Discussion and Discussion Boards

As we wrap up our last round of Action Research (AR) for my master's class I was really hoping I could veer down a direction that focussed more on personal growth and less on implementing a strategy in my classroom. The reason being that I just don't know that with 5 weeks of class any thing that I choose to implement will have much impact. And to be honest, I think I am just tired and ready to coast into the finish line, rather than sprinting there. 

But as I should have guessed my proposed alternate AR was not fitting to the standards and I was encouraged to examine a way to use what I had been researching for my ROL, discussion boards, in some way so that I could stick to the standards and aims of the M.Ed. program. As I talked this through with my instructor I was able to come to an option that I had not considered. Oh, the power of verbal processing. (I am so much a verbal processor when it comes to making plans. Take some time today to appreciate a colleague with whom you cross past frequently and are able to bounce ideas off from--they are invaluable!) 

What she helped me to see was that I could take the concept I was working with and narrow it down to something incredibly manageable and to a timeline that would allow for a quick turn around from implementation to data collection and analysis. I think that is the biggest struggle for me when I approach an AR process, I just don't know how to break it down small enough to make it manageable and helpful to adjusting my teaching practices quickly. But I am hopeful the coming process will accomplish these. 

So, over the last 24 hours I went from having no idea how I was going to tackle this last AR cycle to having a new AR plan and nearly all the materials I needed to go with it (thanks to 3 hours alone at Caribou): a plan, checklists, rubrics, and 4 data collection tools. And a timeline that is friendly to my life and the progress of the students in my class. 

The best part is that it works perfectly into my lessons for the next two weeks, and instead of feeling like I am adding something to things we are already doing I actually feel like I am enhancing what we were already going to be doing. 

• Do you feel like you have been able to utilize AR cycles as a means to enhance class or have they felt more like adding an extra thing to what you are already doing? 
  
• How do you go about narrowing down your focus to be manageable and applicable? 
  
• Will you keep doing AR cycles even after you are finished with your master's? Why or why not? 
  

Here is my plan and I am looking forward to seeing the results: 
Writing a Quality Thesis Statement & Helping Other Writers Create a Quality Thesis Statement