What do I need to learn?
I would like to learn the following:
1. Who are reliable sources for information on needs of new educators (NEs) ?
2. Is classroom management a priority need for mentoring NEs?
If not, what is given priority instead?
3. Will I get different opinions from different work groups?
4. In addition to the authors I know, Lee Cantor, Harry Wong and Randy Sprick,
Who else can I read to find information on my topic?
4. What is most important in the needs of NEs?
In relation to "What I plan to study?"
What resources have I identified to learn this new material?
1. Myron Ashmore Media Center
-Videos
-Books
-Journals
I ordered a few items from Myron Ashmore to research the importance of classroom management in the mentoring of new educators. - I searched by the subject of classroom management, by recency of publication date, by authors whom I know.
2. School Liaison Action Research Conference -many leads are posted there.
3. Specific Authors such as:
-Harry Wong
-Randy Sprick
-Lee Cantor
4. Survey of staff at my school (to be created)
How has my action research question/ focus changed?
Originally my question was, "How can our site based induction be most effective to support NEs in classroom management?" Or "How can classroom management be made a priority to support NEs in our site based induction plan?" As I began browsing through my sources for data, I realized how much information is available. At Myron Ashmore, for example, I selected 12 titles from the first three of over 300 pages of available media. I literally began to panic, thinking I would never be able to finish on time. Demands on my time are such that I feel swamped. I stay late, bring work home, work on the weekends, etc. As it was, researching a full and complete answer to my question seemed an insurmountable task. Now I realize my question was too broad.
My question is evolving and has changed to "If classroom management is the priority need of NEs at my school, how do we change induction to meet their needs?"
Is this question clear?
Is it feasible that I can study this question and answer it in the context of Action Research?
Notes
Would it be feasible to develop a survey to distribute to all teachers and staff members to determine needs of new educators in their own opinion and when they were new educators?
According to Richard Sagor's book, How to Conduct Collaborative Action Research, I need to keep in mind several issues: confidentiality of participants' responses, clarity and brevity of items on the survey, provide open ended questions to add the opportunity for additional comments. Sagor also advises avoiding including suggested responses. (Sagor p. 39)
He also advises conducting a small field test. If I develop a few questions, can I include them in my blog and ask for feedback from the group?
2 comments:
Absolutely, you can ask the group to be your field test! What a good idea!
Both you and Stacey felt overwhelmed with a broad topic. You realized that through the Action Research process you can narrow your focus to be able to handle the issue and Action Resarch more comfortably!
YEA!
You wrote how to accessed your literature. By you writing the process, it might help someone else locate appropriate literature.
When you ask what is the most important needs of the New Educator, I believe you are identifying needs to demonstrate effective teaching practices.
To be able to write your ideas is an essential process in Action Research! Happy Writing!
“"If classroom management is the priority need of NEs at my school, how do we change induction to meet their needs?"”
Something to think about…
How does your Induction Plan address classroom management?
How are classroom management expectations communicated?
How is classroom management feedback provided to teachers at your school?
Post a Comment