Driving Question
How can we support teachers in achieving high levels of student engagement through effective teaching strategies as they integrate PBL and 21st century skills?
Step 1: Identifying and Limiting the Topic
I plan to focus on one strategy as I engage in the action research process for the first time. (As I read about this process and the importance of remaining focused, I decided to keep the initial process simple.) To achieve increased student engagement, I will apply the strategy of student weekly goal setting[RM1] . Students will set goals and reflect on their progress at the end of each week. Goal setting helps students focus their efforts, therefore, increasing engagement and academic achievement[RM2] . Each morning I have offered to support students with academic reading intervention using Scholastic Systems 44 web based program. It is sometimes challenging for these low achieving students to maintain focus and remain engaged. Though the students are not participating in PBL or 21st century instruction as stated in my driving question, this control group will provide more accurate data regarding the use of goal setting strategies. If the strategy increases student engagement during intervention, it can later be applied to PBL and 21st century lessons.
Step 2: Gathering Information
In an effort to develop a simple but effective system of goal setting, I will look for resource documents and forms that have previously been created[RM3] . My goal is to have students not only develop goals, but look for ways to increase their level of success through the reflection process. I will need to develop a template that includes both elements. Teachers, principals and publications will be resources for locating goal setting documents that have been used in the past. I will talk to teachers regarding their experiences with goal setting in the classroom. What method did they discover took the least amount of time away from instruction and yet had the greatest impact or positive outcome?
Step 3: Reviewing the Related Literature
This week I attended a one day pre-conference session by Jane Pollack called i5: Teaching Thinking, Teaching Innovation at the ASCD conference. I was intrigued by the goal setting structure that was used during the session. In the videos viewed during the presentation, students engaged in goal setting based on their current knowledge of a given topic at the beginning of the lesson. Later, the students reflected on their learning and level of knowledge at the end of the lesson. I would like to review the notes and integrate some of Pollack’s ideas into the goal setting process. Additionally, I will research and read literature related to student goal setting, reflection and increased engagement.
Step 4: Develop a Research Plan
The research plan will entail answering the question, “Are students that set goals at the beginning of the week and reflect on progress at the end of the week, more likely to increase engagement and therefore, academic progress? The hypothesis may be, “Students who engage in weekly goal setting and reflection are more likely to maintain engaged learning with increased academic progress.”[RM4]
Step 5: Implementing the Plan and Collecting Data
Initially, observations of student behavior regarding levels of engagement will be collected and recorded. Students will also complete a survey based on their perceived level of engagement and learning. Monthly Scholastic reports beginning in December will be printed and student completion rates will be documented. A goal setting and reflection template will be developed allowing students to log weekly progress, describe whether or not the goal was achieved, and identify obstacles that may have hindered progress in meeting the goal.
Step 6: Analyzing the Data
Monthly reports from Scholastic’s Systems 44 management software program will be used in identifying each student’s monthly progress before and after the goal setting form is implemented. I will be documenting the percentage increase in program completion from month to month. One challenge in compiling accurate statistical data is that a student may need to repeat a topic multiple times to achieve mastery. If a student repeats a topic, he/she may receive a lower figure on the percentage of program completion. I will need to factor this additional work into the computation.
The student goal setting and reflection template will also provide data. If a student is required to repeat a topic, and therefore unable to meet his/her goal, the information will be documented. The student may become ill and miss school during the week which will also affect progress. Again, the student will document missed school days on the template.
Student surveys conducted before and after the use of the goal setting template will provide additional data.
Step 7: Developing an Action Plan
As an instructional coach, I will share the results of the action research with the principal. Together, we will develop a plan for implementation at the school level. Through observations and discussions during PLC’s, the plan will be monitored, evaluated and revised as teachers use the goal setting and reflection strategies throughout their PBL unit and 21st century instruction.
Step 8: Sharing and Communicating the Results
Beyond sharing the results of the action research with Salvador teachers, the goal would be to develop a website of BEST practices that increase student engagement through effective teaching strategies when integrated with PBL units and 21st century instruction. (My concern with PBL implementation is the support needed so teachers maintain high quality instruction.) Additionally, a website would be created for principals with professional development videos that support BEST Practices and effective teaching strategies.
Step 9 Reflecting on the Process
As I continue coaching teachers at Salvador Elementary and they implement goal setting strategies, we can collaborate and share our successes. Through collaboration, we will continue refining the process and assessing the effectiveness.
In implementing a website of BEST practices with supporting professional development videos, teachers and principals will assess the benefit and support further development of the site. It will be critical to accept ideas from the exceptional Napa teachers and administrators while maintaining the integrity of the information that is uploaded.
[RM1]I love this focus. Simple, and easy to implement and track.
[RM2]This is a huge claim and needs to be backed up by research in your literature review.
[RM3]That’s the best way to do it.
[RM4]Again, this directional hypotheis requires research that has already been done. I would frame as a research question rather than a hypothesis if the research does not exist.
