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Supporting Daily iPad Use - Action Research
As Dr. Mertler writes in his book Action Research: Improving Schools and Empowering Educators, "master teachers" are teachers that "constantly and systematically reflect" (2017, p. 20) These teachers see that there are constant grounds for improvement and strive to become better professionals. These teachers and I engage in action research as the format of systematic and rigorous improvement of methods.
John Spencer describes in his video "What is Action Research?"(2017), action research is timely, teacher directed and participatory research. The past few weeks I have designed an action research plan to determine the best practices to support teachers in the daily use of iPads in the classroom.
The planning stage has been completed, whereas the acting, developing, and reflecting stages will be completed once school starts. iPads have been distributed to all teachers and students, grades 6 - 12, for the past 3 years. Daily use of the iPad does not occur, and students are not being given to gain from the educational opportunities that iPads could present in the classroom. The following is the steps I have taken to complete the focus of my action research:
What are best practices to support the daily use of iPads in the classroom?
A literature review was done over literature that looked at schools, districts and businesses that have either been had a personalized mobile learning device initiative, like iPads or other tablets, or have changed the culture or methodology of practices. This literature review looks at what did and did not work with these initiatives and changes. A look at the research and what other parts needed to be researched as well. Trends in initiatives were processed to find what would work to support the daily use of iPads in my classrooms I support.
This literature review looks at what did and did not work with these initiatives and changes. A look at the research and what other parts needed to be researched as well. Trends of initiatives were processed to find what would work to support the daily use of iPads in my classrooms I support.
A plan has been developed from what was learned from the literature and other sources of action research. This was developed to continue the research to support teachers in the classroom. As action research is cyclical in nature, continual improvement of the daily use of iPads is present in this outline.
The research will have two base cycle. The first will be the short cycle lasting a week. During this time surveys will be collected via Google Forms and analyzed. Training and support will be given to teachers based on survey responses, and iPad classroom integration. The second longer cycle will last during a six-weeks grading period. The six weeks of weekly surveys will be collected and analyzed. This information will be shared with the administration team, PLCs and departments. From this information, I will work with each team to support curriculum, academic, and school decisions. This cyclical nature is shown in the figure below.
As shown above, the action research plan will cyclical as a continual source of resources to improve the daily use of iPads in the classroom. It is my goal that this research plan will improve the student success and enjoyment of learning for continual years.
References
Mertler, C. A. (2017) Action research: Improving schools and empowering educators. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications.
Spencer, J. (2017, January 11). Retrieved July 05, 2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ov3F3pdhNkk
