entry 11What theory, discussion and/or application from this course most impacts your ongoing action research project?

Using open ended/ essential questions has helped me with my action research project. I did not make the connection to my Action Research until my learning circle went through the process of creating a unit using Understanding by Design. I realized then that the Action Research process is much like backwards planning. The research questions, cycles, reflections is a form of UbD.

entry 10 In your current professional environment, how are educational experiences or programs assessed? Is the evidence collected from the assessment used to inform change? Why or why not do you think this occurs?

Professional Development

After professional development, we are asked to reflect on the meeting. Write our reflections, questions we may have, and how we can utilize what we've learned in our classrooms.

Cumulative Assessments

After each language arts and math cumulative assessments, we are asked to look at our data and compare it to the data we received before. Look for trends and highlight any areas of strengths and of weakness. Then we are asked to see if the trends we've found are grade level trends. We make a plan for our grade level and then we make a plan for our individual class