Action Planning Template – Lori Ramsey
Goal:  To Incorporate Technology into the Elementary Classrooms in an Effective Way
Action Steps(s):	Person(s) Responsible:	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
Research District Goals related to technology and observe the use of technology in classrooms.	Lori Ramsey	January 2013	District Website	Compare district goals to current practices in classrooms.
Determine which classes I will be observing and meet with teachers	Lori Ramsey Renee’ Cummings, Teachers involved	January 2013-February 2013	List of third grade classrooms
Create a chart to use to record technology use in the classroom.	Lori Ramsey	February 2013	Excel spreadsheet, list of available technology.
Determine when I will observe the classes and create a schedule.	Lori Ramsey, Renee’ Cummings, Teachers	February 2013	Excel spreadsheet, list of technology available, schedule of the use of technology.	Principal’s approval of schedule
Collect data to include use of technology, as well as district benchmarks and STARR tests.	Lori Ramsey	February 2013- April 2014	Excel spreadsheet	Results or benchmarks and state tests.
Compare the data of the classroom that used technology and the ways it was used to the classroom that did not use technology.	Lori Ramsey	December 2013-May 2014	Benchmarks, STAAR, and other data collected
Analyze the results and establish growth trends of the students.	Lori Ramsey	December 2013-May 2014	Results of the Study	Results of comparison
Reflect upon findings and draw conclusions; discuss with principal and assistant principals.	Lori Ramsey, Principals	December 2013 -  May 2014	Data from study	Results of the study
Plan and implement a program with all classes using technology.	Lori Ramsey, Instructional technology and Curriculum team	May 2014	Collaboration
Continue to observe technology used in the classrooms and look for new ways to increase effectiveness.	Lori Ramsey	May 2014	Continuous research on current trends

This has been a week full of new inquires prompted not only from the reading we have been doing for our research class, but also the classes and meetings I have been a part of for my district.  It seems that there are many areas that deserve action based research, and narrowing my topic was difficult.  After talking to my site supervisor, I was able to focus on the primary area of my job which is technology.  I love seeing the students come alive when given technology like iPads.  I was in classes this week that were using  them not just for the apps that allow practicing basic skills, but to create and share ideas in a collaborative way which requires much more critical thinking.  My action research project will focus on the ways technology is used and how it affects academic achievement.  I am still working on the details as to which classes I will be observing, and what measures I will use.  But I believe the outcomes of this study will allow me to be better in my job in providing meaningful and effective practices with technology.  This will, in turn provide our students with the much needed technological skills that will be required in middle and high school and even beyond - at least I hope.  I want to be the leader in this area that teachers need to see and hope that by providing meaningful trainings, I will help create a positive attitude in staff towards the changes that are coming.














This is a picture of some of our youngest students working with the iPads. ( I just had to share.)

Educational Blogging

Educational leaders could use blogs in many ways.  One would be to keep a school blog to communicate with parents and the community outside the school.  Testing schedules, programs, and school events could be shared this way.  Also, educational resources for parents could be posted.

Another way an educational leader could use blogs would be to communicate with classroom teachers or staff members.  Meeting notes, announcements, and schedules could all be shared through blogging.

ACTION RESEARCH

In order for schools and districts to keep up with the ever changing world, everyone from the superintendent down must constantly be asking reflective questions and searching for new and better ways to do things, and this requires ACTION RESEARCH.  Action Research starts with an introspective look at how things are going and posing a question.  For a principal it would mean looking at the decisions he or she has made and seeing what worked and what did not.  Once an area of concern arises, the principal must look for solutions by studying data like test scores or talking to teachers or students about ways to solve the problem.  He could talk to others in his position and see what worked for them or conduct research related to the problem.  Once he has a solution in place he would evaluate to see if the solution was working like it should, and the process continues from here, posing questions and actively searching for answers.  If a principal or leader only researches and makes changes based on the finding of others, he is falling back into the traditional research methods that were discussed in the book.   ACTION RESEARCH continues in somewhat of a spiral so that the school environment is always changing and becoming better.

ACTION RESEARCH is a great way for any teacher or leader to stay current and not become satisfied with mediocrity.  It is a way to ensure professional growth in myself and in those that teach and work around me.  As we all grow as professionals and as we seek answers through action research, our classrooms and school environment will improve, thus, the support for this type of reflective research.  I look forward to learning about and using this type of inquiry as I become an educational leader.