19

Writing an Initial Research Plan

Name of FS Student: ________________________________________Date Submitted: ___________________________

Year and Section: ___________________________________________Course: _____________________________________

To have a meaningful and successful accomplishment in this FS episode, be sure to read

through the whole episode before participating and assisting in your FS 2 Resource teacher’s
class. Note all the information you will need to do before working on this episode.
Objectives:
At the end of this Learning Episode, I must be able to write an initial Action Research Plan.
Content of the Lesson:
Developing an Initial Action Research Plan
“A good plan is half of the work done+ goes a saying.
Planning is an important skill that every teacher should have. Just like lesson planning doing
research requires a doable plan. It sets a direction where one is going, how to go there, why one
should go there, and above all, what is there to accomplish.
The ultimate goal of doing action research is to improve teacher’s practice in order to improve
learning. It requires one to be reflective, observant, inquiring and must be ready to take action.
Any research action plan should be placed in writing, just like a lesson plan. This is what we are
going to do.
The first four episodes of this FS workbook helped you learn the important purpose and the
process involved in doing action research.
The rest of the episodes focused on crucial aspects of teaching and learning, While you assisted
and participated, the episode questions guided you to notice, analyze and reflect on your
experiences. You also identified issues and problems or areas of improvement and then thought
of interventions, innovations, or strategies to address them (Action Research Prompts). You are
now ready elaborate or expand these action research prompts.
In this final episode, your task is to write an initial action research plan. Any research action
plan should be planned and written well. Put together what you learned about action research
and all the insights you gained in working on the past FS 2episodes.
Let us revisit our Action Research Model. As a beginner, use the model of Nelson (20140 as your
basis for developing an initial plan for action research.

Plan

The Action
Reflect Research Act
Cycle

Observe
As you become more skillful in doing action research, you may like to use the
McNiff&Whitehead (2014) or DepEd DO 16 (2017) models.

Participate and Assist

We said at the beginning that all teachers can make an Action Research. It is easy to do it. Lets
try simply by doing it. Today, you shall develop a Plan for our Action Research by following the
simple cycle.
Use the steps of the mode. Your answer to the Key in in each setup, will guide you in making
your plan.
Step 1: OBSERVE. Observe and notice to identify the common problems. Key questions:

 What common problem have I observed and noticed?

 Can I translate the problem into questions?
 Why is the problem important to me as a future teacher?
 Why is the problem important to the learners?
 What have I read and learned about this problem in my previous courses?
 What do references say about the problem?
Step 2: REFLECT. Start to reflect on the identified problem. However, reflection is done all
throughout the action research process.
Key questions:

 Is there a way to solve the identified problem? How will I do it?

 Is looking for a solution or answer to the problem worth doing?
 Will solving the problem improve my teaching practice? How?
 Will it improve my skill as a researcher and reflective teacher?
Step 3: PLAN FOR ACTION. Appropriate action or solution to the problem is a plan.
Key questions:

 What probable action will I make? Will my intervention be doable?

 How will I describe my intervention, innovation, action or innovation?
 With whom shall I work with?
 Will the result be of use? How?
Step 4: ACT on the PLAN. This step will be done during the Teaching Internship or in FS 2 if
given the time. You may collaborate with your mentor or your class.
Notice

Remember: Noticing is making sense of your observations and making interpretation to adapt to the
situation. It begins with paying attention that lead to interpretation and deciding what action should
be taken.

Making a capsule Action Research Plan will prepare you to undertake an actual Action Research.
You will also be able to assist your mentor to do similar research together.
In the past episodes focusing on the keep aspects of teaching and learning, you have answered
the Action Research Writing Prompts. Go back to these, and choose which episode topic you
would like to work on as you write an action research plan.
Here are the episodes and the pages where you can find them. Review each Action Research
Writing Prompt and choose one to work on to elaborate in this episode.

