The assignments that I found the most useful were the week three assignments. While earlier assignments were helpful for looking at different types of topics for action research, I had a few ideas already developed before the course began. This information will be helpful for developing future research topics though. The week three assignment helped me map out my action research and have clear defined steps for each part of my research.
The Tool 7.1 Action Planning Template from the Harris et. al. text was very useful in planning my action research project. Having a document that includes the goal will help me stay focused my intended purpose. It also helped define the people responsible for tasks, time line, resources needed and an evaluation for each step of my action research (Harris et. al., 2010, p. 85).
Comments made by Jennifer Wilkins Colvin about my action research project to my blog were also very helpful. She stated that I should also include a list of shared technology equipment when I was compiling available classroom equipment (J. Wilkins Colvin, 2012). This will help give me a greater idea of what equipment is available and how it can be used for classroom use. It will also make it clear what needs to be purchased and updated.
The Dana text had several good ideas for sharing your work with others. Some of the suggestions are for oral presentations both formal and informal. The text also described ways to share your work, such as blogs (Dana, 2009, pp. 141 – 155). My blog will be very helpful to keep track of the steps of my research and allow others to follow my progress.
The weekly discussion board was also very helpful to direct the planning of my action research project. Suggestions from classmates were very helpful in defining the steps that I need to take and adjustment I needed to make to my project. It was also interesting to see what others were doing their research on. Many of the projects will be interesting to follow and see the results of. The results of their projects may lead to wonderings about my own school.
In all I feel that I learned a great deal from this course. I had ideas about what I wanted to do my research project on. The course helped me narrow my questions to: What are the technology proficiency levels of the teachers in my school and how do they use technology in their classrooms? and How can this information be used to facilitate the professional growth of teachers in the area of technology? From this course I have fine tuned and mapped out my project from beginning to end. Even though I could run into some problems in my project, I feel that I this course has given me the tools to deal with any that arise. I know I am going to do a better job because of what I have learned.
Dana, N. F. (2009). Leading with passion and knowledge: The principal as action researcher. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
Harris, S., Edmonson, S., and Combs, J. (2010). Examining what we do to improve our schools: 8 steps to improve our schools. Eye on Education Press.
Heck, Robert. (2012, February 7). Tool 7.1 Action Planning Template [Web log post]. Retrieved from http://heckedtech.blogspot.com/2012/02/tool-71-action-planning-template.html
J. Wilkins Colvin. (2012, February 12). Re: 7.1 Action Planning Template [Web log comment]. Retrieved from http://heckedtech.blogspot.com/2012/02/tool-71-action-planning-template.html
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