Action Research Update

My action research changed much earlier in the program, due to my internship supervisors. They felt greater research was needed in the new category. I initially wanted to find if the new master schedule impacted standardized test scores, but they felt that was to easy. My new research topic is detailed below.

Title:

The Correlation of Academic Achievement and Student Involvement

Needs Assessment:

On our campus, there appears to be a certain lack of accountability for some students who are not actively involved in either a student organization or athletic group.  In recent times, there has been a push to establish a sense of buy-in and accountability with the students by pushing student involvement in athletic groups and student organizations.  Is there a correlation between student achievement among students who are actively involved versus students who have no school club involvement, athletic affiliation?  Should no such correlation exist and students be encouraged to focus on studies?

Objectives and Vision of the action research project:

A vision and vision statement will be developed with input from a coach, club sponsor, administrator, and team leader.  The action research project will include measureable objectives, timelines, data, and responsible person(s).

Review of the Literature and Action Research Strategy:

The Tuning Protocol developed by the Coalition of Essential Schools Project at Brown University will be the assessment system implemented.  This instrument was chosen because of its ability to recognize the complexities of developing assessments for projects, sharing feedback, clarifying questions without judging, receiving warm and cool feedback, reflection time and debriefing to arrive at a mutual conscious.

Articulate the Vision :

Faculty and staff learned of the action research project via their respective professional learning communities meeting.  Coaches and club sponsors received more detailed information from the printed material disseminated to them for their sport or organization.  Content specialist are primarily responsible for monitoring data and distributing info to professional learning communities within the school.  Parents and communities members are not informed until research is concluded.  At this time, they will be informed vita I.M.P.A.C.T. program. 

Manage the organization:

Self – pick a sample group, work closely with sponsors, specialist, and classroom teachers t monitor students’ progress, formulate plan or course of action based on results.

Content specialist- access data ranging from standardized test scores, attendance, and number grades to compare extra-curricular participants to those who are non-participants

Coaches  & Club Sponsors – monitor student athletes and participants,

Manage Operations:

N/A

Respond to Community Interest and Needs:

The action research who determine whether a need exist to further advocate for extra-curricular activities and if so, which activities do these students seem to benefit from most on an academic level.  Student involvement is not specific to a particular race, gender, or type of student.  It does not exclude those with special needs and can accommodate those labeled gifted.  Should there be no correlation or no data to support extracurricular or determine which type if any is more beneficial, results can be used to formulate new methods and strategies of reaching students on a larger scale.