Lots of Students in GCS

I began entering data into my spreadsheet this week. I think I have already discovered one change that GCS could make to improve the program--finding a better way for the students to sign-in. I have entered over 400 students names into the spreadsheet. I am having difficulty reading some of the student's names on the GCS sign-in sheet. It would seem that there could be a way to sign the students in electronically with their name badges similar to the way they check out a book or access their lunch account. I have about 20 students I can't identify yet. I am going to talk with the GCS teachers this week and see if they can help me identify some signatures. So far it looks as if there are only a few "frequent flyers". Most students are only on the list once or twice for the 2nd six weeks. Next on the to do list will be to borrow the failure list from the registrar and see if the students attending GCS passed their classes on their report cards.

Action Research Revision/GCS defined

I want to thank everyone for their comments and give some background information before I post the revisions to my research plan. First, I wanted to let everyone know that GCS stands for Grand Central Station. This was a program that started several years ago to follow a set number of "at risk" students. The students were assigned to this program staffed by a teacher and one para-professional who "made sure" the students completed their assignments. The program added another para-professional this year and now any student can be sent to  GCS during their elective time to complete missing homework assignments. This is done with the hope that the students will have to complete their homework and then pass for the six weeks.  I am doing my research in this area to see if this program is effective. The program is still called GCS even though "zero recovery" or "zap" might be what you call a similar program at your campus. I have started making a spreadsheet with the student's names and how many times the students went to GCS. I decided not to use information from the first six weeks because the program was just getting started and there are usually many schedule changes along with students entering and withdrawing the first few weeks of school.
Here is my revised plan.---I am sure there will be more changes before all is said and done.

Action Planning Template
Goal: To evaluate the effectiveness of the GCS program at preventing students from failing due to missing homework assignments. Provide recommendations for any needed changes to the program
Action Steps(s):	Person(s) Responsible:	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
1. Discuss topics for action research project with site supervisors	Myself and Mrs. Mckinney, Mr. Gilstrap, Mr. Mayo	February 2011	Failure list Intern Plan	Topic chosen
Meet with GCS teacher to obtain sign-in sheets for 2nd-5th six weeks	Myself and Mrs. Hale	March 9, 2011- April 30, 2011	Student sign-in sheet from GCS	Create spreadsheets of student’s use of GCS
Meet with registrar to obtain failure lists for 2nd-5th six weeks	Myself and Mrs. Brown	March 2011- April 30,2011	Failure lists	Create spreadsheets of students on the failure list
Literature review	Myself	April1, 2011- May 1, 2011	Internet Books, Articles Blogs	Create notebook with suggestions and ideas
Reflection on data results and literature review	Myself	April 1, 2011 May 1, 2011	Data and literature review notebook	Create teacher surveys addressing their use and opinion of GCS
Teachers will fill out surveys	Myself	May 15, 2011 May 30, 2011	Surveys	Compile results from surveys
Compile data and results of survey and present to principals	Myself and Mrs.Mckinney, Mr. Gilstrap  Mr. Mayo	June 2011- July 2011	Results of Data collected and teacher surveys	Hard data showing the effectiveness of the GCS program and recommendations for improvements
Present action research plan/results to the faculty	Myself, Principals and GCS teacher	August 2011	Results of data collected and teacher surveys	New survey of teacher’s opinions of the GCS program

Format based on Tool 7.1 from Examining What We Do to Improve Our Schools

(Harris, Edmonson, and Combs, 2010)

Action Plan Draft

Goals and objectives/outcomes of the research investigation 1.Provide data linking the use of GCS to passing/failing grades on student’s report cards. 2. Identify reasons teachers don’t use or don’t consistently use the GCS program. 3. Provide suggestions for any needed changes to the program. Activities designed to achieve the objectives 1.    Make a spreadsheet with student’s names and the days they used the GCS program broken down by six weeks grading periods. 2.    Check the grades of students using GCS to see if they were passing on their six weeks report cards. 3.    Do a literature review of similar programs and how they were implemented and how successful the programs were at preventing failures. 4.    Reflect on findings from data and literature review to pose questions for teacher surveys. 5.    Use teacher surveys to see the numbers of teachers who are or are not using GCS and why. Resources and research tools needed for data gathering 1.    I will use the check in sheets for the GCS students 2.    I will use the failure lists from grading periods 1-5 3.    Internet searches for literature review 4.    I will use teacher surveys based on the data I collect from the GCS check-in sheets and failure lists. Draft timeline for completion or implementation of activities 1.    March through April is the time I will gather and compile the check-in sheets for GCS. 2.     March- April is the time I will compile failure lists for the 1st-5th six weeks grading periods. 3.    April through May, I will reflect on the data I have collected, do a literature review and survey the teachers in my building concerning their use and opinions of the GCS program. 4.    June through July is the time I will compile my data and surveys and present the information to my principal. 5.    August would be the time any changes would be implemented to GCS Persons responsible for the implementation of the action research plan 1.    Myself 2.    My school principals 3.    Teachers in charge of GCS Process for monitoring the achievement of goals and objectives 1.    Compare student sign-in sheets to failure lists. 2.    Present findings to principals 3.    Collaborate with principals and GCS teachers to determine if any changes are needed to the program 4.    Survey satisfaction level of teachers with changes to the program Assessment instrument(s) to evaluate the effectiveness of the action research study 1.  Surveys, interviews and failure lists

My Action Research Plan

Action Planning Template
Goal: To evaluate the effectiveness of the GCS program at preventing students from failing due to missing homework assignments. Provide recommendations for any needed changes to the program
Action Steps(s):	Person(s) Responsible:	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
1. Discuss topics for action research project with site supervisors	Myself and Mrs. Mckinney, Mr. Gilstrap, Mr. Mayo	February 2011	Failure list Intern Plan	Topic chosen
Meet with GCS teacher to obtain sign-in sheets for 1st-5th six weeks	Myself and Mrs. Hale	March 9, 2011- April 30, 2011	Student sign-in sheet from GCS	Create spreadsheets of student’s use of GCS
Meet with registrar to obtain failure lists for 1st-5th six weeks	Myself and Mrs. Brown	March 2011- April 30,2011	Failure lists	Create spreadsheets of students on the failure list
Literature review	Myself	April1, 2011- May 1, 2011	Internet Books, Articles Blogs	Create notebook with suggestions and idea
Reflection on data results and literature review	Myself	April 1, 2011 May 1, 2011	Data and literature review notebook	Create teacher surveys addressing their use and opinion of GCS
Teachers will fill out surveys	Myself	May 15, 2011 May 30, 2011	Surveys	Compile results from surveys
Compile data and results of survey and present to principals	Myself and Mrs.Mckinney, Mr. Gilstrap  Mr. Mayo	June 2011- July 2011	Results of Data collected and teacher surveys	Hard data showing the effectiveness of the GCS program and recommendations for improvements
Present action research plan/results to the faculty	Myself, Principals and GCS teacher	August 2011	Results of data collected and teacher surveys	New survey of teacher’s opinions of the GCS program

Format based on Tool 7.1 from Examining What We Do to Improve Our Schools

(Harris, Edmonson, and Combs, 2010)