Week 3--feeling good!

As we end up week 3, I am feeling really confident and excited about my action research project.  I guess since it was something that I was so interested in before is the reason it has been so easy to get everything in place.
My site supervisor and AD have been very supportive and have agreed to all aspects of the program.  I guess Dr. Lewis was right last week in the video when he said choose something you are interested in and it will be easier to be focused and you will do a better job. 
I am excited to start meeting with the coaches and discussing the program to hear their thoughts.  From the informal conversations that I have had with some of the coaches, I really do believe that most will be on board and be willing to buy into the program. 
I hope things continue smoothly next week.  Any comments or suggestion on my AR plan will be greatly appreciated.  I hope everyone has a good week.

Action Research Plan

Any and all feedback is greatly welcomed!

Goal: Will implementing a leadership council and program in the athletic program have a positive effect on discipline and character issues?

OUTCOMES	ACTIVITIES	RESOURCES/ RESEARCH TOOLS NEEDED	RESPONSIBILITY TO ADDRESS ACTIVITIES	TIME LINE	Benchmarks/ ASSESSMENT	Revisions to SIP/PIP based on monitoring and assessments
Analyze discipline problems over last year	Coaches and administrative collaborative meeting	Discipline records of reports within athletics and on HS campus	Principal, Athletic Director, Barrier	July 2012	Type minites and finding to share with members of meeting
Adapt and revise SLC’s leadership program to fit needs of Athens	Collaborative meeting with all coaches	SLC’s leadership program documents	Athletic Director, Barrier	August 2012	Produce a final overview and document
Gain community and parental support for Leadership Program	Have a parent meeting introducing leadership program and benefits	Power point presentation, facility for meeting	All Coaches-led by athletic director	August 2012 (prior to 2 a days)	Parental feedback and surveys
Introduce Program to Student Athletes	Team meeting discussing qualifications required for leadership council	Power point presentation, video testimonials for SLC athletes	All Coaches- led by Barrier	August 2012	Athlete feedback and response
Nominate and elect leadership council	Team will nominate and vote on leadership council	Team meeting, voting criteria, meeting and training with council canidates	All coaches led by athletic director and Barrier	August/September 2012	Council nominations, meeting outcomes
Collaboration and communication between student athletes and coaching staff	Leadership council and coaches meetings	Meeting rooms and times, agenda	All coaches led by athletic director and Barrier	September 2012-April 2013	Student feedback and issues resolved/discussed at weekly meetings
Students learn leadership characteristics and how to be a leader in difficult situations	A series of meetings to teach students what a leader is and how to be a positive role model using positive peer pressure	Councilor, college athlete testimonials, local community leaders testimonials	Barrier will set up meeting times and recruit speakers for each meeting	October 2012-March 2013	Students surveys after each meeting
Determine is Leadership Program has been a beneficial addition to the athletic program	Analyze and compare discipline reports.	Discipline report data, coaches input forms, teacher input forms, principal input forms, student/athlete input forms	Barrier will collect all information and all coaches will meet with Athletic director to discuss the findings	April/May 2013	Data comparison, input forms

Wrapping up Week 2

Through out this week I have narrowed down my action research topics and with the help of my site supervisor, selected one.  I chose to select the topic that I shared last week on the discussion board. 

AR- How will implemented a leadership program with in the athletic program have positive effects on the students, programs, and schools?

After meeting with my site supervisor and watching Dr. Lewis' video this week it was very clear to me that this was the topic I wanted to choose.  This topic is one that I have been thinking about and putting together since the concept was first introduced to me at coaching school last summer.  Now the action research project gives me the perfect opportunity to implement the program and (hopefully) see the great benefits!

Although the details are still being put together, it is a great feeling to have a definite focus now. 

week 1 Action research thoughts

After reading the texts this week I can best describe action research or inquiry (as the two terms were used interchangeable in text) as a process that allows leaders to reflect back and examine some of the challenges they have faced and how they have handled them.  They create wanderings or questions and share those with others.  They take these wanderings and examine them deeper by seeking input from others and reading literature when necessary.  They then take this information to decide if and what changes may need to be made.  This model engages everyone involved and tends to be successful because everybody can take ownership.  All can be certain that the changes that are being made are after careful review and studying of their unique situations and challenges. 

Learning about action research really excites me!  There are so many different situations that are running through my head about where and when I can implement action research.  Since I am a football coach and the offensive coordinator, much of the time I feel like it is my job to figure out what to do, make the decisions, and then tell the coaches exactly what to do.  I feel like as a coaching staff we can use action research to go back and look at what we did last year offensively.  We can look at stats, film, and take input for others.  This will be a time that all coaches can have their input and help decide what changes need to be made.  I am excited because I feel this may help the performance of some of the coaches as they are coaching if they take ownership of the offense and direction it is moving!

Educational leaders and blogs

Educational leaders can use blogs to communicate or advertise the good stuff going on at their school.  They could also use blogs to share information with colleagues and receive feedback as well.  They could use the linking blogs to connect with other leaders and get ideas or information.