Students' action research projects will span 2 semesters: 1

) During the semester that they take the new ELPS 600, they will learn about research and plan their own action research project, writing up the plan as their Action Research Proposal.

2) During the semester that they take ELPS 688, they will do the actual data collection and analysis that they outlined in the proposal as part of their Action Research Leadership Project, writing up their findings and reflection as part of the ELPS 688 Fieldwork Portfolio.

1. Is ELPS 600, Research in Educational Administration, a required class for the Preliminary Administrative Services Credential(Tier 1), and the Masters in Educational Administration?

Beginning with the new cohorts and newly enrolled on-campus students, for Fall 2008, all students in the Masters and/or Tier 1 ELPS Program for Educational Administration must take ELPS 600. There will no longer be waivers for ELPS 600 for students who enter the program beginning in Fall 2008.

2. When should I take ELPS 600?

If you are in a cohort, the schedule for all courses in your program is created for you and ELPS 600 will be included in that schedule. For other candidates not in a cohort, ELPS 600 should be taken sometime prior to ELPS 688 (Fieldwork). Under all circumstances you should take ELPS 600 prior to taking fieldwork(ELPS 688).

3. What is the relationship of ELPS 600 to fieldwork, ELPS 688?

The signature assignment for ELPS 600 is an action research proposal. This proposal will be planned and written during ELPS 600, then implemented (data collected and analyzed) during ELPS 688 as part of the Action Research Leadership Project (ARLP) which is a major component of your fieldwork portfolio. Your instructors will assure a consistent connection between the work conducted in ELP 600 and the work completed in ELPS 688.

4. What is a good topic for my Action Research Leadership Project?

A good topic is a problem or challenge at your school or district that you are interested in and that is related to student improving student achievement and that will give you a chance to practice leadership skills in addressing the problem. Your ELPS 600 instructor will help you develop this topic into a set of researchable questions with an appropriate sample, research methods, and design.. You should also make sure early in this process that your principal or site supervisor will approve your proposal as an ARLP for implementation in fieldwork.

5. When should I start working on my Action Research Leadership Project?

You may begin working on your ARLP after your proposal has been finalized for ELPS 600 and your principal or site supervisor has approved your project for implementation. Even though the project's final write up is not due until the portfolio for fieldwork is due in ELPS 688, it is advisable to begin planning and meeting with involved staff prior to enrollment in the fieldwork course. Your ELPS 688 instructor will provide guidance but expects that you will have a plan for the ARLP that you are ready to implement. Otherwise you may not have enough time to collect data and analyze your findings prior to submitting your ELPS 688 portfolio.

6. Who needs to approve my Action Research Leadership Project?

Your ELPS 688 fieldwork instructor (ELPS faculty member) and site supervisor (principal or administrator with whom you are working on your project) should approve your ARLP for fieldwork shortly after your fieldwork orientation meeting. The ELPS 688 Fieldwork orientation meeting will occur after completion of your ELPS 600 class so that you will have a finalized proposal to present at that meeting. Fieldwork orientation generally takes place within the first two weeks of the semester you are enrolled. Your ELPS 600 instructor will have helped you shape a proposal which should be discussed with your site supervisor when your supervisor signs off on your Fieldwork Application.

7. What is the difference between the Research Proposal in ELPS 600 and the Action Research Leadership Project which is part of ELPS 688?

The proposal is a requirement for ELPS 600 and must meet the requirements for good action research as well as other elements required for the assignment including a literature review or summary, a research question and sub questions, a research plan, a strategy for collecting data, a discussion of implications for your action research, a discussion of instruments to be used for collecting data, and a bibliography. This proposal is the framework for your ARLP. The ARLP is what you will subsequently implement in ELPS 688: a combination of collecting/analyzing data, creating an action plan, plus implementing and monitoring key action steps that give you practice in leadership skills. When written up for the ELPS 688 portfolio the ARLP includes the rationale and needs assessment, the action plan for implementation (which includes your role in leading the project), and an analysis of findings with recommendations for any further cycles of implementation.*

8. How many hours of time do I need to have in my log for the Action Research Leadership Project in Fieldwork?

The log which you maintain for ELPS 688 Fieldwork should reflect a minimum 60 hours of time that you have documented in planning, leading, implementing, and analyzing evidence for your ARLP.

