Action Research Topic

As a teacher with daily access to a computer lab and former grade school student who thrived during challenge-based activities, and current graduate student in educational technology, I have made my class a model of constructivism and 21st century instruction. I encourage students to explore new ideas, provide them with technology that they often know better than I do (firewire, digital video cameras, Photoshop), and let them explore a topic with my help. Since I am the yearbook advisor, these practices come with the territory, but I have expanded them into my English I and Journalism I classes.

I have also seen student technology use encouraged by some of my colleagues teaching core courses: a physics teacher maintains a database of student-created problem solving videos; a government teacher uses PowerPoint to create flashcards that are viewable on a smart-phone; English teachers often require a multi-media presentation of research findings by their students. But these “pockets of innovation” (Henderson, personal conversation) don’t become an instructional habit for all lessons or for all teachers. When I researched NBHS performance on the Texas Campus STaR Chart for EDLD5306, I discovered that no teacher at New Braunfels High School operates at the target level. Our rating in the “Teaching and Learning” subcategory went from “acceptable” to “developing” during school year 2008-2009 and we only rate as “advanced” in one category: Infrastructure. (The other two categories are “Educator Preparation” and “Administration & Support” (Hearnsberger, 2009).

These reasons had led me to the topic I posted on July 24: "How can I alter the culture and practice of NBHS technology staff development to make initiatives 'sticky'?" But as I looked for resources and reviewed lectures, notes, and readings from previous classes, I realized that I wasn't asking the right question. Technology is already "sticky." There has even already been a plan put in place by the State of Texas. So I changed my topic again, and it fits this time. I practically haven't stopped working since it came to me yesterday afternoon.

How can I Help teachers at NBHS meet “advanced” in the key areas of “Teaching and Learning” and “Educator Preparation and Development” on the 2010-2011 Texas Campus STaR Chart.