final touches on sharing the results.

Live webcast conference requirement for 5326

Here is the summary for my 3/31/13 webconference that I attended to satisfy the requirement for my 5326 course:


It's Easter Sunday and Dr. Abernathy is late arriving.  Several of us discuss questions that we have concerning both our week 5 homework and what exactly was supposed to be posted to tk20 for this course.  Confusion abounds, but we manage to sort through it.

About 6:20, Dr. Abernathy arrives and everyone rejoices!  We talk more about week 5 requirements and she confirms that we only need to give a reflection from the administrator's view.  I REALLY need a good score for this week to secure my A, so I'm still going to do all three reflections (they're only 100 words long).  She also clears up questions about tk20 and confirms that we were supposed to post our week 4 assignment.

She suggests that we continue working on our google site and use it as our portfolio (I thought that was the entire point of spending $100 on tk20?).  I need to really get busy recording intern hours and course embedded hours.  I don't want those piling up on me.

We wrapped it up with discovering that Dr. Abernathy is a closet Louisville fan and is toying with the idea of going over her kids house for dinner because they made too much to eat lol!  This was the first course webconference that I've attended live.  I've always watched the recordings, but it was nice to actually be able to ask the specific questions that I needed answered instead of waiting for someone else to ask them. 

HAPPY EASTER EVERYONE!

Didn't know if I needed to include this or not...

here is the link to my prezi presentation for School-Community Relations!

Course 5326 Required Posting

 Well Blog Followers, it's been a LONG time since last I checked in, but time has been flying.  I can't believe we're wrapping up March, but here we are!  I hope everyone has been taking care of business.  I think we're all learning quite a bit in these courses.  Just trying to make it to my "online spring break" next week lol!

Action Research Project Title:  How can changing teacher’s roles to “Educational Facilitators” impact student academic achievement by emphasizing content exploration at home while using class time for practice and re-teaching in terms of passing rates, state test scores, and student engagement?

Blog URL:   http://coachhumphrey.blogspot.com/

Number of AR Project Documented Hours: 29

AR Project Summary (at least 250 words):

My Action Research Project is now waiting to begin Step Eight.  We’ve gone through the introduction and instruction phases of the project and both the Science and English teachers have agreed to join in the project.  We are now in the process of final benchmark testing then awaiting the results from this year’s standardized testing.

Step One went easily as I compile research on flipped classrooms and gave a presentation to our school board.  There was some questions regarding the need for such a learning environment, but after some discussion, it was agreed that our students miss a lot classroom time due to school activities and this might be a great way to keep these students current with the rest of the class.  Volunteers came forward and I gave them instruction on how to create their own blog pages.  These blogs were monitored in Step Five.

Data analyzing took place in Step Two.  Students were routinely benchmarked throughout the year and their scores were recorded.  Feedback was obtained from both the students and their teachers regarding the flipped classroom system.  The vast majority of surveys were returned with favorable responses.  The students like being able to work at their own pace throughout the week and felt like it was good preparation for college.  Some of the students commented that they missed having actual lecture time from their instructors.  Students who didn’t have internet access at home were monitored in Step Seven.

Step Three occurred several times throughout the year as data from previous years were recorded.  It turned out that I had to do this for several of my Lamar classes so I became quite proficient at compiling data.  We even had to perform this task for our superintendent.

I’ll be conducting the post-project survey with the students in May, which will complete Step Four.  Those results will be compiled with their pre-project surveys.  Also added to the survey data will be the parental surveys from Step Six.

All that remains for project completion are Step Eight (comparing present score data to past score data) and Step Nine (sharing project findings with colleagues at the school and post results on my action research blog).

One week left...

in my first semester.  Time has become more and more valuable as basketball season has heated up, the holidays are around the corner and our courses have become more demanding.

The advice we received early in our studies was dead on correct.  MAKE TIME FOR YOUR REFLECTIONS!  I have been lapse in creating reflection time and it's very evident on this blog.

My action research plan is underway, but I need to do a better job of knocking out the items on my intern plan.  I'm taking care of SOME business, but not as much as I should be at this point in the year.  But in all honesty, I planned on doing the vast majority of my internship activities in the spring, once basketball is over.

But it's in times like this that perspective is needed.  I've made A's in all of my courses so far, my family is happy and healthy, Christmas break is coming up and my basketball team is 12-6 so far!  Let's be sure to keep our eyes on the prize and don't let ourselves become beat down with everything we have going on.  Stay positive and we'll start everything back up fresh in a couple of weeks!