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| |2011-2012 Action Research Project |

| |Participant Application |

PURPOSE

Each year, the Clark County School District Department of Research offers support for CCSD teachers, specialists, and administrators who are conducting action research on their professional practices. The purpose of this program is to improve student learning by encouraging systematic and reflective inquiry among our educators.

ELIGIBILITY

Individuals or two-person teams may submit action research proposals on any topic that focuses on a professional practice and how it relates to student achievement. All subjects and grade levels will be considered.

CRITERIA

Selection criteria for action research proposals are:

1. The action research project findings can be used to improve his/her professional practice.

2. Question relates to a professional practice involves classroom or school level evaluation of current district initiatives (e.g. use of INFORM, student achievement over time, performance zones).

3. The proposed data sources relate directly to the research question.

4. The project is feasible in terms of resources, support, and permissions.

SUPPORT PROVIDED

As many applications will be accepted as possible. Applicants will receive proposal feedback and notifications of selection will be sent on or before September 31, 2011 to all applicants. Individuals or teams selected to participate in the Action Research Project will receive:

1. Two Action Research workshops to guide data collection and analysis

2. Classes for data organization and analysis

3. Guidance from experts at University of Nevada, Las Vegas and Nevada State College

4. Support from Action Research coordinator, Dr. Brett Campbell

5. Support from fellow action researchers

6. Access to an InterAct™ conference space to network with other action researchers in the District

PARTICIPANT EXPECTATIONS

Commitment to complete a quality action research project is required. Although the impetus stems from your desire to understand and improve your practice, there are participation requirements to help ensure that we are building capacity among our educators to become professionals who are more reflective. Throughout the course of the project, you must participate by:

1. Attend both Action Research workshops.

All individuals and at least one member from each team must attend the two Action Research workshops scheduled for Thursday, October 6, 2011, and Thursday, January 12, 2012. These are full-day events and substitute teachers will be provided.

2. Post to the InterAct( conference for action researchers.

Participants must post to the discussion thread at least once per month. This provides a forum for asking questions and engaging in discussions that may assist with the action research process.

3. Create a data wall to share your findings at the Action Research Data Fair.

At least one team member must attend on Wednesday, May 9, 2012. The Department of Research will provide substitutes.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Individuals or two-person teams may submit a proposal. Please complete each of the items thoughtfully and completely. The primary contact person is the person who is the project lead and will receive correspondence regarding the project. It is up to this person to share information with the rest of their team. Please submit the completed proposal and send as an attachment to Brett Campbell at bdcampbell@.

You will receive an electronic confirmation of your submission within one (1) school day. If you do not receive electronic confirmation of your submission, please call: 855-7783.

The deadline for submission is Friday, September 16, 2011. We cannot accept late submissions.

Part I Contact Information

1. Primary Contact:

Name:

School or Department:

Job Title:

Primary Telephone Contact:

Alternate Telephone Contact:

E-mail Address:

Mailing Address:

2. Additional Team Member:

Name:

School or Department:

Job Title:

Primary Telephone Contact:

Alternate Telephone Contact:

E-mail Address:

Mailing Address:

3. The following questions relate to your action research experience. The following questions are for data collection purposes only.

A. I, or members of my team, have conducted action research projects before.

True

False

B. I, or members of my team, have participated in the CCSD Action Research project before.

True

False

C. This project is associated with my seeking a Master’s Degree, in other words, this project is part of your Master’s Thesis.

True

False

Part II Problem Statement & Research Question

• Describe the concern or problem.

• What is the context (story behind the problem)?

• What is your research question?

• How does your research question focus on your practice in the classroom?

Part III Background Description

• Where will your action research occur (classroom, school)?

• Who will be your participants (students, parents, other educators, etc.)?

• How many participants will there be?

Part IV Professional Practice Data to Be Collected

Professional practice data concentrate on behaviors of teachers, administrators or other adults whose professional practice is the focus of the project. This data should relate directly to the research question and should provide information about what adults are doing to influence student learning. The most effective projects collect data from different sources in order to substantiate findings from different perspectives.

• What strategy or practice will you introduce, modify, or track?

• The most effective projects collect data from different sources in order to substantiate, or triangulate findings from different perspectives. What data will you collect about your practice? (Highlight one to three sources)

Field Notes

Focus Groups

Interview

Observations

Photos

Research Journal

Student Work

Survey

Test scores

Video

Other _________________

• How will this data help you evaluate the specified professional practice?

• How will you assert the credibility of your findings?

Yes No Data will be collected through multiple sources.

Yes No Data will be collected over multiple points in time.

Yes No More than one perspective will be collected.

Yes No Differences between groups will be compared.

Part V Support, Permission, or Resources Required

Action Research projects occur during the regular course of the duties. While you do not usually need special permission to do an action research project, you may need some additional permissions if you intend to share the results of your project outside the district (publish on the web, present at a conference, etc). If you want to share your project outside the district, you will need parental permission to share your results. Additionally, you will need to file a Notification of Action Research with the Department of Research. You may view this form on the website at

If your project does not need any special permissions or resources, please check “No” in response to this section. However, if your project will require any support (administrative, physical space, equipment), permission (administrative, parent, etc.), or resources, please specify those needs here. Please specify how your project team will secure the necessary support, permission, and resources to complete your project.

Your final action research report and presentation may not contain names or any other information identifying individual students. Student photographs or video may be submitted only with appropriate completed(s) CCSD permission forms.

1. At this time, do you intend on presenting these findings at a conference, on the web, or in some other fashion outside of CCSD?

Yes No

2. Does your project require permissions or special resources?

Yes No

Part VIII Building Administrator Support

Your building administrator must be aware of your project and support your actions. Please list the administrator at your location who supports this project:

Administrator Name ______________________________________________

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