American International College Culminating Experience Non-Licensure

IMPORTANT  Field Based Research does NOT result in a license.  It does result in a Master’s Degree or CAGS.  Please note: Non-licensure School Leadership candidates will have to complete the pre- practicum requirement and the first embedded 100 Practicum hours. Please download and complete the application for that experience.

What is Field Based Research?  Field Based Research (FBR) is the six-credit culminating experience for non-licensure seeking candidates.  Candidates will research a topic designed to improve student achievement. Ideally, candidates will use their own classroom for the research. Those without their own classroom may make arrangements with a school to do their research in someone else’s classroom.  A minimum of 240 hours (40 hrs/credit) is required. The Director will determine if the proposal will take the required time. You will not log hours as in a practicum.  Projects are to be based on something “new” and not something already in use in your school.

What is Field Based Research? Cont.  1. Candidates will identify a specific skill, behavior or performance for development that will improve the learning experiences of their students.  2. Candidates will engage in the action-research process.  3. Candidates will demonstrate effective use of professional resources including collaboration with colleagues and supervisors.  4. Candidates will further their own professional development through the investigation and selection of new curriculum, methods or materials intended to improve learning experiences for students.  5. Candidates will present a written report of their field-based research using content and style appropriate to the professional field. This report will be 25 – 50 pages in length with 10 or more quality outside professional sources supporting your research.

Cori Policy/Fingerprinting  School districts require candidates undertaking pre-practicum, practicum, or Field Based Research experiences through the program to undergo a criminal history offender information (CORI) check. A district may determine that a candidate is ineligible for placement based on the outcome of the CORI check. Any FBR candidate who is refused a FBR site by a district as a result of his/her CORI check is solely responsible for finding his or her own site for doing research. This site, in the sole discretion of the College, must meet the academic requirements of the program. A candidate’s failure to timely identify an alternative FBR site meeting the program’s academic standards will result in termination from the program.  Fingerprinting: State law now requires those working/being in contact with students in a public school to be fingerprinted. You are responsible for getting your fingerprints done and for the cost associated with this process.

Johnson, Andrew P. (2009). What Every Teacher Should Know About Action Research. Boston: Allyn & Bacon Start Smart Series.

Procedures to get started 1. Using your AIC address, log onto myAIC.edu. Click on Click on the Academics tab. Click on Graduate & Adult Education in the left column. Click on Extended Campus Programs, Fieldwork and then Click on Field Based Research. 2. Download the application and Memo of Understanding (MOU). Send the completed application and MOU, along with a copy of your MTEL scores from your ELAR, and your Proposal, all in one , to 3. Familiarize yourself with the other FBR documents.

Due Dates  Proposals, application, MOU and MTEL history are due to  Fall Semester  June 15  Spring Semester  October 15  Official Notification of Proposal approval and registration will only be sent via the College system.  Students who do not meet these deadlines will have to wait until the next semester to apply.

Due Dates [continued]  Project due dates for Graduation  For May Graduation - projects are due to supervisors NO LATER THAN May 1 st.  For August Graduation - projects are due to supervisors NO LATER THAN August 1 st.  For December Graduation - projects are due to supervisor NO LATER THAN December 1 st.  If a candidate does not submit the project by the deadline date, he/she will have to wait for the following semester to graduate.

DUE DATES - WATCH OUT!!!  Projects are designed to be completed within one semester. Should the Project not be completed within that time, a continuation fee may be charged.  The Project must be finished by the end of the subsequent semester from which you were registered for Field Based Research. After that the grade becomes a failure!!!

The Proposal  The proposal is a professionally written document that is submitted to for approval. Be sure to put your name and cohort on the proposal.  There are four must have components of the proposal.  Introduction  Essential Questions (3-5) to be addressed in the research  Procedures/Activities – detailed explanation of how you will conduct your research, including what data you will collect and at what frequency [ do not just use the word data ]  Conclusion – what is your plan for using the results of your research

What happens next?  Once your project is approved, you will be assigned a Program supervisor and then registered for the course.  Requests for a specific supervisor are not permitted. We have an experienced and vetted group of supervisors that we use on a regular basis.  No one will be registered for the course until the project has been approved. This could effect your financial aid!  You will be required to submit your final paper and a 2-3 page reflection on your research experience through Blackboard. Blackboard will also contain announcements and other information for your success.  You are required to meet with your supervisor a minimum of three (3) times. S/he will grade your project.  You are required to submit draft chapters to your supervisor as you write them.

