EDLD 5352 Web Conference Review 8/8/12

After the web conference on 8/8/12 these are the items that we discussed and were helpful.
 - We will stay within Epic through this entire course.
 - The original Google Doc was a team effort, but I can use the pieces I wish for my own Google doc.
 - I can use alternate material on my Doc that does not necessarily reflect this class.
 - In week four I need 3 (PBL) project based projects. It is ok to use the www.bie.org website to choose my PBL projects.
 - Week 5 is all I have to place on TK20
 -We can turn in the PBLs on our team doc

EDLD 5352 Web Conference 8/7/12

I attended the web conference for EDLD 5352 on Tuesday August 7th at 5:00 p.m.  There were several things that were discussed during the web conference.  The first thing that we discussed was Project Based Learning for the week 4 assignment.  We are supposed to find and write 3 different reviews about Project Based Learning.  Another thing that we discussed was the importance of using Google docs in the classroom.  The class discussed in the chat script how working together to create a team document has allowed us to collaborate together to create an accumulation of information.  Another subject that was discussed in Livebinders.  The information from Livebinders can be utilized in a lot of different subject areas.  I also learned that you have to take the ILD before you can take the TEXES exam.  We are also supposed to submit our Internship hours at the very beginning of our 12 course.  The ILD course costs $400 at a Service center face to face and $600 online. 

Action Research Plan Outline

 

SCHOOL VISION:  Reach our community on the levels of education, discipline, and trust. GOAL: Improve District/Hispanic Community Relations OUTCOMES ACTIVITIES RESOURCES/RESEARCH TOOLS NEEDED RESPONSIBILITY TO ADDRESS ACTIVITIES Time Line Benchmarks/ ASSESSMENT Revisions to SIP/PIP based on monitoring and assessments Find strategies that other school districts are using to reach the Hispanic community Interview Five School Districts with similar demographics and enrollment Questionnaire Superintendents and Principals from the following school districts: Lometa ISD, Rising Star ISD, Garden City ISD, Gustine ISD, and Sidney ISD. Interviews should be completed by February 1, 2012 The data collected from each school district will be entered in their questionnaire. I will create a rubric with a action plan that states where I am starting from and it will also state where I want to end up in order to reach my solution.  In my rubric I will require that I obtain five effective strategies in my interviews in order to consider my interaction I success.  Each strategy will be worth 20% on a 100 point scale.  Find out how our community’s Hispanic population feels about our school district. Send home a KW (What they know, what they want to know) chart to three Hispanic families who have are willing to give their opinion. KW Chart, I will send home a newsletter to these Hispanic families after I have received their chart that will answer their question. Three targeted Hispanic families who have students enrolled in our district and our district translator. KW charts should be received by March 1, 2012.  I will send out my info newsletter by March 14, 2011. The info I am able to gather from these families will help me create my own KWL chart that I can present to the school district. I will create a rubric that will require that I receive at least 3 questions that our Hispanic community has about our school district.  Each question is worth 33 points.  The entire assessment is based on a 100 point scale. What strategies does our Hispanic community feel need to be implemented in order to cultivate a healthier relationship between our school district and the community? I will send home an informational newsletter that describes questions in the KWL chart.  I will ask for any suggestions at the bottom of the article.   I will ask that the suggestions will be e-mailed to me. Newsletter, e-mail or letter response from those interested. The Hispanic community in our school district. April 31, 2012 The data collected will be compiled into a list and I will present them to our Principal. I will grade my success by the number of suggestions I receive.  If I receive 5 suggestions then I will conclude that it was a total success, 4 suggestions= 80% success, 3= 60% success, 2= 40% success, 1= 20% success What obstacles is our school district currently facing, in regards to community relations, with the Hispanic population? I will interview the Principal and ask him what obstacles they have encountered and how they have addressed these hurdles. Problems and solutions chart Principal, Craig Taylor May 30, 2012 The data collected will be entered into the Problem/ Solution chart I will create. I will gauge my success by creating a rubric.  My rubric will require that I obtain at least 3 obstacles facing our District.  The rubric is based on a 100 point scale. Each obstacle is worth 33 points. I will obtain solutions to our community relations problem by research scholarly journals and websites. I will research the Texas Education Agency website and the EBSCO website for information on how to solve the current problem our district is facing in regards to Community Relations. Internet, TEA website, EBSCO website Internet, scholarly information June 30,2012                                                                        I will compile the data I collect in a research paper and submit it to our administration to use as a resource. I will create a rubric that will require that at least one of the solutions found to be implemented within 2 months.

Week 2 Assignment Reflection

One of the most important things that I learned from this week's assignment was that when you do an action research project you need to make sure that the information you utilize is practical.  I think that it is easy for administrators to get caught up in what University Professors say about Education.  While it is important to get their feedback, you need information from people who are currently in the field to reach real solutions.  As an educator I need to focus on research that is based on facts instead of just on theory.  Only then will I find concrete solutions to problems I may be facing as an administrator.

Analysis of how Educational Leaders might use blogs

Educational Leaders can use blogs as a resource and tool in several different ways.  This may include: inspirational quotes, questions regarding educational decisions, and information about productive or innovative strategies that their district may be implementing.  The use of a blog will allow Educational Leaders to reach out to others for answers regarding tough decisions and solutions to problems that other districts may be facing.  Blogs can also be used to inspire others with words of wisdom and support.  This is why I think blogs are a great tool for any Educational Leader.

Description of Action Researching and How I might be able to use it.

Action Research is a dynamic way to school administrators can move towards solutions to problems in their school districts.  Administrators use relevant literature and data collected from respected sources to come to conclusions about problems their school district may be facing.  Unlike the traditional approach to educational research, which includes using outside experts such as university professors, the administrator finds information through research and shares it with others to reach a solution.  One of the benefits to action research is that although university professors knowledge is valuable they are not involved in day to day operations of a school district.  Therefore their information may not address the real problem being faced or their solution may be based on a perfect world scenario.  It is important that the school administrator is the "Lead Learner" in their school district.  If an administrator wants their staff to reach their full potential then he/she needs to reach theirs as well.  I feel that I might be able to use this Action Research approach to come to a solution about our School District's Community Involvement.  Our community sadly, is almost totally disconnected from our School District's goals and direction.  I want to obtain information and strategies about how our district may reach out to the community and gain their trust.  The only way our School District can move forward is to have a positive relationship with our community.  I feel that Action Research planning will help us take that next step as a District.