Action Research in the Classroom Session 4 EDU 5120 Baker University Dr. Christy Ziegler

Assignment for week 4 – 11/14 Read Sagor Chapters 4 and 5

Tonight’s Agenda Presentations from guest(s) on action research projects. (6:00-6:45) Review Research Methodologies & Data Collection (6:45-7:30) Discussion on individual project research methodologies and data collection plans.

Data Collection, Display and Reporting Sagor says… data should help win over skeptics Purpose of collecting valid data is to put concerns to rest. Recall last week when we ended class discussing the BIG 3 to data collection and research methodologies: Generalizability – does your research question and data collection methods work across settings? REMEMBER – We don’t care to worry much about GENERALIZABILITY since YOUR action research is supposed to be specific to your classroom setting and instructional growth. Reliability – is your data repeatable? Validity – does your methodology measure what it intends to measure?

Data sources Existing sources Tools for capturing everyday life Student work (portfolios, homework, quizzes, tests) Archival evidence (attendance, behavior logs, office referrals, etc.) Tools for capturing everyday life Diaries, logs, journals Videos, Photographs Shadowing Observation checklists/rating scales Tools for questioning Interviews Surveys Tests

Reporting on student data Remove any student identification Black out names Refer to students with alias or number E.g. Student 1 reported that… N= your sample size

Existing Sources: Technology & Behaviors Number of Referrals N = 109

Technology & Student Engagement Total Percent N = 109

Data collection plan Clearly describe how the participants will be involved with the data collection – show how the study was done. Describe your 3 data sources. Communicate the plan/procedures so that the study can be replicated by other teachers… Data collection Plan Participants Who were they? Individual students that you identified to work with? A whole class? Teachers vs. students? Materials/Tools - discussion triangulation… Procedures How was data collected? When was it collected?

Data collection plan summary Participants Materials Procedures: What was done? How was it done? When was it done?

Example A triangulation of student surveys, journal entries, and teacher observations were used to determine the effect of use of the learning cycle on student classroom participation and student success. Student surveys were administered anonymously near the end of each unit during each treatment period. Questions in the survey focused on components of the learning cycle and student perceived success (see Exhibit 1). Mean scores from survey items were compared with journal entry data and teacher observation data. Changes in instruction were made after each treatment to address student needs. We believed that as the learning cycle lesson format was implemented, student…

Data analysis methods Example: “Strategies included the use of a behavior data chart to tabulate the number of redirects made on student 1 in the course of each morning.” Reliability and Validity summarized? Describe each set of data you report. Include your interpretation Use tables, charts and figures to help you clarify what you’ve collected to help make your case. Remember that reliability and validity will be somewhat difficult to speak to since you are not all scientific expert researchers… Reference the fact that you are using multiple data sources to support your research – this triangulation of data will help ensure your research is striving to be reliable and valid.

Discussion & analysis of results Discussion on the data/results including implications for your teaching and potentially others? What did you learn from your data? What could others learn from your data? Conclusions you make must correlate to the data you report. Tie in research references (MLA style) to support your conclusions What future implications do your data have for your instruction? Struggles?

Dissemination of results Provide 2 clear examples for disseminating your results with a brief description of the audience.

Formatting and Annotated works cited Use MLA style Include a study title page Double spaced document 1 inch margins Numbered pages (Upper Right Header) Minimum of 7 sources Annotate each entry with 1-2 descriptive sentences.

Next Class Meeting – 11/11 11/11 –Peer Review of Action Research Project Progress. Please bring your draft AR Projects. Sign Up for Appointments on 11/18 11/18 – Individual Appointments & work session 12/2 – Action Research individual and team project presentations

Ticket to Leave Research Questions Data Source 1 Data Source 2