Assignment:
Purpose: Developing a research plan is important. Once a focus or question has been determined, a plan of action must be created. Each teacher has a unique classroom environment that allows for specific types of inquiry. Based on what you observe in your classroom, you can create a plan of action for conducting research that will inform your practice.
Directions:
Dana and Yendol-Hoppey (2009) share 12 strategies for collecting data. Imagine you have your own classroom, and you must gain your principal's permission to conduct research in your classroom. Write a 2 to 3 page research brief outlining the following:
• Purpose of your study. Write one or two paragraphs explaining your classroom setting (now or in the future), the topic you chose to research in your classroom, and the reason you chose this topic for this particular setting.
• Questions: What research questions will you try to answer? Write between two and four research questions that your study will answer in your specific classroom environment. For example, if you are studying the effect of using cooperative learning groups, you might ask the research question, "Does using group work in my 5th grade math classroom have a positive effect on students' test scores?" Review the Unit 4 Discussion for more information on research questions.
• Methods for collecting data: Explain the process. Write one or two paragraphs explaining how you will collect the data. For example, your study might involve examining standardized test data, observing small group interaction, or giving students or parents a survey. The method you use will inform the type of data that you collect.
• Data Collection: Provide a description of the data you will collect. Write one or two paragraphs about the types of data you will collect. This could include your notes on your observations of students, video-recorded lessons, student work, test scores, etc. Include whether or not each item is a qualitative or a quantitative piece of data.
• Data Analysis: Describe how you will analyze the data collected. Write one or two paragraphs explaining how you will analyze the data. For example, you might be comparing test scores from the beginning of the year with test scores from the end of the year. Categorize your data analysis techniques as qualitative or quantitative.
• Timeline for your study. Provide an outline of how much time is needed to complete your study and a calendar for completion of each task.