9. Will I fail ELPS 688 fieldwork if the implementation of my Action Research Leadership Project does not provide any evidence of improved student achievement?

No, the key to the ARLP is the ability to document your experience and what you learned as a potential administrator. In one cycle of implementation it is unlikely that you will have conclusive evidence regarding the effectiveness of your project in improving student achievement under any circumstances.

10. What if a new administrator is assigned to my school or I change schools? Will I be able to complete the Action Research Leadership Project related to my proposal in ELPS 600?

You should make every effort to seek the approval of the new administrator for implementing your proposal. If the administrator does not approve, then working with your fieldwork instructor, you will have to modify your plan or develop a new plan for your ARLP. However, you should utilize what you learned in ELPS 600 when considering gathering feedback and evidence for implementation in the new plan (utilizing surveys, focus groups, review of literature, ethical considerations). If you change assignments between ELPS 600 and ELPS 688, you should discuss a project with your new administrator (site supervisor) and your ELPS 688 instructor that relates to your new assignment and has the potential to improve student achievement.

11. How many classrooms or pupils need to be targeted by my proposed Action Research Leadership Project?

Your project needs to involve more than just the pupils in your classroom if you are a teacher. Therefore, working with one or more colleagues at an elementary grade level or secondary department, with special populations or school-wide is advised. In order to show your growth in leadership, you need to be able to meet with a team of teachers and professionals to discuss implementation, give feedback on data, and analyze results. The minimum number of classrooms impacted would be two and the minimum number of students depends on the school, program, and grade level. For Special Education Programs or grades K-3, the minimum number of pupils will be less than for other grade levels or programs but should always target more than one classroom. For an after school intervention program, there should be more than 20 pupils targeted by the program.

12. What is the difference between my site supervisor and my ELPS 688 fieldwork instructor?

Your site supervisor is a school district administrator who oversees your work and who previously has agreed to supervise and evaluate your field work experience by signing the Fieldwork Application form . The site supervisor is usually the principal at a school site. In a district office, the site supervisor will be the administrator in charge of that office who may have the title of Director, Coordinator, Specialist or Assistant Superintendent. The ELPS 688 fieldwork instructor is a member of the ELPS Department at CSUN who meets with you, monitors and supports your progress, evaluates your portfolio, and assigns your grade (credit/no credit).

13. May I work with another student in the ELPS Program on the Action Research Leadership Project?

The ARLP is the responsibility of each student. Only in the event of a large project with a clear separation of responsibilities would it be possible for two ELPS students to collaborate. For example, it might be possible to separate responsibilities for an after school intervention for over 100 students where there was a separation of responsibilities for grade levels (K-3, 4-5) or content areas (literacy, mathematics). Each ELPS student, however, would have to write up separately both the proposal and the ARLP description and analysis even though there might be some overlap in responsibility.

14. What if I do not have time to complete my Action Research Leadership Project and the other components of the portfolio during the semester I am assigned to ELPS 688?

One of the reasons for incorporating the preparation of an Action Research Proposal into the ELPS 600 course is to provide sufficient time for planning, implementing, analyzing, and reflecting upon evidence from the ARLP. However, in the event of illness, family emergency, or other extenuating circumstances, students may apply for an Incomplete if the ARLP and/or portfolio are not completed in time.

15. If I have to apply for an incomplete, how much time do I have to complete the portfolio and the Action Research Leadership Project?

University policy requires the completed work to be submitted within one calendar year. Failure to do so will result in a permanent incomplete which is a no credit mark.

16. How should I organize the write up of my Action Research Leadership Project?

The ELPS 688 portfolio section for the ARLP should include the following:

1. Action Research Proposal submitted in ELPS 600.

2. A log showing time and tasks completed related to the ARLP.

(minimum 60 hours)

3. A narrative that includes:

a. A rationale or needs assessment that identified why the project is

important for the targeted students.

b. An action plan that includes the leadership tasks undertaken as well

as data collection procedures.

c. An analysis of data collected that includes possible explanations for

that might account for results obtained.

d. A reflection that includes recommendations for any further cycles of

implementation based upon evidence collected as well as any

insights or learning that would guide your work as an administrator

in the future.

