Updated Action Research Plan

Cell Phone and Electronic Device Policy Action Research Plan

SCHOOL VISION: The mission of Blackwell Middle School is to provide a safe, nurturing, and academically challenging learning environment where students prepare to become responsible citizens.

GOAL: The goal of this action research is to help teachers and students work cohesively with electronic devices to reduce the discipline referrals.

Activities designed to achieve the objectives

The following activities need to take place:  

1. A survey should to given to student population to determine the number of students that have electronic devices, what they think is an appropriate time to use electronic devices, and what the consequences of using them inappropriately should be.  
2. Surveys should be done with parents think should be done to the cell phone and electronic device policy.  
3. Administration and faculty should be surveyed about their issues and needs.  
4. Research should be done to determine if other schools have faced this problem in the past and how they were able to solve the problem.  
5. The data should be assessed and solutions should be made that will meet the needs of all parties with the least amount of negative impact. 

Resources and research tools needed for data gathering:

1. Electronic surveys or paper surveys should be created for student body, parents, and teachers/faculty. 
2. Computer access with Microsoft Office and Internet.
3. Access to research databases for education.

Draft timeline for completion or implementation of activities

1. May 17, 2012 – Survey Student Population – Use advisory period.
2. June 2012 – Complete research of relevant schools that have dealt with similar situations. Present to School Board to gain proper approval for new policy.
3. August 2012 – Faculty Meeting – Present and Survey Faculty and Administrators
4. August 2012 – Move In Day – Present and Survey Parents
5. August 2012 – Evaluate data, personal reflection, and research and look for common themes and patterns.
6. August 2012 – Determine, with current administration, a positive solution for resolving the issue.
7. August 10, 2012 – Implement new policy for teachers that will participate.
8. September 2, 2012 – Review with administration and faculty team the positive and negative results of the action plan.  Make any necessary changes.
9. September 2012 – Communicate plan of action with all parties through school, email, and phone messages.  
10. October 1, 2012 – Implement and communicate any changes made to current plan.
11. November 2012 – Evaluate and reflect on process with administration and faculty.  Determine the success of the process and any ideas to improve.
12. December 2012 – Continue to implement and improve plan of action through reflection, results, and feedback. 

Persons responsible for implementation of the action research plan

1. Faculty
2. Administrative Staff 
3. Kari Widener

Process for monitoring the achievement of goals and objectives:

1. Personal reflections.
2. Feedback from students, parents, faculty, and administration.
3. Results of formative and summative assessments (if applicable).
4. Communicate with faculty and administration.

Assessment instrument(s) to evaluate the effectiveness of the action research study:

Assessments will be monitored in several different ways.  

1. Qualitative data such as positive attitudes and increased morale from teachers and faculty in regards to the action research will be monitored through surveys and informal questioning.
2. Quantitative data through discipline referrals and summative assessments from teachers and faculty.