Here it is...the "PLAN"

Bare with me "followers"...this is a lengthy post. I have a plan to implement this inquiry.  I should conclude the project in March 2011 and I can't wait to get great results! This is a plan, and you all know how some plans turn out - so it is a somewhat flexible plan.  This is the end of January, so the ball is already rolling.  The reasoning behind most of these dates is mainly due to when the students will be reading novels in the freshman and senior classes. Also, these novels that the students will be reading are the ones that can be downloaded for FREE (for example, freshman students will begin Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet in March 2010).  As these dates approach and I accomplish what is on this timeline, I will continue to post and keep all of you up-to-date on how the project is going.  Take a look and let me know what you all think.

Action Research Plan Goal:  Utilizing the capabilities of students’ personal communication device(s) to improve students’ accessibility and/or likelihood to engage in reading assignments and ultimately improve student’s English grade(s).             Action Step(s)/ Activities Person(s) Responsible Timeline: Start/End Needed Resources/Tools Evaluation Create inquiry for action research plan Julie Salinas January 2011 Idea(s) and inquiry plan Approval and recommendations from cohort peers Gather data regarding how many students are referred to the office due to using a personal communication device inappropriately on campus or in class Julie Salinas and Mr. Paul Black January 2011 Access to administrative database Review data to determine the percentage of referrals for devices versus other disciplinary concerns Seek approval for possible action research topics and tentative plans with site supervisor Julie Salinas and Mr. Paul Black January 2011 Action research proposed plan Approval from site supervisor Obtain approval for students to use communication device in class Mr. Paul Black January 2011 Question/Inquiry Approval from administrative staff Explain action research plan to freshman (English I) teacher(s) to implement action research project in their class(es) Mrs. Kimber McGann and Mrs. Brynn Caddell January 2011 Question/Discussion of purpose Receive approval from English I teachers to implement action research project Explain action research plan to senior (English IV “AP” and “Pre-AP”) teacher(s) to implement action research project in their class(es) Mrs. Tracy Winstead and Mrs. Sasha Jaramillo January 2011 Question/Discussion of purpose Approval from English IV teachers to implement action research project Create proposed plan and timeline Julie Salinas January 2011 Action Planning Template Plan timeline created for implementation Survey students in English I and English IV “Pre-AP” and “AP” classes Julie Salinas January 2011 Survey (created by Julie Salinas) performed in various English classes Determine how many students have personal communication devices, what kind, if they have iBook accessibilities Survey students in various English classes to get feedback on the proposed plan Julie Salinas February 2011 Survey (created by Julie Salinas) performed in various English classes Gather feedback of how students feel about their novel unit, carrying novels versus using an electronic iBook, and if parental permission is necessary Determine how many freshman students will be able/interested in participating in the project Julie Salinas February 2011 Discussion/questions performed in various English I classes Gather data and statistics to be used in action research project Discuss district/school policy for use of communication device, details/guidelines on how devices can be used for the purposes of this project, and consequences of misuse or not following guidelines Julie Salinas and English I teachers March 2011 Discussion with the English I classroom students involved Obtain agreement from students to follow guidelines and rules pertaining to use of their communication device(s) Assist freshman students with free downloads, if necessary Julie Salinas and/or Justin Gomez March 2011 Computer and/or communication device, iTunes or the equivalent Gather feedback on how many students have successfully downloaded the electronic iBook novel and gather estimated number of students who will participate Inform English I teachers of student participation Julie Salinas March 2011 Discussion with English I teachers English I teachers have knowledge of student participation Observe freshman students reading from their communication device(s) Julie Salinas and English I teacher(s) April 2011 Classroom observation Receive feedback on how project is going, if it is going as planned and/or if adjustments need to be made Monitor student participation within the novel completion timeline Julie Salinas and English I teacher(s) April 2011 to May 2011 Teacher discussions/classroom observations Determine if project is going as planned and/or if adjustments need to be made Survey freshman student project participants Julie Salinas April 2011 and May 2011 Survey (created by Julie Salinas) performed in English I classes Review and study student participation and interest and gather data/statistics regarding improvement of: grades, comprehension, and involvement Examine grades of students who participated in project versus those who did not Julie Salinas and English IV teacher(s) November 2011 Gradespeed for grade entry Review/analysis of data and recognize similarities and differences Thank freshman students for participating in project Julie Salinas May 2011 Thank you cards created by Julie Salinas Receive feedback, if given Determine how many senior students will be able/interested in participating in the project Julie Salinas September 2011 Discussion/questions performed in various English IV classes Obtain data and statistics to be used in action research project Discuss district/school policy for use of communication device, details/guidelines on how devices can be used for the purposes of this project, and consequences of misuse or not following guidelines Julie Salinas and English IV teachers September 2011 Discussion with the English IV classroom students involved Obtain agreement from students to follow guidelines and rules pertaining to use of their communication device(s) Assist senior students with free downloads, if necessary Julie Salinas and/or Justin Gomez September 2011 Computer and/or communication device, iTunes or the equivalent Gather feedback on how many students have successfully downloaded the electronic iBook novel and gather estimated number of students who will participate Inform English IV teachers of student participation Julie Salinas September 2011 Discussion with English IV teachers English IV teachers have knowledge of student participation Observe senior students reading from their communication device(s) Julie Salinas and English IV teacher(s) October 2011 Classroom observation Receive feedback on how project is going, if it is going as planned and/or if adjustments need to be made Monitor student participation within the novel completion timeline Julie Salinas and English IV teacher(s) October 2011 to November 2011 Teacher discussions/classroom observations Determine if project is going as planned and/or if adjustments need to be made Survey senior student project participants Julie Salinas October 2011 to November 2011 Survey (created by Julie Salinas) performed in English IV classes Review and study student participation and interest and gather data/statistics regarding improvement of: grades, comprehension, and involvement Examine grades of students who participated in project versus those who did not Julie Salinas and English IV teacher(s) November 2011 Gradespeed for grade entry Review/analysis of data and recognize similarities and differences Thank senior students for participating in project Julie Salinas November 2011 Thank you cards created by Julie Salinas Gather feedback, if given Observe data collected from both freshman and senior classes Julie Salinas December 2011 Create charts and graphs to display data Review/analysis of data and recognize similarities and differences E-mail teachers thoughout the campus a survey to determing how many would be willing, if able, to allow students to use their devices for educational purposes Julie Salinas and other campus teachers December 2011 Send survey (created by Julie Salinas) e-mail though Webmail Gather data regarding teachers’ responses Report findings to site supervisor Julie Salinas and Mr. Paul Black December 2011 Meet with site supervisor to report raw data on the project’s findings Receive feedback and suggestions from site supervisor Complete draft of report based on findings including additional research done on topic Julie Salinas January 2011 to February 2011 Data, charts, graphs, research, feedback, suggestions, etc. Revision of drafts editing where necessary Final report “okay” from site supervisor Julie Salinas and Mr. Paul Black March 2011 Final draft Get the final “okay” from site supervisor Submit findings to Principal, Academic Dean, and English coordinator Julie Salinas, Mrs. Patti Hill, Mrs. Lourdes Medina, and Terry Winstead March 2011 Final draft Receive approval of action research project for possible submission to Central Office or other Administrative staff.