Update on my Action Research Project

Just a little update on my action research project. We have decided to use a program that the school already owns called edgenuity. Using this program we have given every junior and seniors who are eligible to take the ACT on the state testing day a user name and a password. Students are able to access this at home and the Junior class uses this during there advisory homeroom.

Action Research Plan

Action Planning Template
Goal: How can we improve ACT scores using online tools?
Action Steps(s):	Person(s) Responsible:	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
Analyze current resources available for students and teachers to use for ACT prep.	Jonathan Lane	August 5, 2013- August 19, 2013	All available resources for ACT prep	What current resources can be better utilized?
Select students to participate in research study	Jonathan Lane	August 12,2013 – August 19,2013	Rosters	Compile rosters of junior level students who will be taking the ACT.
Select online program for usage of ACT Prep	Jonathan Lane Junior Science Teacher Junior English Teacher	August 12, 2013- August 26,2013	Online Act Prep resources	What online programs are available and suitable to improve ACT scores?
Set up accounts for students on online prep site.	Jonathan Lane	September 3 2013- September 10, 2013	Rosters	Accounts are setup and ready for use by the students
Develop an incentive plan for participation	Jonathan Lane Junior English Teacher Junior Science teacher	September 3,2013 – September 10, 2013	Meeting Room	What incentives can we use to get the students to actively participate?
Monitor the usage of the online tools  by students	Jonathan Lane	September 2013 – March 2014	Usage reports	Are the students actively using the online service?
Gather and analyze 2013-2014 ACT testing scores	Jonathan Lane	May 2014	ACT score reports	How many students have achieved the state college readiness score of 18 on the ACT?
Survey students thoughts on the online tools available to them	Jonathan Lane	May 2014	Survey Access	Do the students believe that the online tools prepared them for the ACT?
Share findings with faculty	Jonathan Lane	August 2014	Research Data	Did the online tools work and what adjustments need to be made.

Administrators Blog Usage

Blogs can be used for a reflective journal. There may be a problem that may arise and just sitting down and blogging about it may bring ideas to mind for you and the followers of your blog may also have solutions. It is a great and easy way to host a collaboration among people at any time.

This Crazy Thing Called Action Research

Well the most important thing I have learned about action research is that I have been doing it my whole teaching career. I just found out that academic word for it is action research, but I prefer to call it being a good problem solver. I have learned that action research is the process of identifying a problem, analyzing the cause of the problem, researching solutions to the problem, implementing a plan to solve the problem based off of your research, and then evaluating and improving the plan. I feel that I have been doing this ever since I started teaching, and I mainly attribute this to my training as a teacher. Also this process is your basic problem solving technique and can be compared to the scientific method. This process is used not only in the school setting, but at the doctors office, and even in your own home. Just the other day I heard a squeaking coming from my car when I went in reverse(Identify the Problem). I analyzed that it only happened when I went in reverse and went very slow speeds(Analyze Causes). Furthermore I researched the cause of the problem on Google and found out that I need to take my car to the shop to get my brake line flushed(Research Solutions). I then scheduled an appointment to have it fixed (implementing a plan) and I will evaluate if the problem has been rectified(Evaluation).