My Action Research Plan (Template)

Action Planning Template
Goal: How can the attendance program PlascoTrac be utilized to increase school attendance? and Is PlascoTrac delivering a measurable increase in attendance while being used in conjunction with our grading software, Power Teacher?
Action Steps(s):	Person(s) Responsible:	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
1.  Examining the Work:  Setting the Foundation. Meet with site mentor to discuss possible action research topics topics.  Meet again to narrow down topics and have final discussion to seek approval from site mentor.	Site mentor: Kyle Hoehner Action researcher: Travis Patocka	October 2012	-Initial meeting to discuss topics:  10-10-12 -Second meeting to narrow down topics:  10-15-12 -Final meeting to decide final topic and seek approval to begin project:  10-18-12 -Action Research Plan draft to be presented to site mentor between 10-26-12/10-28-12 or sooner.	Journaling on meetings as presented in EDLD 5301 weekly homework. Presentation of Action Research Plan to site mentor for any final revisions.
2.  Examening the Work: Analyzing Data. Collect quantitative attendance data from last year as PlascoTrac was not integrated into our school attendance procedures until this year. Collect current quantitative data from this school year to see if PlascoTrac is having a measureable impact on attendance. Interview both site mentor/principal and vice-principal in charge of student attendance to record their experiences and reaction to PlascoTrac as well as any changes to school attendance procedures this year. Compose a basic overview of the PlascoTrac program and how it is used by our administration. Interview front office secretaries to see how they process and use PlascoTrac reports to generate attendance reports.	Site mentor: Kyle Hoehner Vice Principals: Audrey Racek Alan Frank Action researcher: Travis Patocka	October 2012 October 2012/May 2013 November 2012	-Collect attendance data figures from last school year: 10-22-12 -Collect attendance data:  10-22-12/5-22-12 (last day of school). -Interview questions for site mentor and vice principal(s) for qualitative data on perceptions, reactions and experiences with the PlascoTrac program. - Examine PlascoTrac users manual to explain function, purpose and features of this -Interview questions for front office secretaries.	Generate charts using computer database programs, which plot attendance data from last year and current school year. Reflection on questions posed to site mentor and vice principals as well as analysis of responses of experience with PlascoTrac to see what has changed from the previous years policy and enforcement. Produce an overview of PlascoTrac features and reports. Analyze response from front office secretaries to reflect on their reaction to using PlascoTrac and how attendance procedures have changed.
3.  Examening the Work: Developing Deeper Understanding. By examining both the quantitative and qualitative data I will begin to analyze patterns in school attendance.  Reflection on the PlascoTrac and changes in school attendance, if any, will be noted. Factors which impact student attendance and administrative intervention will be noted. Ensure that all important data has been collected.	Action Researcher: Travis Patocka	November 2012/ December 2012	Charts, which contain additional attendance data. Analysis of responses from site mentor and vice principal(s) to interpret their perception of how PlascoTrac has impacted student attendance. Any additional data to be collected.	Presentation of findings thus far to site mentor.  Methods of data collection and sharing of analysis of quantitative data.  Possible revisions if necessary.
4.  Examining the Work:  Engaging in Self-Reflection Journal of experiences thus far in the action research process.  Check timelines and ensure that all data is up to date. Ensure that original goal is being pursued and that results are being recorded. Journal on impact PlascoTrac is having, if at all taking into consideration both data types. Share experiences of action research in blog.  Post completed work in google spaces. Create a Survery Monkey survey for administration on action researcher performance thus far.	Action researcher: Travis Patocka	January 2013	Journals to be recorded.  Data to be analyzed, both qualitative and quantitative. Action Research Plan itself/checklist of activities. Survey Monkey survey on action researcher performance. Blog postings, website postings.	Journals, self-evaluation.  Evaluation of performance from site mentor and vice-principal(s) via Survey Monkey.
5.  Examining the Work:  Exploring Programmatic Patterns Interview site mentor about programmatic patterns in our school. Ask the questions as to the efficiency of our attendance procedures.  Do we get to truant students soon enough to intervene?  How do we comply with state and federal attendance requirements for students in school? Find out which challenges our students face in making it to school each day. Reflect on responses.	Site mentor: Kyle Hoehner Vice-Principals: Audrey Racek Alan Frank Action Researcher: Travis Patocka	February 2013	Interviews with site mentor/principal and vice-principals	Record responses to interview questions.  Reflect on responses to see if programmatic patterns exist and if so, identify what they are. (Tool 5.1, Harris)
6.  Examining the Work:  Determining Direction Present findings to site mentor.  Discuss possible changes over the course of the school year with regards to absence policy.  Determine if changes affect current data.  Discuss if other feathers of PlascoTrac need to be enabled.  Begin to examine merit point system for PlascoTrac for next fall.	Site mentor: Kyle Hoehner Action researcher:  Travis Patocka	March 2013	Current attendance data needed. Listing of policy changes over last 6 months with regards to attendance.	Six-month progress report/executive summary for site mentor with recorded data.  Presentation of programmatic patterns and reflection of data collected thus far.
7.  Examining the Work: Taking Action for School Improvement. Propose using merit point system to encourage student attendance.  Discuss this process with site supervisor. Present monthly data findings to site supervisor. Create presentation of data findings for possible presentation of school board. Reflection on meeting with Site supervisor to discuss if merit system could be made available to all teachers.  Survey teachers to see if they would be willing to use such a system.	Site supervisor: Kyle Hoehner Action Researcher: Travis Patocka	April 2013	Proposal for merit point system for next fall. Attendance charts in comparison with last year. Power point of data findings thus far, including qualitative and quantitative data	Action plan for merit point system for teachers. Power point containing attendance data. Responses from teachers for merit system
8.  Examening the Work:  Sustaining Improvement Present final observations of PlascoTrac, as well as an interpretation of data to site mentor.  Continue proposal of merit points through PlascoTrac to site mentor. Add final data (school attendance information through May 2013) to spreadsheets.  Modify Power Point presentation as needed. Final interview of site mentor on his interpretation of my performance.	Site mentor: Kyle Hoehner Action Researcher:  Travis Patocka	May 2013	Attendance data charts. Proposal for merit points for following fall. Power Point of final findings to school board.	Final presentation of findings of the effectiveness of PlascoTrac, as well as the qualitative data, and sharing of PlascoTrac features with school board.  School board will take the research data into consideration which future purchase of PlascoTrac for other district buildings/schools.