Progress in motion

I started to collect data from coworkers using monkey survery.  The responses have been great and I am headed in the right direction.  I am behind but will continue to move forward...

ACTION PLAN DRAFT

Action Plan Template
Goal:  Establish guidelines for a non-classroom environment (i.e. cafeteria) to           create alignment of campus expectations.
Action Steps(s):	Person(s) Responsible:	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
1. Discuss project goal with administrators, cafeteria monitors and selected teachers	¨       Santino Cantu ¨       Site Supervisor-Geneva Salinas	January 30-February 17, 2012	¨       Current policy ¨       Laptop	Staff meeting, Question and answer discussion
2. Obtain and review current behavior policy in cafeteria(if any)	¨       Santino Cantu	February 20-March 16,  2012	¨       Current policy	Policy reviewed and notes indicated
3. Create and submit student and cafeteria monitor survey/questionnaire for Site Supervisor approval	¨       Santino Cantu ¨       Site Supervisor	March 26-30, 2012	¨       Survey/Questionnaire	Receive Approval
4. Distribute survey/questionnaire to cafeteria monitors and selected students	¨       Santino Cantu	April 16-20, 2012	¨       Survey/Questionnaire	Surveys/questionnaires have been distributed to selected staff and students
5. Analyze collected  data in order to identify issues of concern from both students and cafeteria monitors	¨       Santino Cantu	April 23-May 18, 2012	¨       Completed survey/questionnaire	Survey/questionnaire are completed
6. Generate a list of identified issues and concerns based on survey/questionnaire results	¨       Santino Cantu	April 23-May 18, 2012	¨       List of issues/concerns	List has been created and issues/concerns identified
7. Submit a proposal of ideas and guidelines for approval and implementation for cafeteria behavior	¨       Santino Cantu	May 28, 2012	¨       Proposal of ideas and guidelines	Approval received
8. Conduct daily progress monitoring	¨       Santino Cantu	April 1-31, 2012		Notes have been documented
9. Site supervisor conference on program effectiveness	¨       Santino Cantu ¨       Site Supervisor-Geneva Salinas	June 1, 2012	¨       Notes ¨       Survey/questionnaire	Documented discussion takes place and decision is made to implement action plan
10. Generate an end of year summative report to identify student behavior improvements	¨       Santino Cantu	June 4, 2012	¨       End-of-year summary report	Action Plan Completed

Format based on Tool 7.1 from Examining What We Do to Improve Our Schools

(Harris, Edmonson, and Combs, 2010)

Week two has been very informative and things are starting to make a lot more sense.  Action research has a great deal of benefits to campuses, districts, principals, teachers and communities.  I learned that you should find an area of interest and something that you find interesting.  Don't be afraid to do the research and look for the wealth of information that can be found that will help you be more successful.  I also realize based on the video links that the action research has to be practical.  It won't do anyone any good to come up with some type of elaborate plan that no one can use.  Be focused and ask for help!

And the Journey Begins...

As I think about what Action Research represents, I am excited to learn there is a better way at looking and addressing differing situations that I will encounter as a future administrator.  Many demand will be placed on me and many different people will count on me to make many decisions and treat them with dignity and respect and most all be fair.  Action research provides me an opportunity to reflect on my daily decisions and interactions with students, parents, teachers, districts and the community.  It provides a framework of choices for me to establish and to create a consistent pattern of dialogue and reflection with all those I interact with.  Action research is more that what we do, its about how we do it and what impacts we make everyday.  Action allows me to challenge myself and avoid the pitfalls of engaging in the norms that will make me complacent and create stagnant classrooms and campuses.  By using action as a resource it allows me to become a role model for my students and teachers and encourage ownership.  Learning has to be something each of us does, not that others do for us. I will use Action Research each day and use it to better than the day before.  Let the journey begin...

Educational leaders can use blogs by "capturing the thinking" of students and logging them for future reference and use in data collection and research.  Principals can use this sort of online journal to capture data and utilize it for future reference and provide feedback as necessary.  In addition, principals can share their writing with students to model the love of writing and enhance student perception about the process of writing making it fun and exciting.