Clarifying the Problem

A Reflection on chapters 4-6 in Action Research: Improving Schools

and Empowering Educators

It's all about the data. Data informs many decisions, especially in the educational setting.

My action research design will use a mixed methods approach to holistically evaluate the impact of using Seesaw in station rotation on Pre-Kindergarten (PK) language skills.

This combines quantitative and qualitative data to provide a comprehensive understanding.

For the Data Collection:

• Quantitative data:

  • Pre-, during, and post-implementation assessments using common diagnostic and summative assessments at the grade level. This data will be collected electronically from all schools through the district software program.

  • Microsoft Forms surveys using 1-5 scales to gather information from teachers and students about their perspectives on Seesaw's impact on student learning.
    

• Qualitative data:

  • Observations of student interactions with Seesaw during station rotations.

  • Open-ended questions in Microsoft Forms surveys to gather more in-depth feedback from teachers and students.

Additionally, it would be preferred to have a control classroom with similar needs but without Seesaw in station rotation will be used to compare language skill development. The same data collection methods will be used for both the Seesaw and control classrooms.

While action research plans need to be well-designed, it is important to remember that these plans are also adaptable. If emerging insights during the research process suggest other valuable data, you need to be open to incorporating them to ensure the most comprehensive evaluation possible.

Choosing the right data to collect is crucial for effectively implementing the research plan. By combining quantitative and qualitative data from multiple sources, including a control group, I aim to gain a nuanced understanding of how Seesaw impacts PK language development.  

Reference

Mertler, C. A. (2020). Action research: Improving schools and empowering educators (6th ed.). Sage Publications, Inc.