Action Research Project Update

My action research project to deepen teacher understanding of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP) philosophy is well underway.  One of the outcomes of the project is to observe an increase in student-centered learning and inquiry-based teaching practices as evidenced by the student work produced.   Another outcome would be for teachers to be able to articulate their understanding of the PYP. 

Most of the activities included in the Action Research Plan have been completed, but I need to add some activities that developed along the way.  The school mission statement was aligned as well as the formation of an IB Leadership Team to support the implementation of the programme.  Many staff development sessions on the IB PYP and planning sessions to write curriculum units have occurred.  These sessions have been documented with agendas, sign-in sheets and reflections.  Walk-throughs have also been conducted to monitor the implementation of the PYP.  We also had the two-day visit from an authorized IB consultant and the school has received the written report from the IB offices that reflects our campus’ progress with inquiry-based learning. 

One of the activities I will need to add to the Action Plan is an Inquiry-Based Learning survey that was given to classroom teachers to document their background knowledge and training experience.  I felt it would be important to begin with a survey in order to document the progress of teacher understanding in this area.  I will also give them another survey at the end of the school year to hopefully show they have grown professionally in their understanding of this philosophy.  Another activity that needs to be added to the plan is scheduling staff members to attend IB authorized workshops in strategies and practices that reflect teaching and learning that supports inquiry-based learning.  These workshops will occur during the summer and the teachers will be responsible for preparing staff development sessions for the whole campus. 

As with most new program initiatives, this endeavor will transform our campus gradually as staff members begin to embrace the IB philosophy.  Over the course of this year, I have seen some growth in the staff’s ability to implement the PYP.  Some teachers have “bought into” it wholeheartedly, while others are still resisting the change.  I suspect that as we continue our journey into the wonderful world of international-mindedness, our campus will evolve into a learning community of life-long learners who act to make a difference in the world.  

Here is my updated action plan:

Action Research Plan for (revised March 2013): How understanding the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP) can result in the implementation of a student-centered, inquiry-based curriculum
Goal: This action research plan will deepen teacher understanding of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Primary Years Programme (PYP) philosophy so that program implementation can occur.  The outcomes will be:  1.) an increase in student-centered learning and inquiry-based teaching practices as evidenced by student work; and 2.) the ability for teachers to articulate their understanding of the PYP.
Action Steps(s):	Person(s) Responsible:	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
Conduct a staff development session to review and edit the campus mission statement to align with IB mission statement.	Principal, Assistant principal, IB lead teacher	September 20, 2012	Current campus mission statement IB mission statement	Agenda Campus sign-in sheet Revised school mission statement Reflections
Create a PYP Leadership Team and Review pertinent documents and the progress of the IB implementation.	Principal, Assistant principal, IB lead teacher	September 2012- May 2013	Calendar for time allocated for meetings IB Pedagogical Leadership documents	Agendas Campus sign-in sheet Reflections
Conduct staff development sessions to review and discuss the IB/PYP Standards & Practices document in order to deepen staff understanding of the PYP.	Principal, Assistant principal, IB lead teacher, IB leadership team	September 2012 - May 2013	Calendar for time allocated for professional learning sessions IB/PYP Standards and Practices document	Agendas Campus sign-in sheets Chart paper with an ongoing list of standards and practices being implemented on campus  Reflections
Create an Pre- and post Inquiry-based Learning Survey and administer to classroom teachers	IB Lead Teacher	October 2013 and May 2013	Inquiry-Based Learning Survey	Teacher surveys
Conduct IB/PYP staff development sessions. Topics to include elements of the PYP, student-centered inquiry-based learning, backward design and student portfolios.	Principal, Assistant principal, IB lead teacher, IB leadership team	Oct.31, 2012, Nov. 29, 2012 Dec. 20, 2012 Jan. 17, 2013 Feb. 21, 2013	Calendar for time allocated for professional learning, inquiry-based learning videos, book study (The Continuum of Literacy Learning)	Agendas Campus sign-in sheet Reflections
Schedule half day planning sessions to write curriculum units (unit planners) that include elements of the PYP	Principal, Assistant principal, IB lead teacher	Sept.12-14, 2012 Nov. 7-9, 2012 Dec. 12-14, 2012 Feb. 6-8, 2013	Curriculum documents iPads for accessing online resources Unit planner templates Laptop Projector	Agendas Campus sign-in sheet Completed unit planners Reflections
Write a school Language and Assessment policy that includes staff input.	Principal, Assistant principal, IB lead teacher, IB leadership team	November 2012-February 2013	Calendar allocated for meeting times to draft policies Assessment and Language policy examples	Completed school Assessment and Language policies
Conduct weekly campus and classroom walk-throughs to look for evidence of PYP elements, student-centered work and inquiry-based learning.	Principal, Assistant principal, IB lead teacher, IB leadership team	October 2012 – March 2013	Walk-through observation forms Time allocated for providing feedback to staff	Completed walk-through observation forms Teacher reflection forms IB display pictures, and/or videos of student engagement
Schedule a mock visit	Principal, assistant principal, IB lead teacher, district IB coordinator	January 9, 2012	Agenda for mock visit Walk-through observation forms Scheduled time for grade level interviews	Feedback from visitors Completed walk-through observation forms
Visit from an IB consultant to provide feedback on the campus progress for the implementation of the IB programme	Principal, Assistant principal, IB lead teacher, IB leadership team, District IB director	January 31 – February 1, 2013	Agenda for IB visit School board members District central office personnel Parents Community members Evidence to support ongoing implementation of the IB programme	Agenda for IB visit IB consultant feedback report
Attend a Texas IB Schools workshop on Inquiry	Principal, District IB Director, IB Lead Teacher	February 16, 2013	District allocation of funding	Training certificate
Create a schedule to conduct instructional rounds with Questioning Strategies as the problem of practice	Principal, IB Lead Teachers, Classroom Teachers	March 2013 – May 2013	Instructional Round schedules and documentation forms Teacher conference periods	Instructional Round schedules Instructional Round Documentation Forms Host Teacher Forms showing evidence of Problem of Practice
Attend workshop on the Independent Investigations Method	District IB Director IB Lead Teacher	March 22, 2013	District allocation of funding	Sign-in sheets Registration
Attend IB Workshops on Teaching & Learning, Inquiry and Inquiry and the Learning Environment	District IB Director Principal Assistant Principal IB Lead Teacher	July 7-10, 2013	District allocation of funding	Workshop certificates, Registration invoices