Revised Action Research Plan
View more documents from rtrojcak2010.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Action Research Week 3
Hello to All.
I am not totally sure my action research plan is correct, however, after much researching, analyzing of data, thinking, rethinking and revising for hours, I have come to the conclusion that this plan is what I intend to put in place this next school year. The order and follow is how I think it would best serve my school and myself. Please let me know what you think should be changed or altered to better serve my learning community overall while keeping the best interest of the students in mind.
I am not totally sure my action research plan is correct, however, after much researching, analyzing of data, thinking, rethinking and revising for hours, I have come to the conclusion that this plan is what I intend to put in place this next school year. The order and follow is how I think it would best serve my school and myself. Please let me know what you think should be changed or altered to better serve my learning community overall while keeping the best interest of the students in mind.
Monday, July 19, 2010
Week 2 Reflection
This week, I learned how important research really is. I now realize how many schools, districts, and individuals actually use research on a daily basis. I admit, I use some research to an extent when analyzing students' test scores, etc., however, after listening to the scholars of week 2, I now understand how important, relevant, and necessary active research is.
Research should be a regular tool/responsibility that a person does in his or her profession. As future school administrators, research keeps us up-to-date, informed and educates us on what strategies, practices, and skills we can use to better our school and our student achievement levels. We need to work together in the education field to provide and share practical research that can benefit others. By sharing and communicating such knowledge, our school systems can be much more effective and efficient.
Research should be a regular tool/responsibility that a person does in his or her profession. As future school administrators, research keeps us up-to-date, informed and educates us on what strategies, practices, and skills we can use to better our school and our student achievement levels. We need to work together in the education field to provide and share practical research that can benefit others. By sharing and communicating such knowledge, our school systems can be much more effective and efficient.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Blogging
Blogging is the act of sharing one's ideas, thoughts, questions, and or experiences on a website for others to read and respond to. Educational blogs are great tools which develop collaboration and support amongst multiple members of the educational world. Sharing research with others by blogging clarifies one's expression. Blogging empowers one to reflect on their own practices. Blogging is a generative activity which gains a sense of accomplishment of one's own thoughts and research.
Administrators can share their works, accomplishments or simply ask for guidance of others, taking ideas further and explore concepts beyond the basic thought by just taking time to type on the computer. Such blogs are short phrases, comments, thoughts that can then be posted to the internet visible for all to view. I believe such tool as blogging is definitely a useful and beneficial tool that each and every individual especially school leaders can use to communicate and support each other by. Such support and communication is needed to be a successful leader.
Administrators can share their works, accomplishments or simply ask for guidance of others, taking ideas further and explore concepts beyond the basic thought by just taking time to type on the computer. Such blogs are short phrases, comments, thoughts that can then be posted to the internet visible for all to view. I believe such tool as blogging is definitely a useful and beneficial tool that each and every individual especially school leaders can use to communicate and support each other by. Such support and communication is needed to be a successful leader.
Action Research
In my opinion, action research is the process of taking action, taking time to sit down and focus on one's own administrative practices by evaluating current actions and determining where one is, where one needs to be and how one gets there. Action research requires the engagement of inquiry that serves as the basis for investigating, reasoning and processing situations each and every day in the school setting. Action research is a continual process consisting of reflection and action by clarifying and diagnosing practical situations that need improvement or resolution, formulates action strategies for improving the solution, implements the action strategies and evaluates their effectiveness while clarifying the situation resulting in either resolutions of the problem or additional issues. Action research rotates in a spiral continuum that feeds from reflection and actions and so on.
I along with other administrators naturally have a set vision in place. Action research allows individuals to understand the need for inquiry and know the importance such research and thinking has on making better decisions in order to gain successful solutions. By researching and analyzing data from literature and making changes in practice based on findings, I believe such action research is a powerful tool for learning and improving the educational world. I believe each and every administrator needs action research to lead a productive leadership role.
I along with other administrators naturally have a set vision in place. Action research allows individuals to understand the need for inquiry and know the importance such research and thinking has on making better decisions in order to gain successful solutions. By researching and analyzing data from literature and making changes in practice based on findings, I believe such action research is a powerful tool for learning and improving the educational world. I believe each and every administrator needs action research to lead a productive leadership role.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Reflection
Overall, I have found this course to be very informative. There were times of confusion about assignments, when things were due, where to post responses, etc.; however, overall the course was organized and developed in a professional manner.
