My research plan will serve as a pilot program in which will be assessed at its conclusion and will be implemented as a part of the teacher evaluation system in the 2014-2015 school year. For my research plan I have developed an original teacher evaluation that will be completed by the participating students. The data from my research will be given to my Vice – Superintendent at the end of the 2013-2014 school year in order to improve the student survey system so a school wide system may be implemented the following school year. In order to execute my evaluation I have recruited four teachers and myself to participate in the evaluation process.

Throughout the summer I research various districts and organizations that have developed and used student surveys.  One source of great information was the Bill Gates’ founded MET Project. The MET Project has produced many valuable publications regarding the use of surveys as a means of evaluating and improving student learning.  Once I collected enough research I presented the research to my colleagues participating in my research.  After, reviewing the research together and collecting their feedback and recommendations I constructed a survey which would best be applicable to the participating teachers.  In August, I reviewed the survey with my Vice –Superintendent. After her review I made a few minor changes and finalized the survey. I then distributed the survey to the participating teachers.  

In September, I presented my project at a department meeting.  I explained to my colleagues (I am the only member from my department participating in the survey) the research project that I have constructed and offered my colleagues my survey. Though these colleagues are not subjects in my research I still recommended that they to use my survey  and provide me with feedback.

Since, I wanted the teachers to develop a rapport with students before distributing the survey to students; the participating teachers will distribute the first of two surveys on Monday November 18^th.  Once the surveys have been distributed and collected I will review the student feedback and  meeting with the participating teachers to review the student surveys and discuss ways in which the teachers can improve their pedagogical practices.

 

Teacher Evaluation Form

Teacher Evaluation                                                                                                            November 2013 (Evaluation #1)

Teacher’s Name:_______________________________________                                                                 Class Period:______________

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

The statements below are intended to learn more about your class and your teacher. Please be honest and fair with your feedback. The purpose of this survey is to improve your learning experience.

Please circle the most accurate number for each statement.

The number rating system is as followed:

 1=Rarely              2=Once in a while               3=Sometimes                       4= Often                5 = Almost always

I feel comfortable approaching my teacher with my concerns/issue.	1	2	3	4	5
My teacher is clear in giving directions and explaining what is expected on assignments.	1	2	3	4	5
My teacher encourages us to speak up and to actively participant in the class.	1	2	3	4	5
My teacher’s assignments challenge students to problem solve and think critically. The assignments are meaningful and enhance the subject matter.	1	2	3	4	5
My teacher listens and understands our point of view. Though the teacher may not always agree, students are encouraged to share their views.	1	2	3	4	5
My teacher asks questions to see if we understand what has been taught.	1	2	3	4	5
My teacher’s lessons are creative and interesting.	1	2	3	4	5
My teacher helps us when we ask for help.	1	2	3	4	5
My teacher is fair and firm with discipline.	1	2	3	4	5
My teacher is enthusiastic about the subject(s) they teach.	1	2	3	4	5
My teacher discusses why the taught material is important and how it can be used outside of the classroom.	1	2	3	4	5
My teacher supplies us with worksheets and handouts that enhance the material we are learning.	1	2	3	4	5
The visual aids (videos, PowerPoint, models, etc.) that the teacher uses helps us to further understand the material.	1	2	3	4	5
My teacher frequently asks the class questions regarding the material we are learning. My teacher’s questions often help us to further understand the material.	1	2	3	4	5
The assignments/assessments my teacher requires often contain options, which allows us to choose the ways we want to learn/demonstrate what we have learned.	1	2	3	4	5

 

What is one thing your teacher does well?

 

What can your teacher improve upon?

After some researching and brainstorming, I have concluded that I would like to create a survey in which the questions are unique to my school. New Jersey offers districts the opportunity to use approved generic surveys or create their own. I feel that students and teachers would greater benefit from an original survey that uses language that pertinent to our school. I just think that a generic survey will feel like a state exam to the students and leave them feeling apathetic to the process. My plan is to integrate the language from the school's mission statement into the questions. Also, questions will identify the school's website and the school's online grading system by name. Furthermore, I would like the survey to have an open ended question (or two). For example something like... " Describe a specific lesson that you liked. What was being taught? Why did you enjoy it?"  I want the students to understand that purpose of the survey is to have an immediate impact on teacher instruction and hence on their education. This is not something that when completed will be sent to the state and dropped in a drawer.

