Action Research Plan

My Question:

  The days of the Walkman are over. Today it's mp3s, ipods, cell phones, and itunes. Almost every student has a personal music device (PMDs). PMDs can be found in almost every backpack and every classroom today. Can these PMD devices provide a useful tool in the teacher's toolbox, or are PMDs simply distracting to the student and to others?

Goals and objectives/outcomes of the research investigation:

To establish viable data, not just opinions, of the effects of PMDs on student learning and the learning environment. 

Activities designed to achieve the objectives:

Survey 240 6^th grade students and 50+ teachers on the effects of student learning with PMDs. Teacher survey will include opinions on uses of PMDs in the classroom.

Perform experiment on student classwork and test assessments with PMDs and gather data from this. 

  Performance indicator of a student making a 90 or above on certain classwork.

Resources and research tools needed for data gathering:

Student version of survey (240)

Teacher version of survey (50+)

One partner teacher (Mr. Kesler)

Classwork (writing sample) with one control and another with access to PMDs

Assessments using PMDs over time 

  Gather and collect other data, testscores, grades for a long-term view of student performance

Draft timeline for completion or implementation of activities: 

The procedures and research in the classroom will begin at the beginning of the 2012-13 school year.

The background research and brainstorming will be completed from April 2012 through the summer months of 2012. 

  Set aside time to analyze data using Staff Development days.

Persons responsible for implementation of the action research plan: 

Nathaniel Stockberger (me), Chris Kesler (6^th grade science team teacher), Mr. Meldahl (Principal and School Supervisor) 

Process for monitoring the achievement of goals and objectives: 

Self monitoring along with feedback from the site supervisor following the experiments and fieldwork. Accountability from discussion board and dissemination on personal blog. 

Analyze personal thinking and understand any biases I may have.

Assessment instrument(s) to evaluate the effectiveness of the action research study:

Data will be collected and results will be distributed to faculty and students on graphs and charts. Charts that demonstrate the results from the student and teacher surveys. The results from the surveys and experiments will be presented to the faculty of Waller Junior High. The entire research project will be available to the public for recommendations on this blog.