Research Topics  Your research must be related to your concentration of study [SLPP, Reading, Elementary, Early Childhood, Moderate Disabilities, Middle School or Secondary]  NO TOPICS ON BEHAVIOR PLANS PERMITTED!!!

Possible Topic Ideas for Research  Early Childhood Education  Instructing Alphabet Letters in Sequential Order vs. Similar Handwriting Strokes  Comparing the use of Discrete Trial Instruction and Multisensory Teaching Approach of the Alphabet  Is Playtime important in the Kindergarten Program? Will it increase students’ achievement and social skills

Possible Topic Ideas for Research  Elementary  Is the substantially separate intervention program Project Read adaptable in a classroom setting in a shortened time period at a teaching station?  Will the use of Math Journals increase understanding in Mathematics?  How does the use of Multiple Intelligences effect student achievement in a 3 rd grade classroom?  Success in Writing Using the 6+1 Traits of Writing: Grade 1

Possible Topic Ideas for Research  Moderate Disabilities  Life Skills within Special Education  Which reading program best addresses the needs of ELL students?  Would pre-teaching ELL students in the native language increase student success?  BCBA effectiveness  Programming for older Autistic Children  Effective use of formative assessment in Math

Possible Topic Ideas for Research  Middle/Secondary  Is Using the “Flip” really effective teaching?  Are we asking questions which promote Higher Order Thinking Skills in the [Math] classroom?  Improving Student Response Writing Using Comprehension Strategies and Note Taking Skills  Can Pre-Teaching Math Skills improve student achievement in Math for those with Math difficulties?

Possible Topic Ideas for Research  Reading  The Value of Peer Discussion and Its Role in Empowering 6 th Graders for Success in Reading  Finding strategies that work to increase vocabulary, reading for comprehension, and understanding contextual meaning for ELL students  Effects of Specialized Vocabulary Instruction on Reading Comprehension

Possible Topic Ideas for Research  School Leadership  How frequently and how well is technology used within the classrooms of my school?  How might integrating technology in reading and writing tasks improve student on-task behavior and level of independence?  Is “The Answer Key to Open Response” an effective program for promoting student success on high stakes tests?  Does the Extended Day improve Student Achievement?

Possible Topic Ideas for Research  Guidance/SAC  What should guidance programs look like for Career Based Education?  How should today’s guidance counselor provide transitioning skills from HS to post graduation?  Are there benefits to Group Counseling vs Individualized Counseling?  What is the role of the Guidance Counselor in Bullying Programs?

The Paper  The paper should be a minimum of 25 – 50 pages in length.  The APA format should be used throughout the paper.  The paper will be graded by your program supervisor.  An electronic copy of your final paper must be submitted through Blackboard.  A Reflection Paper must also be submitted through Blackboard.

The Paper Format  1. Title Page  2. Table of Contents  3. Abstract  One page – who, what, where, when and how  4. Introduction – Introduces the reader to the project, including school settings, conditions, students, and hypothesis of the research. [Step 1 in textbook]  5. Review of Literature – talk about the research done by others on the topic. Seven or more professional resources are expected. Not all resources can come from the Internet. Academic Journals, Books, Non-Print Services (interviews, surveys…) and the Internet (ERIC) should all be used.  6. Methodology – Processes, methods, assessments, etc. of how the research was conducted. [Steps 3,4,5 in text]

The Paper Format [ continued ]  7. Findings and Data Analysis – Discuss the results of the research. Charts and graphs may be used in addition to text. [Steps 6 and 7 in text]  8. Summary, Conclusions, and Recommendations – Interpret the results of the previous chapter, your interpretation and recommendations for education in general. Here the first person may be used. All prior chapters should be written in the third person and without opinion. [Steps 8 and 9 in text.]  9. References or Bibliography - use APA style.

Documents to help Field Based Research can be found on myAIC.edu under Field Based Research  Model proposal  Model research paper  Grading Rubric

Questions  For any questions you may contact:  

Best of luck with your projects.