Action+Research+Plan

Draft Action Research Plan

**Bring Your Own Device to Create a Positive Learning Environment ** Schools in Region 5 are all moving to mobile devices in the classroom environments. Many of the area schools are still in the process of evaluating the need and what the best products are for their district. The schools are facing a serious shortage in funds due to poor economic outlook and less state assistance. Due to these factors schools are holding off on purchasing mobile devices although there is clearly a need.

The objective and vision of the Action Research Plan is to improve the educational environment by allowing students to use their own devices in the classroom. This plan is by allowing the use of modern 21st technology the students will be more engaged in learning and therefore have fewer disciplinary issues and reduce absenteeism.

While deciding on a research action plan, I reviewed many of the current publications discussing technological trends in education. I found the number one subject of the publications was mobile devices in the classroom. There were all sorts of opinions of types of devices, operating systems, and the improvement of education. I contacted two local technology coordinators and explained that I would like to see if allowing students to bring their own devices would improve student discipline and attendance. Both told me they had discussed implementing such a plan and needed help with AUPs. They developed AUPs in accordance with their school network and presented the idea to the superintendent. The superintendent who was fully enthused presented the idea to the board and they approved. In the 2011-1212 school year the plan was implemented.

The plan was presented to the district technology coordinator and the instructional technology coordinator. Both have been eager to see tangible data to see if their school’s BYOD program had any positive effects. The plan was well received and the coordinators want to use the finding to show the superintendent and school board as evidence of a need for financial support for mobile devices.

The management element of the plan was keeping up with records and student data. The plan’s focus was to improve student achievement by keeping the students in the classroom in the hands of capable teachers. The plan requires close monitoring of the data and working with PEIMS personnel in the school that was used is the sample group.

The strategy used to complete the plan were keeping in close communication with the PEIMS staff and the technology coordinator to make sure that the implemented plan was still in place. I made sure teachers were “on-board” with using the devices in the classroom to make sure that the data was not irrelevant. Surveys and informal questionnaires were used to assess the plan and the involvement.

The Little-Cypress Mauriceville School District is not a unique school system. There is a large group of students who are “digital natives”. They use mobile technology in various elements of their day. The plan wants to address community concerns about finances along with the obsolescence of technological devices. Many of the students have devices with the capability to access the internet and its resources. The devices are ubiquitous at the secondary level and the plan leverage the power of the student’s own device while saving money.