Action Research Draft Plan

This is not copying and pasting correctly! Please go to my wiki site at https://sites.google.com/site/angelamahlstechnologywiki/ to view my action research plan correctly! You will also be able to make comments on my wiki.
Thanks = )

OUTCOMES	ACTIVITIES	RESOURCES/ RESEARCH TOOLS NEEDED	RESPONSIBILITY TO ADDRESS ACTIVITIES	TIME LINE	Revisions to SIP/PIP based on monitoring and assessments
Collect authentic and relevant data	Have first grade team fill out an iTouch use inventory	Computer, word, excel	Angie Mahl, First grade team	Oct 23-Oct 26	Once data is collected I will use that knowledge to shape or reshape my action research plan to meet current needs
Analyze data with peer group	Meet with first grade team to discuss findings and come up with solutions to what they hope to gain through my action research	Classroom, computer, iTouches	Angie Mahl and First grade team	Oct. 27	Use this knowledge to help shape the direction of my action research to benefit the current needs of the first grade team
Find available applications that are in line with the math curriculum	Research iTouch apps and take time to learn these apps. Read and research ratings for apps	Technology team, iTouches applications, iTouches	Angie Mahl, Cortney Mullman, Melissa Zerangus	Oct 23-Oct 31	This knowledge will help me add appropriate applications or delete ones that are not appropriate for student use in the classroom to enhance the curriculum
For students to feel comfortable with the use of as well as using them correctly.	Create small group lesson to introduce iTouches to the students	iTouches/elmo	Angie Mahl	Nov. 7-8	This will give students a chance to explore and gain a better knowledge of iTouches. They will also be able to ask questions if need help. With my observation I will be able to provide a contextual viewpoint (Dana, 2009, p. 41) to help shape research plan
To learn what students think of using the iTouches	Create a short class focus group	Class discussion/elmo	Angie Mahl/Melissa Zerangue	Nov. 8	I can use this data in my action research plan to help meet needs of students
Self reflection and evaluate progress of action research	Take time at the end of each week to self reflection while also looking at collected data from surveys and focus groups	Computer, excel	Angie Mahl	On-going	I will use this time to self reflect on my action research thus far. I will make sure I do not have any bias in my current findings and research. I will use this self reflection to help change the direction of my action research if needed
iTouche use in everyday math curriculum	Design lessons and activities with iTouches that are in line with school’s scoop and sequence as well as the state teks	Computer, iTouches, elmo, Eduphoria (lesson plan/scoop sequence KISD tool)	Angie Mahl, Cortney Mullman, Melissa Zerangue, Technology team	On-going Nov 21, 2011- March 27, 2012	Will monitor implementation of lessons and charge action research accordingly
Compare student success to gain a better understanding of iTouches in the curriculum	Use data from assessments to compare student success with iTouches verses a classroom with same assessment and curriculum but no use of iTouches	Computer, iTouches	Angie Mahl, First grade team	On-going	Will monitor assessments to see if iTouches help enhance student achievements
To obtain data from students regarding their use of iTouches in the classroom	Hold a midyear focus group for students in class		Angie Mahl	January 12, 2012	This information will help me see how students are feeling about the use of iTouches. I can use this information to move forward with my action research while changing or adding any necessary research, tools, or activities to help with individual needs
Share findings with first grade team	Meet with first grade team to discuss how iTouches affected my students’ achievement.	Computer, data on excel, iTouches	Angie Mahl, Melissa Zerangue, First grade team	March 27-30	This information will give me the knowledge I need to start thinking about holding a hands on workshop for iTouches in the classroom, and what to include in the workshop
Increase confidence in first grade teachers on the use of iTouches in their classroom	Hold a hands on workshop for the use of iTouches in the math curriculum	iTouches, elmo,	Angie Mahl, Melissa Zerangue, First grade team	Mid April	This assessment will help me see what I still need to teach or show fellow teachers to help them feel confident with incorporating iTouches into their curriculum.
Continue school improvement through the use of iTouches	Meet with first grade team and the technology team to discuss my action research findings and first grade iTouch workshop. We will discuss together how we can improve use of these digital tools to help student achievement throughout the school. I also want feedback on the workshop I gave to see what I need to change or add when sharing with rest of the school	iTouches, computer, classrooms	Angie Mahl, Technology team, First grade team	April 1-14	Formulate, as a team, a new plan to introduce and teach rest of school about iTouches. We will include data findings, current research, and tools to the rest of the grade levels. The focus will be to help build confidence among the staff to use digital tools in their 21st century classrooms. This information could help introduce a new action research that will continue to benefit the school