How can we support teachers in achieving high levels of student engagement through effective teaching strategies as they integrate PBL and 21st century skills?
Step 1: Identifying and Limiting the Topic
I plan to focus on one strategy as I engage in the action research process for the first time. (As I read about this process and the importance of remaining focused, I decided to keep the initial process simple.) To achieve increased student engagement, I will apply the strategy of student weekly goal setting[RM1] . Students will set goals and reflect on their progress at the end of each week. Goal setting helps students focus their efforts, therefore, increasing engagement and academic achievement[RM2] . Each morning I have offered to support students with academic reading intervention using Scholastic Systems 44 web based program. It is sometimes challenging for these low achieving students to maintain focus and remain engaged. Though the students are not participating in PBL or 21st century instruction as stated in my driving question, this control group will provide more accurate data regarding the use of goal setting strategies. If the strategy increases student engagement during intervention, it can later be applied to PBL and 21st century lessons.
Step 2: Gathering Information
In an effort to develop a simple but effective system of goal setting, I will look for resource documents and forms that have previously been created[RM3] . My goal is to have students not only develop goals, but look for ways to increase their level of success through the reflection process. I will need to develop a template that includes both elements. Teachers, principals and publications will be resources for locating goal setting documents that have been used in the past. I will talk to teachers regarding their experiences with goal setting in the classroom. What method did they discover took the least amount of time away from instruction and yet had the greatest impact or positive outcome?
Step 3: Reviewing the Related Literature
This week I attended a one day pre-conference session by Jane Pollack called i5: Teaching Thinking, Teaching Innovation at the ASCD conference. I was intrigued by the goal setting structure that was used during the session. In the videos viewed during the presentation, students engaged in goal setting based on their current knowledge of a given topic at the beginning of the lesson. Later, the students reflected on their learning and level of knowledge at the end of the lesson. I would like to review the notes and integrate some of Pollack’s ideas into the goal setting process. Additionally, I will research and read literature related to student goal setting, reflection and increased engagement.
Step 4: Develop a Research Plan
The research plan will entail answering the question, “Are students that set goals at the beginning of the week and reflect on progress at the end of the week, more likely to increase engagement and therefore, academic progress? The hypothesis may be, “Students who engage in weekly goal setting and reflection are more likely to maintain engaged learning with increased academic progress.”[RM4]
Step 5: Implementing the Plan and Collecting Data
Initially, observations of student behavior regarding levels of engagement will be collected and recorded. Students will also complete a survey based on their perceived level of engagement and learning. Monthly Scholastic reports beginning in December will be printed and student completion rates will be documented. A goal setting and reflection template will be developed allowing students to log weekly progress, describe whether or not the goal was achieved, and identify obstacles that may have hindered progress in meeting the goal.
Step 6: Analyzing the Data
Monthly reports from Scholastic’s Systems 44 management software program will be used in identifying each student’s monthly progress before and after the goal setting form is implemented. I will be documenting the percentage increase in program completion from month to month. One challenge in compiling accurate statistical data is that a student may need to repeat a topic multiple times to achieve mastery. If a student repeats a topic, he/she may receive a lower figure on the percentage of program completion. I will need to factor this additional work into the computation.
The student goal setting and reflection template will also provide data. If a student is required to repeat a topic, and therefore unable to meet his/her goal, the information will be documented. The student may become ill and miss school during the week which will also affect progress. Again, the student will document missed school days on the template.
Student surveys conducted before and after the use of the goal setting template will provide additional data.
Step 7: Developing an Action Plan
As an instructional coach, I will share the results of the action research with the principal. Together, we will develop a plan for implementation at the school level. Through observations and discussions during PLC’s, the plan will be monitored, evaluated and revised as teachers use the goal setting and reflection strategies throughout their PBL unit and 21st century instruction.
Step 8: Sharing and Communicating the Results
Beyond sharing the results of the action research with Salvador teachers, the goal would be to develop a website of BEST practices that increase student engagement through effective teaching strategies when integrated with PBL units and 21st century instruction. (My concern with PBL implementation is the support needed so teachers maintain high quality instruction.) Additionally, a website would be created for principals with professional development videos that support BEST Practices and effective teaching strategies.
Step 9 Reflecting on the Process
As I continue coaching teachers at Salvador Elementary and they implement goal setting strategies, we can collaborate and share our successes. Through collaboration, we will continue refining the process and assessing the effectiveness.
In implementing a website of BEST practices with supporting professional development videos, teachers and principals will assess the benefit and support further development of the site. It will be critical to accept ideas from the exceptional Napa teachers and administrators while maintaining the integrity of the information that is uploaded.
[RM1]I love this focus. Simple, and easy to implement and track.
[RM2]This is a huge claim and needs to be backed up by research in your literature review.
[RM3]That’s the best way to do it.
[RM4]Again, this directional hypotheis requires research that has already been done. I would frame as a research question rather than a hypothesis if the research does not exist.