I have learned a lot about action research throughout the duration my second course for my Master's Degree in Educational Administration through Lamar University.  Creating an action research plan and blogging was part of the requirements for the course...but I must say, I am coming to the end of the course and am truly glad I have learned all that I have about action research.  My project focuses on researching how students, using personal communication devices in the classroom (specifically in English classes), will become more engaged in the readings/lessons thus improving their grades. I am currently using an electronic device (my computer) to earn a Master's degree and even my 3 year old son received a gift of a toddler-sized plastic "laptop" to learn the alphabet, play learning games and learn new songs! Technology is improving, changing and more available than ever!  I believe we should embrace these changes in our classrooms and guide students in ways they can use their own technology to gain academic success.  My hope is that my action research project will provide results that will improve our school.  To my pleasant surprise, today on FoxNews, I heard about a high school in Florida that purchased a Kindle for every student.  The students are using the Kindle in the place of their textbooks! The Kindles are easy to carry around (much lighter weight than all those books) and FoxNews reported that the school has saved money by not purchasing new, expensive books - the Kindle is a lot cheaper per student.  Wow!!!  It is exciting to hear another school is embracing this idea.  Although this is not the FoxNews article, here is a link to the same story:

http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/news/region_north_pinellas/clearwater/clearwater-high-school-to-hand-out-kindle-e-book-readers-rather-than-textbooks-to-students

My action research project is focusing on students using their communication device to download novels in the English classrooms.  Once this project is complete, I will additionally research the use of these devices in other classes, for calendar/planner purposes, and maybe even for textbook usage.  Thank you all for reading my blog and following my project.  I look forward to sharing exciting results!

Challenges...Solutions

Hello Fellow Followers,


This week, I spoke with my site supervisor (Mr. Paul Black) to review and discuss possible challenges and solutions to my action research project/plan. Mr. Black thought of challenges that I had not thought of on my own - once again proving how important involving others is to action research!  Here are the potential challenges and solutions:

Challenge #1: Students using the devices in English class only (where the English teachers will be monitoring their usage) and not in any other class. Students might want to use their devices in other classes, but will not be allowed. Other classroom teachers will not be responsible to monitor these devices as it is to benefit (at this time) the students' English curriculum/grades. Talking with the students to make them aware of the rules and having students and parents sign a "Supplemental Resource Usage" contract and permission slip will help reduce unauthorized usage.

Challenge #2: Number of student participation. It might seem easier to allow only a certain number of students per class for results purposes; however, to be fair and equal to all students, the device-usage will be open to all students.

Challenge #3: Monitoring the students using their devices. English teachers will be responsible to do this for the participating students in their classes, but the more students that participate, the more monitoring will need to be done by the teachers. With this challenge, I may be able to "step-in" and help the teachers (as time permits).

Challenge #4: Gathering data. Reviewing grades will be only a small part in gathering data regarding the results of this project. Creating a survey will be extremely important and large part of gathering the type of data I am looking for. The surveys and questionnaires will be broken down into categories (i.e.: reaction, usefulness, etc.) and need to be written very carefully.

Challenge #5: Students who have devices verus those who do not. Although most students have access to a device (such as an iPhone), some students do not own one (or are not allowed to bring it to school). For now, only students who have one can participate. As written in the permission slip and contract, if the student loses their device or gets it taken away, they will only have access to the paper novel. This project does not ensure that student can and will bring their devices to school. The devices are only supplemental resources and ALL students (participating or not) will be given a paper novel in their English classrooms.