Creating My Action Research Plan

I found it some what hard creating my draft action research plan. I wanted to be as specific as I could with my activities but felt some still need work. I am really looking forward to putting my action research into play. I feel my classroom will greatly benefit from using iTouches within our math curriculum. I have already found so many great apps that I feel will enhance what the students are expected to learn. I know this is just a draft and I can go back and edit as needed. I have a great site mentor that will help me along this journey!!

I have attached my action research to my WIKI.

Here is the url https://sites.google.com/site/angelamahlstechnologywiki/
You will find a tab on the left side of wiki labeled "Action Research Draft Plan".

Reflections from Week 2

I am starting to feel more comfortable with my action research topic after talking to my site mentor. She was really encouraging on how important action research is in our classrooms and schools. We have decided that my topic will be: How effectively can iTouches in the classroom affect and impact students’ learning? I want to bring iTouches into a classroom and incorporate them to enhance everyday curriculum. With this information, I will be able to share important knowledge about iTouches and applications that work well with our everyday curriculum. I hope to show other teachers how easy and important it is to incorporate these digital tools into the classroom. I also enjoyed hearing the different principals’ interviews from this week’s videos. It was great to hear other people’s opinions and advice on action research. They also gave great ideas and examples.

Blogs for Educational Leaders

Blogs are a wonderful digital tool that can help connect educational leaders with their peers, colleagues, students and parents on a regular basis. Leaders can keep their staff up to date on the latest research, teaching strategies, district and school wide information, and provide valuable resource tools to their readers. Blogs also give the reader the ability to comment on blog posts as well as asking questions to the educational leader or author of the blog. Educational leaders can also include surveys and polls on their blogs. This would be a great tool to receive instant feedback and insight on an assortment of topics. I feel that blogs are extremely important and are a useful tool for educational leaders to reach an abundance of people on the latest information they feel is authentic and relevant to their readers.

Action Research

As a teacher, I have learned that action research is a valuable and beneficial tool that I can use as I learn and grow to become a better leader and educator. I love that the research is based on your own “wonderings” (Dana, 2009, p. 3) for a specific need or problem at your school; therefore making it more applicable and authentic verses a traditional outside researcher. Action research sounds like a long and drawn out process, but because it is essentially your “baby”, it will not be a chore, but something you care significantly for, and immediately take the steps to put into action so it becomes a part of your everyday routine. You will feel a since of ownership in pride by what you are researching, developing, and accomplishing in order to make your students, teachers, and schools more successful.


Action research is a great way to collaborate with our peers in order to achieve a goal. I am looking forward to working with my colleagues on an action research project that involves technology in our school, how it is or isn’t being used, and what needs to change in order for teachers to implement technology in their everyday curriculum. The school I am doing my internship at, has a set of iTouches for every grade level! These can be a wonderful digital tool for the classroom; however teachers are not using these resources. I can see how an action research would give me the information I need to help teachers learn to incorporate these amazing digital tools into their classrooms. Every campus has a technology plan, and we have to find ways to move forward into the 21st century classroom. I am also looking forward to talking to my principal and finding out if she is doing any administrative inquiry at the time being. I would love to be involved and assist in any way necessary, to help her and the school achieve their goals while learning from the experiences and her expertise.


Dana, N.F. (2009). Leading with passion and knowledge: The principal as action researcher. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.