Before this course began, I didn't know what it was going to entail. I was already technologically literate, what more is there to learn, so I thought. Well, there is so much more to learn about technology and its components and how to effectively integrate such tools into the everyday teaching of the students that it is hard to imagine.
I find technology to be very interesting, yet intimidating at times. There is so much to learn, so many different tools and ways of doing things, I am "scared" to a point. By taking this course, I had envisioned having such "intimidation" taken away or at least minimized, and it was. I wanted to learn all there is to learn to help myself, my current students and my future role as an instructional leader of technology, and I did.
I learned that technology is a serious matter and the importance of understanding all aspects it entails; the tools, the safeties and ethics, the integration across all areas and levels of learning, etc. is necessary and needs to be understood by all. I learned about the Long Range Plan for Technology 2006-2020, in which I knew nothing about beforehand. I now know we as educators had standards and guidelines that are expected to be followed in integrating technology into the everyday teaching of the students in turning our students into technology "natives" rather than technology "immigrants." I became much more familiar and knowledgeable about the STaR Chart survey and its importance and components. Before, the STaR Chart was something I was told to complete without proper explanation of its significance. Now I know the components of the chart, where my campus and district rank technologically compared to others and what needs to be done to increase our level of integration of technology for our students.
I believe I am now more knowledgeable in areas that are most important to my future role as an instructional leader, areas of laws, cyber ethics, Technology Applications TEKS, standards and the importance of modeling and preparing future teachers with the tools they need to successfully teach students in becoming technology savvy. Before, I didn't know the importance of technology and its integration to learning as much as I do now. Technology is a tool that is needed for our students to become technologically literate as they should. In order for students to be taught effectively, teachers need to be properly educated in the usage and importance of such tools. Proper teaching comes from effective professional development. As a future leader, I ensure my teachers will effectively be educated and qualified in the technology field. Peer mentoring will be a strategy that will be used for teachers to help assist and educate one another in such areas. Technology usage, tools and decision-making will include all stakeholders. We will work together as a team to stay up-to-date on technology advancements, remain prepared on how to successfully integrate technology safely in the everyday teaching of the students through proper and effective professional development courses and provide every and all students equal opportunity of technological tools.
All students should and will be given the equal opportunity to use and learn technology to become successful future citizens of the 21st century technology embedded world. All students including every race, gender and ability, will have that opportunity. We are all a part of this ever-changing society of technological advancements and we will work together to become as literate as we can.
After learning so much and minimizing some "intimidation" I still am curious about other technological areas. I envisioned being exposed and working much more closely with a variety of technological tools such as Wikis, podcasting, RSS etc. other than blogs. Besides blogging, I can't say I fully understand the other tools except what I have taken from the reading articles and other colleagues' input. I wish I had had the opportunity to work more closely with these tools and become more knowledgeable and familiar with them in order to incorporate them into my current teaching and future role as an instructional leader. However, having learned how to blog and its components, is another technological tool I previously did not encompass but now I do. I plan on creating and using a blog in my future role as an instructional leader as a means of communication with all stakeholders. It will provide a communication line for the students, staff, parents and community members. Discussion and sharing of information will be allowed for all stakeholders to continue the use of such technological tool.
Blogging is an instructional and communicative tool that can be used by all stakeholders when used safely. Blogging makes learning more interesting, exciting, more hands-on and visual. Teachers can use blogs as a means of communicating with parents and students, as a form of discussion in class, and a reading and writing tool for editing and revising amongst peers; parents can use blogs to communicate with teachers about assignments and students' progress; and students can use blogs as a form of discussion and sharing of ideas of all subject matters. Blogging needs to be appropriately modeled and monitored by educators to ensure appropriate and relevant information is being posted and shared. Students need to be taught the rules, standards, expectations and guidelines when using such tools in order to make the most out of the tools and their features. Overall blogging is a great educational tool if it is used safely and responsibility.
