Friday, August 2, 2013

Action Research Plan

Instructional Materials Research Plan
Goal:  Determine the best choice of instructional materials to be offered by the State Board of Education (SBOC) in school year 2014-2015 for 6th-8th grade science at Argyle Middle School.
Action Steps(s):
Person(s) Responsible:
Timeline: Start/End
Needed Resources
Evaluation
Review current materials from publishers who have placed bids
to the SBOC.



John Baker, Barbara Hayden,
Misty Whitworth,
Brenda Williams,
Natalie Coonrod,
Bobby Morse,
Scott Gibson,
Chris Daniel

7/19/2013

8/1/2013
Meet to discuss front runners and favorites among listed publishers.
Research instructional materials favored by 6th-8th grade science staff.

John Baker
8/1/2013

8/5/2013
Google search for reviews of favored materials, email and phone conversations with teachers currently using favored materials and publishers of the materials.

Reflection on data gathered from searches and contacts.
Choose instructional materials for the 2013-2014 school year.




John Baker, Barbara Hayden,
Misty Whitworth,
Brenda Williams,
Natalie Coonrod,
Bobby Morse,
Scott Gibson,
Chris Daniel
8/6/2013

8/8/2013
Meeting room, sample materials from selected publishers. Information from research done by Baker.
Based on data, come to an agreement on materials to be used.

Selection of grade-level-focus groups.
John Baker, Barbara Hayden,
Misty Whitworth,
Brenda Williams,
Natalie Coonrod,
Bobby Morse

8/21/2013

8/22/2013
2013 class schedules and rosters for 6th-8th grades.
Survey #1.
Instructional materials survey creation.
John Baker,
Barbara Hayden,
Misty Whitworth,
Brenda Williams

8/23/2013

8/23/2013
Google docs.
Survey #1 reflection.
Implement selected instructional materials.


6th-8th grade science staff.
8/26/2013

6/6/2014
Selected instructional materials (most likely Stemscopes).
Survey data from teachers, students, and parents.
Teacher, student, parent survey of selected materials #1.

John Baker (lead), 6th-8th grade teachers, students, and parents
9/23/2013

10/4/2013
Instructional materials online evaluation form.
Analyze form data.  Meet with 6th-8th grade teachers.
Reflection on data from survey #1.

John Baker (lead), 6th-8th grade teachers.
10/7/2013

10/7/2013
Data from survey #1.
Survey #2.
Instructional materials evaluation form creation.
John Baker, Barbara Hayden, Misty Whitworth,
Brenda Williams

10/7/2013

10/7/2013
Data from survey #1, teacher input on instructional material needs.
Adopted materials preview debriefing.
Region XI SBOC adopted materials preview.
John Baker, Barbara Hayden, Misty Whitworth,
Brenda Williams
10/25/2013

10/25/2013
Adopted materials evaluation form.
Discuss evaluation forms with those in attendance.

Teacher, student, parent survey of selected materials #2.

John Baker (lead), 6th-8th grade teachers, students, and parents
12/9/2013

12/14/2013
Instructional materials online evaluation form.
Analyze form data.  Meet with 6th-8th grade teachers.
Reflection on data from survey #2.

John Baker (lead), 6th-8th grade teachers.
12/19/2013

12/20/2013
Data from survey #2.
Survey #3.
Review of current materials and impressions of materials from SBOC preview.
John Baker, Barbara Hayden,
Misty Whitworth,
Brenda Williams,
Natalie Coonrod,
Bobby Morse

1/6/2014

1/6/2014
Survey #1 & #2 data, evaluation forms from SBOC materials preview.
Debrief at the conclusion of the meeting. Determine if further discussion is needed.

Teacher, student, parent survey of selected materials #3.

John Baker (lead), 6th-8th grade teachers, students, and parents
3/3/2014

3/7/2014
Instructional materials online evaluation form.
Analyze form data.  Meet with 6th-8th grade teachers.
Reflection on data from survey #3.

John Baker (lead), 6th-8th grade teachers.
3/17/2014

3/17/2014
Data from survey #3.
Selection meeting on 3/24/2014.
Selection of SBOC adopted instructional materials for 2014-2015 school year.
John Baker, Barbara Hayden,
Misty Whitworth,
Brenda Williams,
Natalie Coonrod,
Bobby Morse,
Scott Gibson,
Chris Daniel

3/24/2014

3/24/2014
Data from 1/6/2014 meeting, data from survey #3, SBOC adopted instructional materials samples.
Reflection on current instructional materials.  Evaluation form for selected instructional materials.
Submit order for 2014-2015 instructional materials.

Chris Daniel
4/1/2014

4/30/2014

EMAT
Ensure order was placed.
Receive instructional materials from publisher.
Scott Gibson
6/1/2014

8/1/2014
N/A
Ensure materials were delivered no less than 10 days before the start of the school year.

Implement selected adopted materials.
6th-8th grade science staff.
8/26/2013

6/6/2014
Selected instructional materials.
Survey data from teachers, students, and parents.

7 comments:

  1. I like the fact that you are not leaving the students and parents out of the surveying process. Sometimes, I think that we as educators believe that we know it all. Both of these groups of people should have valuable input into the selection process. One question I would have is this - is 10 days enough time to get the materials to your teachers prior to the beginning of school starting? Don't forget about in-service meeting and such especially for hires new to your district. Any chance of getting the materials mid-summer? Good luck.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The whole "no less than 10 days" thing is direct wording from the TEA's literature. I'm hoping we'll have our materials by the end of this school year since this process should allow us to make a very informed decision by April when the ordering can begin. Hopefully, our chosen publisher won't wait and ship according to this 10-day mandate!

      Delete
  2. Trevor this is a well detailed ARP plan. One question that I have since I don't work in Texas. In regards to the materials for instruction is this chosen statewide or does it differentiate each district?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The state will adopt a handful of approved materials, then districts can choose from that list. We haven't had a list in 4 years though!

      Delete
  3. Very well defined action research planning. I just hope you do have the time to deliver to your teachers. It is very interesting to see how you do your selection of instructional materials according to SBEC. I can tell by your panning that you have really put a lot of thought to the topic and I am sure you will have a great result.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Trevor,
    As I am one of the science leaders on my campus, I can tell you that we have completely moved away from textbooks and have generated our own material. Well, maybe 3 or 4 times a year do I have students work from the book. If the material is directly targeting the standards, then it should be implemented. Stemscopes is one resource that we do use, but I personally have found that generating a diverse approach brings the best long-term results. Good luck on your findings, and since I am an 8th grade science teacher you study is of interest. Let me know if you have any other questions from my angle.

    Surveys,

    ReplyDelete
  5. Although I am not a science teacher, my district is going through a change as well. I will be very interested to see your results once you have finished. It will also be very interesting to see how your parents and students respond to the surveys about the changes.

    ReplyDelete