Beginning Action Research Learning Cedar Rapids Community Schools October, 2004 Dr. Susan Leddick

Everythings Up-to-Date in Cedar Rapids! Working at classroom, building, and district levels

What the District Is Doing Teaching teams of teachers and administrators to use the tools and processes of Action Research in order to make improvements in all three levels of the district system. Emphasizing deployment of school improvement plans – carrying out strategies that have significant impact on student achievement. Using Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) as standardized model.

Why Action Research? Compatible with adult learning theory Compatible with Iowa Professional Development Model Combines learning and improving Works at any system level, in any setting Research-based; data-driven; system-focused

Our Year in Brief – Three Ps Purposes –Develop knowledge and skills for improvement by completing one action research cycle (Plan-Do-Study-Act) –Introduce the Baldrige framework as an organizer for system improvement Preparation –3 training sessions, with support between Presentation –All-district sharing session in April

Alignment: The Starting Point GOALS

Apply It Examples from last year …Jane Getting Started –What are your school goals? –On what goal area will your team concentrate its learning project this year? –How would improving the learning system in that area benefit students?

Record the Decision School Name _____ Team Members * Goal Area for Our Project ________ Date __________

An Organizer

The Guide to Action Research 3Analyze Causes 4 Try Out Improvement Theory 5 Study the Results 6 Standardize Improvement 7 Plan Continual Improvement 1 Define the System 2Assess Current Situation PLAN ACT STUDY DO

Flow Chart … the First Tool for Process Management

Deployment Flow Chart What is it? A picture of any process ( sequence of events, steps, activities, or tasks) in a system.

What does it look like?

Deployment Flow Chart When is it used? 1. Is a picture of a process needed? 2. Is it necessary to show the relationship of the people and the steps in a process? 3. Will the process be pictured as it actually operates? Or as it ought to operate? Or as it might operate?

Deployment Flow Chart How is it made? 1. Define the process boundaries: first and last steps. 2. Observe the process in operation if you can. 3. Draw a people coordinate/list the actors. 4. List major steps in the process (12-15). 5. Draw the flow chart, using symbols. 6. Study the flow chart for omissions, disconnects, etc.

Baseline Data On your key measures… Several data points over time… Graphed (if you can) Disaggregated, if it makes sense Analyzed for insights

Assignment for December 8 Complete the background information on your learning project Do flow chart on key process Collect, graph, and analyze baseline data