Next steps & future cycles: Developing an action plan

1. Next steps & future cycles:Developing an action plan Chapter 7 Craig A. Mertler SAGE Publications, 2014 Action Research: Improving Schools and Empowering Educators (4/e)

2. Developing an Action Plan • Action plan—formal or informal plan for some type of action, implementation, or revision that follows from the results of an action research project • Formal or informal may depend largely on purpose of project • Informal action plans • Brief statements or simple descriptions of plan to revise or implement new educational practice • Plan to share results with local audiences • Formal action plans • Complete written report for presentation or publication • Plan is strategy for putting into practice changes resulting from action research project

3. Developing an Action Plan • Possible, and common, outcomes of action research studies: • Greater understanding of situation is developed • New problem is discovered • Plan, program, method is found to be effective • Plan, program, method is found to need modification • Plan, program, method is found to be ineffective • “Based on what I have learned from my study, what should I do now?” • Note the integration of reflection yet again

4. Developing an Action Plan • Complete “Steps to Action” chart (see Figure 7.1) as a guide • Levels of action plans: • Individual action planning • Results from individual teacher-researchers engaged in the process • Guided by professional development, leading change in their classroom or school, coursework, or grant activity • Primary audience is typically the individual teacher • Conducted the research, but also target of action plan • Others may still be interested in results

5. Developing an Action Plan • Team action planning • Action research conducted by teams of teachers • May result from networks of teachers, perhaps in different schools or districts • Typically will share a common area of interest • Sometimes easier to facilitate, since labor is divided up • Realize that this can also be a disadvantage • Commitments from all team members is critical • School-level or districtwide planning • All members of a broader group decide on a common focus within the building or district • Becomes a communitywide effort for school improvement

6. Developing an Action Plan • Action planning and REFLECTION • Reflection on where you’ve been, what you’ve learned, and where you’re going • Potential to lead to much more action research/professional development activities • Important questions: • What were the intended and unintended effects of your actions? • What educational issues arise after examining what you’ve learned about your practice? • REMEMBER: all of this has stemmed from systematic inquiry into yourown practice

7. Action planning template • Action Planning for Practice and Next Cycles of Action Research

8. Action research checklist 7 Action Research Checklist 7: Action Planning for Practice and Future Cycles of Action Research ☐ Revisit your research question(s). ☐ Sketch out an answer to each research question, based specifically on the results of your data analysis. ☐ Spend some time reflecting on the process of conducting action research. ☐ What did you learn about your topic that you didn’t know before you started? ☐ Did you experience any unintended consequences from your action research study? ☐ Did this process force you to reevaluate any preconceptions you may have held about your practice, your students, or education in general? ☐ List several possible recommendations or ideas for changes to your practice that might result from your action research study. ☐ List several possible recommendations or ideas for your next cycle of action research.