All in all, I have become more technologically literate than I could have imagined within just four weeks of learning. I now feel more knowledgeable and ready to be an instructional leader of 21st century technological world.
Before this course began, I didn't know what it was going to entail. I was already technologically literate, what more is there to learn, so I thought. Well, there is so much more to learn about technology and its components and how to effectively integrate such tools into the everyday teaching of the students that it is hard to imagine.
I find technology to be very interesting, yet intimidating at times. There is so much to learn, so many different tools and ways of doing things, I am "scared" to a point. By taking this course, I had envisioned having such "intimidation" taken away or at least minimized, and it was. I wanted to learn all there is to learn to help myself, my current students and my future role as an instructional leader of technology, and I did.
I learned that technology is a serious matter and the importance of understanding all aspects it entails; the tools, the safeties and ethics, the integration across all areas and levels of learning, etc. is necessary and needs to be understood by all. I learned about the Long Range Plan for Technology 2006-2020, in which I knew nothing about beforehand. I now know we as educators had standards and guidelines that are expected to be followed in integrating technology into the everyday teaching of the students in turning our students into technology "natives" rather than technology "immigrants." I became much more familiar and knowledgeable about the STaR Chart survey and its importance and components. Before, the STaR Chart was something I was told to complete without proper explanation of its significance. Now I know the components of the chart, where my campus and district rank technologically compared to others and what needs to be done to increase our level of integration of technology for our students.
I believe I am now more knowledgeable in areas that are most important to my future role as an instructional leader, areas of laws, cyber ethics, Technology Applications TEKS, standards and the importance of modeling and preparing future teachers with the tools they need to successfully teach students in becoming technology savvy. Before, I didn't know the importance of technology and its integration to learning as much as I do now. Technology is a tool that is needed for our students to become technologically literate as they should. In order for students to be taught effectively, teachers need to be properly educated in the usage and importance of such tools. Proper teaching comes from effective professional development. As a future leader, I ensure my teachers will effectively be educated and qualified in the technology field. Peer mentoring will be a strategy that will be used for teachers to help assist and educate one another in such areas. Technology usage, tools and decision-making will include all stakeholders. We will work together as a team to stay up-to-date on technology advancements, remain prepared on how to successfully integrate technology safely in the everyday teaching of the students through proper and effective professional development courses and provide every and all students equal opportunity of technological tools.
All students should and will be given the equal opportunity to use and learn technology to become successful future citizens of the 21st century technology embedded world. All students including every race, gender and ability, will have that opportunity. We are all a part of this ever-changing society of technological advancements and we will work together to become as literate as we can.
After learning so much and minimizing some "intimidation" I still am curious about other technological areas. I envisioned being exposed and working much more closely with a variety of technological tools such as Wikis, podcasting, RSS etc. other than blogs. Besides blogging, I can't say I fully understand the other tools except what I have taken from the reading articles and other colleagues' input. I wish I had had the opportunity to work more closely with these tools and become more knowledgeable and familiar with them in order to incorporate them into my current teaching and future role as an instructional leader. However, having learned how to blog and its components, is another technological tool I previously did not encompass but now I do. I plan on creating and using a blog in my future role as an instructional leader as a means of communication with all stakeholders. It will provide a communication line for the students, staff, parents and community members. Discussion and sharing of information will be allowed for all stakeholders to continue the use of such technological tool.
Blogging is an instructional and communicative tool that can be used by all stakeholders when used safely. Blogging makes learning more interesting, exciting, more hands-on and visual. Teachers can use blogs as a means of communicating with parents and students, as a form of discussion in class, and a reading and writing tool for editing and revising amongst peers; parents can use blogs to communicate with teachers about assignments and students' progress; and students can use blogs as a form of discussion and sharing of ideas of all subject matters. Blogging needs to be appropriately modeled and monitored by educators to ensure appropriate and relevant information is being posted and shared. Students need to be taught the rules, standards, expectations and guidelines when using such tools in order to make the most out of the tools and their features. Overall blogging is a great educational tool if it is used safely and responsibility.
All in all, I have become more technologically literate than I could have imagined within just four weeks of learning. I now feel more knowledgeable and ready to be an instructional leader of 21st century technological world.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)