In the fall of 2020, I took the course Education 707: Educational Research. In this course I was able to gain a basic understanding of educational research, with a specific focus on action research. I was able to explore a variety of sources for educational research, determine ways educational research can inform and improve my teaching practices, define my action research topic, examine best teaching practices to help me determine a focus for my own action research, complete a review of literature, and develop an action plan for my action research. I carried out my action plan, collected and analyzed the data I collected. Based on my findings I was able to draw some conclusions about the impact of my actions and determine a future plan of action. Finally, I created a presentation based around my action research and findings. 

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Research Question

Does consistent digital parent communication improve parent connectedness to the classroom?

 

Research Plan

In order to increase parent communication and to work towards increasing parents feeling connected to their child’s classroom, I will provide families with an update of what we did in the classroom during the week by creating a weekly video. I will distribute these weekly videos via email and in the Seesaw Family Announcements. Each week, I will also have the students create a video of what they learned in whatever subject area is the focus of the week. Students will make these videos in Seesaw. When students complete items in Seesaw, their families is able to see all of their work and respond to their child.

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• Week #1-Initial Parent Survey & Video Focus-What our classroom looks like and our classroom family. ​

• Week #2-Video Focus- Writing Workshop​

• Week #3-Video Focus- Reading Workshop​

• Week #4-Video Focus- Math Focus​

• Week #5-Video Focus-Social Studies and Science Focus ​

• Week #6-Final Parent Survey & Student Self-Reflection and Goal Setting in Seesaw​

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Research Conclusion

“Does consistent digital parent communication improve parent connectedness to the classroom?” This question was investigated throughout my action research. After providing families with a baseline survey, sending families a video each week about what we were learning, and through a family post survey, I was able to analyze the data I collected to determine a conclusion to this research question.  The data I collected did support that for many families, consistent digital parent communication did improve their connectedness to their child’s classroom.  Some parents did make comments that they do still prefer in person communication, but were understanding due to the circumstances of the pandemic.

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