Science Action Research Team Kennedy High School

PDSA Cycle Plan – Do – Study – Act (PDSA) Cycle guides the continuous improvement process for the action research team

Goal #1 for Science Team To improve all student performance in science by increasing the rigor and relevance within the science curriculum.

Plan – Define the System No Child Left Behind mandates that all students be proficient on the science subtest of ITED by 2012 Curriculum is currently more content-based than inquiry- based Based on analysis of ITED, students need more practice with experimental design, analysis of data, and critical thinking skills

Plan – Assess Current Situation

Analysis of ITED questions shows that 33% of the questions focus on scientific method, experimental design, and analysis of data. The % of students that struggled with these questions, by grade level: 9 th = 21% 10 th = 12% 11 th = 20% 12 th = 20%

Plan – Assess Current Situation Need baseline data on how students perform on lessons based on experimental design, analysis of data, and critical thinking skills within science curriculum.

Plan – Assess Current Situation Plans need to be made to decide on assessment or measurement guides for the ideas so the when the Study step is reached, comparisons can be made.

Plan – Analyze Causes Not enough lessons within curriculum that incorporate higher-order thinking skills and real-world application Not enough lessons within curriculum that incorporate experimental design and analysis of data Large class sizes Insufficient funding/resources

Plan – Analyze Causes Lack of intrinsic motivation for the students Many students struggle with reading Lack of time to work with the non-proficient students on an individual basis Lack of articulation between middle and high schools

Do – Try Out Improvement Theory Science Success Classes – for students scoring below the 40 th % on the science subtest Increase coordination with special education department Keep track of how many times the Level I science teachers come up to the regular science classroom to work as a team

Do – Try Out Improvement Theory Incorporation of lessons that utilize experimental design and analysis of data Every science teacher will require one standard lab report each term. A grading rubric will be designed and used by all science teachers. Student progress will be monitored over the course of a year and over the course of his entire science career.

Study – Study the Results The ITED is the only measurement device currently in place In 2004, 12% of Juniors were non-proficient on the science subtest of the ITED, compared to 11.6% in The 2005 juniors have not been part of the Science Success classes.

Study – Study the Results Still in the Plan/Do parts of the cycle for the other ideas.

Act – Standardize Improvement Not to this point in the cycle yet.

Act – Plan Continuous Improvement Not to this point in the cycle yet.