This is part two of my draft action research report and discusses the vision, resources involved, and results of my action research project.
My action research plan is in the process of
being implemented.
I have had to change
a few dates and add some stakeholders, but it essentially has remained intact.
The plan is as follows:
TPJH Website - Action
Research Plan
|
Goals:
What is the frequency of appearance of common
elements in alternative education school websites?
What are the stakeholders’ judged values of
the common elements in school websites?
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Action Steps(s):
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Person(s) Responsible:
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Timeline: Start/End
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Needed Resources
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Evaluation
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Review
literature for best website design for school websites as it relates to
common website elements and visit award winning school websites.
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James Hawks
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Start: 2/6/12
End: 3/16/12
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Research tools:
Internet, library, EBSCO Database
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Make a
comprehensive list of elements.
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Confer with
the TPJH Website Committee.
Make a
representative checklist for evaluating disciplinary
alternative
education program (DAEP) websites.
|
James Hawks
TPJH
Website Committee
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Start: 3/19/12
End: 3/22/12
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Best
practice data from the literature review and surveying of school websites.
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List of
committee chosen common elements
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Construct
school website survey to gather data on the most common school website elements
found in DAEP websites.
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James Hawks
TPJH
Website Committee
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Start: 3/26/12
End: 3/30/12
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List of
committee selected common school website elements.
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Created
survey/checklist to use to gather data from DAEP websites
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Create a
definition of what constitutes and DAEP school.
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James Hawks
TPJH
Website Committee
Carolyn
Alexander
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Start: 3/19/12
End: 3/22/12
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Internet,
Texas Education Agency
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Working
definition of DAEP.
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Survey 30 DAEP
websites using the checklist survey to gather data to ascertain the most
common elements found in AEP school websites.
|
James Hawks
TPJH
Website Committee
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Start: 3/26/12
End: 4/5/12
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Created
Survey
Check list
of common elements seen in school websites used to gather data on each
website.
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Completed Surveys
30
completed surveys of at least 30 DAEP school websites.
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Evaluate
the data from website surveys.
Report to
TPJH Committee and Site mentor
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James Hawks
TPJH
Website Committee
Carolyn Alexander
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Start: 4/9/12
End: 4/13/12
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Completed
surveys and statistical analysis
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Compile
results for review by TPJH Website Committee and Site Supervisor.
Develop
report on common DAEP school website elements.
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Construct
survey for parents, students, and staff.
Decide on
final draft.
|
James Hawks
TPJH
Website Committee
|
Start: 4/16/12
End: 4/20/12
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Statistical
analysis of most common elements found in DAEP school websites.
|
Created
survey for students, parents, and staff using a scale of 1 to 5; one being
described as not very important and five being described as very important.
|
Survey all
stakeholders,
: parents,
students, and staff.
|
James Hawks
TPJH Website Committee
Carolyn Alexander
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Start: 4/23/12
End: 5/18/12
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Surveys
Designated
times and places for conducting surveys.
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Collection
of Completed Surveys
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Evaluate
data from student, parent, and staff surveys of common components desired to
be seen in an disciplinary alternative education program school website.
TPJH
Website PLC meet to discuss findings
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James Hawks
TPJH
Website Committee
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Start: 8/14/12
End: 9/21/2012
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Statistical
Analysis of common components desired and to what degree they are desired.
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Report –
TPJH Website Committee and site supervisor.
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TPJH
Website PLC meets to apply research results to the design of Turning Point
Junior High’s school website.
Publish
Website
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Turning
Point Junior High School Website Committee
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Start: 10/1/12
End: 11/1/12
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Web design
tools, online web space, apply results of the research.
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Published
Website
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Reflect on
lessons learned. Discuss future
research questions as it pertains to the use and improvement of TPJH school
website.
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TPJH
Website Committee
Administration
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Start: 11/2/12
End: 12/24/12
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Blog,
Website
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Publish
findings and reflection.
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Complete
Action Research Report
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James Hawks
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Start: 2/6/12
End: 1/11/13
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Formatted
Action Report in APA Style
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Completed
Action Research Report
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In implementing the action research plan,
I have developed a core group of individual stakeholders to communicate the
vision of the project. Further, meetings
have been held and are ongoing. The
vision for research and development of the new website has been articulated and
well received. Surveys have been used to
receive feedback for certain elements of the website and meetings with input
have been conducted and will be conducted in the future. Further, in using a action research project
website, all stakeholders are encouraged to share their comments by using the
website, sending email, or hand delivering their views. As meetings occur and consensus is made, any
changes to the action research project deemed necessary will be made and
reported on the website.
Stewardship of the my vision was
important, but promoting community involvement in the vision of our new school
website was and is crucial. Community
members such as businesses were not involved, but parents were. I wanted to receive parents’ input on what
they would like to see in the website.
Surveys were conducted with parents completing intakes at TPJH. Further, the project website was available
for their input as well. One main factor
for developing the website was for improving communication with the community,
parents, students, and faculty and improving the climate and culture of the
organization.
After promoting stakeholder involvement,
I needed to, and am managing, the use of fiscal and human resources to support
the development of the school website. Our
new schol website has to be built on a DotNetNuke platform and involves
learning the program and training. That
takes time and money. Further, a
plethora of individual stakeholders are needed to gather information to create
an esthetic, well thought out, informative school website that communicates
well and does not have any contradicting information in it. Individual stakeholders will need to take time
to critically think about their positions and decide essential information that
will be contributed to the website. Further,
those stakeholders will need to contribute artifacts that will be needed to create
our new school website. Again, that takes
time and effort and can affect how
stakeholders use their resources. I am
using a project website help focus stakeholders and reduce a need for time
consuming meetings. Those that cannot make meetings can quickly go to the
website and understand when tasks are to be completed and reports or items are
due.
While no community resources are
planned to be used to create the school website, parents were and are involved. Their involvement, added with the involvement
of teaching assistants, janitors, the cafeteria manager, teachers, principals,
students, and other faculty has and will lead to an improved positive school
culture. Just one example involves dress
code. Students that come in the school building
out of dress code are immediately isolated until they are properly
dressed. Many times there is a misunderstanding
at home. With a quick look at our new
website parents and students can double check dress code requirements. This improves the school climate by reducing
conflict between faculty, students, and parents.
At the conclusion of the action
research project, I hope to publish TPJH’s first school website developed with
the input of action research data and all stakeholders. Next, I would like to publish the results in
the action research project website.
Finally, I would like to publish the findings to the formal questions
asked in the research to the Lamar repository and possibly in a technology
leadership journal.
As
the results of the action research have not been completed, I can comment on
what has been done. I would recommend a
follow up evaluation and study of the new school website after it has been
published and utilized for a period of time.
I recommend a survey that takes into account the affects of the website
on climate and culture and the smooth operation of the school, teaching, and
learning.
Key Words, Phrases or Terms describing
your Action Research Project:
New
School Website, Frequency of Appearance of Common Elements in School Websites,
Stakeholder’s Judged Values of Common Elements in School Websites, DAEP School
Websites, School Climate, Teaching and Learning, Communication, Development of
New School Websites, Improving School Climate, Improving School Culture,
Project Leadership, Project Websites, Leadership through Project Websites.
