Addressing your Concerns/ Feedback

Here are the changes to my Action Research Plan, due to consideration of Peer Feedback

Concerns for getting survey forms returned:

 The solution: My principal said I was allowed to give “tardy passes” that admit students to class late if they return the form, however that was unnecessary because we are conducting the survey in the English classes here on campus, so no forms have to go home.

Concerns for getting parents registered:

The solution: “Technology Night” – Full dinner and door prizes! Parents will rotate in the labs, registering for our district twitter, facebook, parent- self serve and of course the newly created event link calendars alerts and also receive a crash course training in Microsoft Word/ Excel.  We may even try to bringing a local celebrity for photo opportunities.  I appreciated the idea of all combined web based registering for parents.  The kinks on this event still need to be ironed out but my principal seemed in full support. 

Concerns for timing/ scheduling:

The solution: On my campus things move very quickly and within minutes of showing this plan to my supervisor, I received a format for a technology survey to be passed out and collected during school.  I was also under the impression that we may adjust time as needed as long as the overall project is completed by the deadline. I generally get my homework done ahead of time, so allowing shorter time periods is not an issue. I have already also completed many of my pre-research and my principal asked “where do I sign up” and “how do I get this program started?” because she is ready to get this project on the move.  Being ahead of schedule is allotting me more time for other task that may come up along the research plan. 

Concerns for economically disadvantaged:

The solution: I am in no way trying to replace our current call out systems, web pages, or flyers, but our call out system doesn’t call for every single event happening on our campus each day and many people do not check the website frequently, nor is it updated, nor does it have a calendar of events, and many flyers end up in the trash.  This database notifies you of every event and is also beneficial because it allows parents to not only receive iPhone notifications, but they can have the option of receiving an e-mail or a basic text message. They can even log on to the main website to check events if their other form of communication is down. I think this survey will also give me an idea of the technology options available to our students and find the format most parents will choose to receive notifications. Plus, this is completely free of charge.

SCHOOL VISION: The mission of the Beaumont Independent School District, as the unifying force of the community, is to guarantee that our graduates possess the necessary skills, values and knowledge to compete successfully as productive citizens in a diverse global society through an educational system characterized by: • Full INVOLVEMENT of parents, teachers and the community GOAL: To notify parents of upcoming events, and increase communication and parent involvement through using free software designed to send reminders and alerts to email, cell phones, or smart phone notification “Event Link”. https://eventlink.com/public/index.php

OUTCOMES	ACTIVITIES	RESOURCES/ RESEARCH TOOLS NEEDED	RESPONSIBILITY TO ADDRESS ACTIVITIES	TIME LINE	Benchmarks/ ASSESSMENT	Revisions to SIP/PIP based on monitoring and assessments
Discovering how much and what form of technology parents use at home	Survey current use of and access to technology for parents at home	research how to create a technology survey Pass out survey and collect back in every English class	Staff, Students, Librarian, Parent Involvement Committee, Administrator	1 week to create, pass out and calculate data	Review and document parents responses, evaluate the greatest form of technology at home
Discovering other school districts form of parent communication through technology.	Research other school districts smart phone applications and use of communication	Utilize the “app store” application on my smart phone to find other school districts, and Google other school websites	Myself, using my smart phone and the internet	2 days of refining search	Create a excel sheet with 10- 20 school district with what form of technology used and to what detail.
Discovering Cost of App Programming, and how to Program, what software is needed and if there is a more affordable form	Research cost and time for creating a new “app” for school or district or other possible forms of communication	Utilize the Google database to price software, and watch tutorial videos on how to create app	Myself, using my smart phone and the internet	3 days of refining search and watching tutorial videos	Deciding and discussing with administrator best form of technology for communication improvement
Using Event Link Program and start using on administrator phones	Create School database with calendar on Event Link website and download on administrators smart phones	Follow the steps listed on https://eventlink.com /public/index.php And using school calendar to input events	Administrator using registration and inputting calendar of events, and downloading app	2 days of utilizing administrator time for registering and inputting calendar of events	Registered school on Event Link and school events logged with administrator access
Discovering practical use and application of the new app, email and texting system	Create a focus group to try out new application	Notify teachers and PTA about the new system and have them try out and give feedback on their preference	Teachers and PTA members, friends, and family, administrators	2 weeks of getting focus group registered and using	Focus group has registered and received at least 2 notifications
A large response of parent interest and forms returned with RSVP	Create informative flyers for parents to attend a parent involvement “technology night”	Flyers for registration are sent home with students and returned to office	Students and Parents, Secretary help to pass out notifications to all teachers	1 ½ week to create, pass out, and begin arranging event, and have an expected head count	Flyers are passed out to 8th period teachers, sent home with students, and RSVP
Arrange a successful “technology night” to train parents and register for Event Link.	Host a “technology night” to train parents on how to use new software program, register on event link and train on other basic software	Door prize arranged, Catering arranged, creating a workspace for everyone, getting everyone to a computer or to a projector, Having an itinerary and Hand-outs with information for parents that night.	Any and all member in the community, Teachers, Staff, Parents, Students, Administrators Food catering company, Computer Lab teachers and librarians, and any door prize donator	2 month planning period, 1 night event	A large turnout at a technology night, with food, software training, and parents are most importantly registered for Event Link
A large database of students and parents registered and receive updates on school events	Continually use and update Event Links database Follow-up with effectiveness of new tool	Event Link database	Faculty and staff, members throughout the community, parents, and students	Ongoing post action research	As new school year begins parents are notified to register to receive notifications and updates constantly using the calendar