EDLD 5326 - AR progress summary

After meeting with my grade level professional learning community (PLC) and Vertical Science Team to review district and state assessment data, it was noted that our science benchmark scores indicated room for improvement.  With this knowledge, I met with my site supervisor to discuss possible action research topics and reached a consensus to research the effects that problem based learning (PBL) has on improving student engagement and achievement.  Because of the difficulty in directly aligning & correlating the district/state assessments with a particular PBL unit, it was decided to make the focus improvement of student attitudes and engagement.  It is believed that if these two areas improve, it will have a direct impact on student achievement as well.  My initial data collection included the 2011-2012 STAAR 5^th grade science scores as well as 3^rd-5^th grade district benchmark scores for the 2012-2013 school year.  The PBL cadrew has been established, and conducted a site visit at a PBL campus at a neighboring district.  I have met with my new site supervisor to discuss my action research project and gained approval from her for the same.  My draft action research plan is complete and I will be meeting with my site supervisor for further  comments/amendments.  PBL lessons have been reviewed and written into the science curriculum in May and June.  PBL training was available on a district level this summer, and I assisted in the facilitation of this training.  A subsequent training is being offered on October 8^th.  I am in the process of working with elementary science curriculum coordinator to develop student and staff surveys to be administered at the beginning of the 2^nd six week grading period and again at the end of the 5^th six week grading period.