Research+Plan

**SCHOOL DISTRICT #8 (KOOTENAY LAKE)** **Literacy Innovation:** **Action Research Project Plan** **School Name and members of Professional Learning Team:** Glen Campbell, Principal Blair D’Andrea, Vice Principal Greg Osadchuk, Social Studies 10 Kathi Knapik, Science 8/Biology 12 Mike Malakoff, Russian 8 Shellie Maloff, Learning Support Teacher Tamara Malloff, Technology Integration Support Teacher/Teacher-Librarian || **Action Research Question** //“Will the use of a teacher-selected collaborative technology tool/application, aligned with criteria and “feedback for learning” effectively engage and improve learning for all students if they are put to work as learning resources for each other according to the interpreting and analyzing band of the BC ICT Performance Standards.”// || **Student(s) targeted by the research and rationale for focus on this/these student(s)** 1. **Learners:** Grade 8’s (Russian and Science), Social Studies 10, and Biology 12 a) Whole class will be the focus   b)  Monitor students on IEPs or those who are identified as “struggling learners” **2.** **Rationale:** a) Build on prior AFL (Assessment for Learning strategies and action research over the prior years)   b)  Technology survey indicates that students are engaged in using technology outside of the classroom—they are 21st century digital learners. c) School Growth Plan continues to build AFL strategies, differentiating instruction, and successful completion rates for all students.     || **Outline of key strategies to research question:**  1 **Assessment practices**  a)  online technology survey indicates technology accessibility, use patterns, and as a learning tool in school b) BC ICT Performance Standards used to determine level of higher order   thinking skills (interpretation and analysis band) as common  assessment thread  c)  post-unit surveys as a reflection tool and possible focus groups 2.**Instructional practices** a) backward design and authentic tasks (McTighe, Wiggins) b) teaching skills before putting them into practice (ie/ how to analyze, how to  connect, how to give feedback) d) use of key questions to anchor units   e)  continued use of criteria f) descriptive/constructive feedback for learning (peer and teacher)   g)  collaborative teaching h) use of technology to construct learning (wikis and blogs)   3. **Structures**  a) collaborative planning face-to-face and digitally (using a wiki) b) collaborative planning and teaching with technology integration support teacher  i)  Learning Support Teacher facilitates grade level meetings to discuss class/student concerns and recognize student strengths j) Integrating Apple Digital Learning Products trial program to support technology in learning, with Apple Education Learning Consultant to do one in-service session (Science 8)   4. **Staff Development**  a) Ruth Sutton AFL Workshop (Nov. 12-13) b) after school working sessions (backward design, using wikis for learning) c) School based Pro-D day afternoon session choice: Technology in Learning (Feb. 19) || **5. Learning** **Resources to be accessed.** -BC IRPs (learning outcomes and achievement indicators) -Apple Education Learning Consultant, John Maschuk -Moodle Technology Team Space for technology, backward design, Ruth Sutton and other action research professional development resources - __Action Research__ __wikispace__ to transparently plan units, and to practice/model the very process we expect of our learners. || **Plans for collaboration:** a)face-to-face working sessions on introducing backward design and technology in learning (E.g./ wikispaces)  b)Technology Integration Support teacher works one-on-one to plan units and to co-teach portions of the unit c) opportunity for peer observation.   ||