This narrative write-up (not including the log and Appendix with

sample data and artifacts) should be 8 to 12 pages prepared as a Word

document and double spaced.

4. An Appendix that includes examples of data and artifacts that are

representative of tools developed and evidence collected by the student

and used to implement and evaluate the project (e.g., meeting agendas,

field notes and observations, tape logs from interviews, memos,

questionnaires, interview protocols, and survey results). The Appendix

should not exceed 15 pages.

17. When can I begin to develop my ELPS 688 portfolio?

Effective with enrollment in the Preliminary Administrative Services

Credential(Tier 1) and the Masters in Educational Administration you may begin

to complete some of the assignments required as part of the ELPS 688 portfolio

(you should not begin the ARLP until after ELPS 600 and the approval of your

ELPS 688 supervisor, however). Please review the Portfolio Rubric for required

assignments on the ELPS Webpage. These requirements become effective starting

with the Fall Semester 2008.

*Please note that the Action Research Proposal, in ELPS 600, and the Action Research Leadership Project, in ELPS 688, are not the only course requirements for the respective courses. Students in ELPS 600 will receive a course syllabus with specific assignments. In ELPS 688 you will be given guidelines and a portfolio rubric (available on the ELPS website also) for all items required in the portfolio.

Must relate to an educational problem or challenge

Must tie in to likely Leadership Project in ELPS 688: Fieldwork that a) has potential to result in improved student achievement and b) involves a variety of leadership skills/tasks

Must include collection of new data (not just analyzing preexisting data)

Scope of Action Research Proposal

Must go beyond 1 individual classroom to the level of the whole school or particular grade levels, departments, programs, or populations within the school or district

Must include a plan for about 10-15 hours of data collection/analysis to be done during ELPS 688: Fieldwork

Common Categories of Action Research Proposals (planned during ELPS 600)

Assessing implementation/effectiveness/impact of a program, intervention, or PD

Analyzing impact of a policy or reform as part of organizational review

Systematic inquiry into perceptions, attitudes, beliefs, experiences of key stakeholders on a problem

Tracing/documenting steps in a complex process to find patterns/meaning, assess needs

Examining people's behavior, interactions, activities, roles in formal or informal settings in or around the school to better address a problem

Understanding root causes of a problem, challenging assumptions/conventional wisdom about education

Most Appropriate Research Methods for Novice Researchers

QUALITATIVE DATA COLLECTION: interviews, focus groups, open-ended observations, examination of student work, review of documents/records

QUANTITATIVE DATA COLLECTION: surveys, observation rating sheets/checklists, examination of trends in assessment data

Note: Qualitative studies or mixed methods studies that combine qualitative methods with survey are encouraged. Due to insufficient training in statistics, most quantitative study designs are not appropriate for this course, including pretest-posttest designs, experimental/quasi-experimental designs, and correlational studies. All data collected for this project should be considered preliminary or exploratory, rather than conclusive. It is understood that students may end up collecting actual data somewhat differently during ELPS 688 (Fieldwork) than they originally planned in the research proposal (ELPS 600) due to changing circumstances.

Common Categories of Leadership Projects (aka Major Projects) (done during ELPS 688)

Assess need for/plan/implement intervention (new to site or target group) or new teaching methods

Assess need for/plan/implement improvements on existing school program

Assess need for/plan/implement PD (intensive or series) or professional conference

Assess need for/plan/implement structural change (scheduling, course placement, etc.)

Assess need for/plan/implement two-way communication with diverse stakeholder groups (e.g., family or community outreach/program) or other forms of local collaboration

Assess need for/plan/implement behavior management/discipline program

Creating report for program review/evaluation, writing major grant linked to student achievement, etc.

Possible Leadership Skills/Strategies Practiced in Project

Needs assessment

Visioning, goal setting, motivating others

Assembling committees, task forces, action teams

Facilitating planning process

Collaborative problem solving

Seeking input from and collaborating with key stakeholders

Seeking, allocating resources

Seeking, assigning, training, monitoring personnel

Creating/refining procedures and systems

Monitoring implementation

Data analysis and presentation

Evaluation