Week+Two+5301

=**The Purpose of Your Study**=

The purpose of my proposed action research will be aimed at researching motivational methods for advising and counseling first generation college students. The program that I work for, Student Support Services, will benefit because we are a relatively new program on campus and are funded by a federal grant. We are currently in the process of going through the re-certification process for our grant. I feel that since 82% of the total number of students we serve have been identified as first generation college students, then if we can increase the likelihood of their persistence and retention through graduation, it would have a tremendous impact on the success rates of our program. Another reason is that if we are able to successfully increase our retention rates then the same ideas and processes could be shared and implemented with other retention programs on campus that serve the general population of students. My action research wondering is "How will implementing new motivational methods targeted at first generation college students impact the retention success rates of students obtaining their undergraduate degrees?"

I envision my action research falling into several areas of passion that Dana mentions in the text. One area is staff development as we look at research new ideas for motivational methods. Secondly, is curriculum development as we review and try to implement new programs to achieve our goals. Thirdly, would be school performance as we gather and observe the data to discuss our desired results and outcomes. Finally, another area of passion is individual students because each first generation student presents unique barriers that they must overcome to reach their academic goals. Taking positive steps toward improvement in our current program year will help ensure our grant continuing to be funded in the next 5 to 10 years.


 * Research topic : Ways to improve rural school opportunities**

I agree that there are some major, both positive and negative, differences between small rural and large metropolitan schools. I am grateful that I was fortunate enough to live in a school district in Dallas and attend the largest high school in the southwest years ago, where they offered cutting edge learning opportunities available at no other school at the time. Yet, in some ways I feel that my children had a much better well-rounded education because they were raised in a smaller rural area and had greater involvement in band, sports, 4H programs, and other extra-curricular activities. I agree that many learning opportunities are not available to students in rural areas but by using technology they are able to experience and learn so many things about the world around them.


 * Research topic: Technology Training for Special Ed Teachers**

Not working in a school district this was news to me that Special Education teachers would not be included in the technology training that the general education teachers receive. As a parent of a special needs child this greatly disappoints me and simply doesn’t make good sense in my opinion. My child, who has a physical disability, was mainstreamed into regular education classes and benefitted greatly from various assistive technologies throughout his school career. Special Education teachers have an even greater reason to be aware of new technologies that could benefit the students he/she serves. I think your idea for action research on this topic is a great one.


 * Week 2 Assignment - Background - Real Life Research Action Examples**