 I have proposed this to my Vice - Superintendent and am waiting for her feedback. I will keep you posted....

 

Before I finalized my action research plan, I decided that it would be interesting to recruit 5 teachers to participate in my project who had varying years of experience. I think by adding this variable the project would serve as a more truer reflection of how the student surveys would influence the breadth of the faculty.  

Action Planning Template- Should Students Grade Their Teachers?

Goal: To successfully develop, organize and facilitate a pilot program in which students will complete teacher evaluation surveys as a means of improving classroom instruction.

Action Step(s)	Person(s)	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
1. Recruit five fellow teachers with varying years of experience who are willing to participate in my action plan. Facilitate a meeting to greater inform them about the purpose of my action plan.	5 participating teachers	April/May 2012	Research on the Teacher Tenure Reform Act (New Jersey) Research from the MET program	Teachers will complete a reflection regarding their initial concerns about allowing their students to evaluate their classroom methods. Post summary and reflection of teacher reactions  on http://actionrp12.blogspot.com/
2. Introduce my action research plan at the first professional development day. Include published research (background information, the teachers participating, the process, and the ultimate goal of the plan.	High school faculty, administration	August 2013	Research on the Teacher Tenure Reform Act (New Jersey) Research from the MET program	Teachers will complete a questionnaire regarding questions, concerns, and what they would like to know more about concerning the action research plan. Post summary and reflection of faculty reactions  on http://actionrp12.blogspot.com/
3. Meet with the five participating teachers. Collaboratively construct a survey	5 teacher participants	September 2013	Research from the MET program	The collaboratively constructed student survey. Post summary and the constructed survey on http://actionrp12.blogspot.com/
4. Teachers will inform students about the survey and its purpose. The teachers will then administer and collect the student survey	5 teacher participants, students	November 2013	Teacher evaluation survey	Teacher evaluation survey
5.Meet with each of the 5 teacher participants to discuss the student survey results.	5 teacher, participants	November /December 2013	Completed student surveys Reflection questions	Teachers will complete a reflection sheet. Post summary and reflection of teacher meetings on http://actionrp12.blogspot.com/
6.Meet with a focus group of 15 students(3 students per teacher, all in different classes)  to discuss the survey process	15 students	December 2013	The initial student survey Reflection questions	Students will complete a reflection and suggestion sheet. The will also note any change in teacher instructional methods. Post summary and reflection of student meetings on http://actionrp12.blogspot.com/
7.Teachers will administer and collect student surveys	5 teacher participants, students	April 2014	Teacher evaluation survey	Teacher evaluation survey
8. Individually meet with participating teachers to discuss the results of the recent surveys.	5 teacher participants	April 2014	Teacher evaluation survey, Reflection questions	Teachers will complete another reflection sheet on how/if the student surveys affected their instructional performance. Post summary and reflection of teacher meetings on http://actionrp12.blogspot.com/
9. Collectively meet with the participating teachers to discuss their experience	5 teacher participants	April 2014	Teacher evaluation survey, Reflection questions, Research from the MET project	Teachers will compare their experience to the research presented by the MET project. Teachers will complete reflection/suggestion sheet. Post summary and reflection of teacher meetings on http://actionrp12.blogspot.com/
10. Present the action plan results and data to the entire faculty and administration. Highlight the results from the student focus group and the reflections of participating teachers. Based on the research offer Recommen-dations for using student surveys as a means of evaluation .	High school faculty, Administration	May 2014	Research from the MET project, Results from my action research	The final presentation will present the complied data, results and reflections from the research plan. Based on these findings, final recommendations will be made to improve the student survey process. Faculty will complete reflection questions on the presentation. Post summary and reflection of faculty meeting on http://actionrp12.blogspot.com/