GOAL:  To discover if integrating technology to better communicate with my student’s parents can effectively increase their grades and knowledge of the core content.   ACTION STEP(S) ACTIVITIES RESOURCES/ RESEARCH TOOLS NEEDED RESPONSIBILITY TO ADDRESS ACTIVITIES TIME LINE Benchmarks/ ASSESSMENT 1. Setting Foundation: Determine if implementing technology to better teacher/parent communication will improve students grades. Meet with Site Mentor and Instructional Technologist to determine if action research fits school and district goals   Proposal of ideas Self Site Mentor Instructional Technologist   August 19- August 24 Approval of Plan 2.  Analyzing Data: Determine best methods to reach out to parents to encourage and maintain more frequent communication Research various models for flipped instruction used in other content areas or in other schools   Access to Student’s Family information and data from Parents conferences.   Self Actively Involved Parents First week of school: August 26-August 30 Compilation of articles, podcasts, blogs as reference Record reflection of parent information forums and observation   3. Developing Deeper Understanding Test a few technology sources to get a feel for parental involvement   Conduct a preliminary test of different methods to determine which one has the most used source of communication Facebook Twitter Blogspot Email Phone Messaging System Self Actively Involved Parents August 26th - September 20th Written reflection on patterns and trends observed in the data Share reflection with site mentor   4. Exploring Patterns: Determine factors that prevent some parents from becoming involved Use alternative methods to contact parents who are not involved and politely try to figure out why Interview with parents Self Not actively involved parents September 23rd - October 18th List of observations made between data 5. Self-Reflection Attend training workshop on teacher/parent communication   Attend workshop Houston Workshop Self October 19th 2013 Attend workshop Reflection Journal 6. Take Action Find out how to get those reluctant parents more involved into their kid’s education.   Try to accommodate reluctant parent’s involvement from previous interviews and increase communication Interviews with parents that are not involved.   Self Not actively involved parents October 21st – November 1st Written reflection on what did not work and what does work for parents not previously involved 7. Determining Direction: Figure out which method worked best and what technology to base communication through   Correspond with parents on which technology source will be primary version Software to communicate with parents Computer Microphone Web Camera   Self All students parents Week of November 4th Creation or selection of technology source for communication 8. Sustaining Improvement Continuously evaluate communication and keep an open relationship for change and improvement.   Always be willing to adapt and adjust to change and/or new technology for bettering communication Parent/teacher communication data from semester 1 Self August 26th- December 23rd Data charts and parent surveys used to create a pattern list Decision made to continue model for remainder of the year outside of the action research.   9. Report Findings Write results from action research Share results with school administration and staff.   Gathered data Power Point presentation of action research plan Self Week of February 3rd  Completed preliminary action research paper Share paper with site mentor and discuss findings Reflections and