Action Research: Action research is defined as a reflective process of progressive problem-solving to improve the way one manages instructional issues or challenges. Action research generally involves three stages: planning, action, and results. Within the planning stage, a preliminary evaluation of the current status and context is undertaken to identify the need and develop an action plan. During the action stage, the action steps are put into motion and data are collected. In the results stage, data are evaluated and based upon the results, decisions can be made about the impact of the project and provide feedback for future action.
Action Research Project: Advanced physical education teacher candidates (AC) at West Virginia University will plan a series of physical education lessons that incorporate student use of a discipline-specific instructional technology. The aim of this project is to enhance teaching effectiveness, student learning, or professional practices through the use of technology in a PE setting.
Project Criteria: Although technology action-research plans will vary due to the nature of the assigned technology and the school context; all AC action-research plans must meet the following the criteria: a. Plan, implement, assess, and evaluate the use of a selected instructional technology within your school context. b. The instructional technology must be used to enhance teaching effectiveness, student learning, or professional practices. Technology use within the PE classroom must be aligned with one or more NASPE content standards for physical education: Standard 1 – Demonstrates competency in motor skills and movement patterns needed to perform a variety of physical activities; Standard 2 – Demonstrates understanding of movement concepts, principles, strategies, and tactics as they apply to learning and performance of physical activities; Standard 3 –
Participates regularly in physical activity; Standard 4 – Achieves and maintains a health-enhancing level of physical fitness; Standard 5 – Exhibits personal and social behavior that respects self and others in physical activity settings; and Standard 6 – Values physical activity for health, enjoyment, challenge, self-expression, and/or social interaction. c. Meaningful integration of assigned instructional technology across an entire physical education unit. During the involved unit(s), the ACs organizes learning experiences that require K-12 learners to use or interact with the technology. d. Collection and presentation of data that illustrate the effects of the technology integration on variables such as student learning, student motivation, teacher effectiveness, etc. The AC will develop an evaluation plan with objectives and measureable outcomes to assess the impact of the project on student learning (product) and evaluate the effectiveness of the instructional technology use (process).
Access to Technology: If throughout the week you wish to check out technology to experiment with, you may do so by coordinating with Dr. Jones or Kristi Satzer (Coliseum 280). Available technologies for check out include: Dell Pocket PC,
FLIP video camera, GPS units, PE Manager/Pocket PEM/Pocket PC, Computer Assisted Instruction, Lifestyle
Pedometers, Desktop Publishing, Polar HRM/E-Series Software, Polar Physical Activity Monitor, FitBit, Omron
Pedometer/Health Link software, Sony digital camera, Apple iPad 2, and Blogging. Additional technologies may be incorporated into PE instruction by the AC for the purposes of this project, however only the ones listed are available via
WVU for check out. All checked out technologies must be returned no later than Friday, July 20, 5:00PM.

Professional Sharing/Dissemination: At the end of PET 673 ACs will summarize the three stages/components of their
Action Research Plan in the form of a multimedia presentation (PowerPoint presentation or printed poster) and share this in the Coliseum. During the professional sharing session, ACs will display and present the details of their projects with other PETE faculty and peers. The completed presentations/posters will should be emailed to: emily.jones@mail.wvu.edu
no later than Sunday, July 22. The presentations will be uploaded to the course website by the course instructor following receipt. The following categories must be identified and described within the presentation:
I. Planning Stage a. Purpose Statement (NASPE content standards addressed) b. Project Goals, Objectives, and Measureable Outcomes (proposed impact on learning) c. Setting and Participants (instructional context for the project)
II. Action Stage a. Project Overview (teaching and learning activities) b. Management of Technology (steps to introduce students to technology) c. Data Collection (assessment strategies to be used)
III. Results Stage a. Evaluation Plan (how the collected data will be managed and used to demonstrate if goals and objectives have been met) b. Dissemination Plan (how results be used to inform students, future teaching/learning activities, and stakeholders)
The posters can be printed in matte or glossy finish but must be 36 inches wide and 48 inches tall.
A poster template will be provided but ACs are encouraged to exercise their own creativity in modifying layout and color scheme provided that all required elements are addressed. WVU students have access to plotter printers at the Evansdale Computer Lab and the tech support staff there is available to help with printing.
OR
The PowerPoint presentations can be formatted, designed, and personalized based upon ACs creativity, provided that all required elements are addressed. If using PowerPoint format, talking points should be typed into the Notes section of the presentation to avoid an overabundance of text on each slide. Oral delivery of presentation should be no longer than 10 minutes.
ACTION RESEARCH PLAN GRADING
Student Name: __________________________ Project Title: __________________________________
Reviewer Name: _______________________________________ Date: __________________________
Instructions: The posters will be reviewed and graded by members of the PETE faculty based on the following criteria
(Content, Organization/Delivery, and Verbal Explanation). Reviewers will use a 5-point Likert scale to provide a numerical rating in each area. Likert Scale: (1) Unsatisfactory, (2) Needs Improvement, (3) Satisfactory, (4) Very Good, (5) Excellent
I. Presentation/Poster Content a. Planning stage b. Action stage
– How well was the project planned?
– What is the quality of the implementation plan? c. Results stage – What is the quality of the evaluation and dissemination plans?
II. Organization/Delivery a. Organization and clarity of delivered presentation
III. Verbal Explanation a. Response to questions during presentation
IV. Presentation Point Total
V. Evaluator Comments
______/5 points
______/5 points
______/5 points
______/5 points
______/5 points
______/25 point