Episode Title Action Research

Writing Prompts page
1 The Teacher We Remember
2 Embedding Action Research for Reflective teaching
3 Understanding AR Concepts, Processes and Models
4 Matching Problematic Learning Situations with
Probable Action
5 Preparing the Learning Environment: AN Overview
6 Enhancing a Face-to-Face Learning Environment
7 Making an On-Line or Virtual Learning Environment
Safe and Conducive
8 Establishing My Own Classroom Routines and
Procedures in a Face-to-Face/Remote Learning
9 Creating My Classroom/Remote Learning Management
Plan
10 Writing My Learning/Lesson Plans
11 Delivering My Lessons
12 Selecting Non-Digital or Conventional Resources and
Instructional Materials
13 Utilizing Applications (Apps) for Teaching and
Learning
14 Utilizing Learning Management Plan
15 Utilizing Web-Conferencing Apps for Synchronous E-
Learning
16 Assessing FOR, AS and OF Learning
17 Using Traditional and Authentic Types of Assessment
for Formative and Summative
 18 Grading and Reporting
19 Writing and Initial Action Research Plan

Guide Questions
We said at the beginning that all teacher could make an Action Research. It is easy to do it. Let’s
try doing it. Today, you shall develop a Plan for our Action Research by following the simple
cycle. You will share your output with your mentor for an opportunity to work together.
Topic you chose: (from the past episodes)
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Episode number and Title:

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Writing Action Research Prompt page:
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Model A

Activity 1: Developing an Initial Research Action Plan

A. Observe/Notice
What problems have I noticed that affect teaching-learning?
Example response: The problem I have noticed is that there is a lot of competition in the
classroom. The slow learners are left behind.

Write your own observed problem here:

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________

B. Reflect
Think deeply of the problem and your observation. Why is this happening? Can the slow
learners be helped? How will it be done?
Example response: I think most of the activities are very competitive. There are always
winners and losers.

Write your reflective response to the problem you stated:

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
__________

C. Plan for Action

Key questions:
 What will I do as a teacher to solve the problem?
  How will I describe my intervention, innovation, or actions to the identified problem?

 How long will it take to introduce the intervention?

 With whom shall I work?

 What materials do I need?

 Are methods, participants, data collection, and time table considered in your Plan for
Action?

Example responses: My plan is to introduce cooperative learning in the classroom. I

create a mixed grouping with fast, average and slow learners in their activities. I will
rotate the leadership in the group, so that each one will have a chance. The bright will
assist or help the slow ones. I will try oyt for eight weeks. I think I can work alone
with mu students. I only need tables and chairs or if not available, arm chairs
arranged in circles will be an alternative.

Write your own Plan of Action Research based on the key questions. You give more details.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

D. References
Include at least 3 reading materials about the intervention what will be used
Example response
List of Readings for Cooperative Learning
1. C, Brame & Biel, R. Group work: using cooperative learning groups effectively,
http://cft.vanderbilt.rdu/guides-sub-pages
2. G. Palmer (2017) Cooperative learning-instructional Methods, Strategies, and technologies,
Granite pressbooks, pb. Chap. 7
3. D. Johnson & R. Johnson (2017) CooperativeLearning, University of Minnesota, USA
Enter your own reading list.
1.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
2.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
3.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

E. Act (Implementation of the Action Research Plan)

Note: The implementation of the Plan will follow when time allows. A more detailed Action
Plan will be required. The McNiff and Whitehead (2012) of DepEd (2016) models may be
used depending on the advice of your mentor.

Now, to further elaborate on your Action Research Plan, use the DepEd template below.
Remember to read the rubric in this episode to know how your teacher will evaluate your
Action Research Plan. This rubric will remind you of the criteria for an excellent action research
plan.
You can also watch with short video, explaining the parts of the DepEd Action Research
template: HOW TO WRITE AN ACTION RESEARCH PROPOSAL?/DepEd Order No. 16, s. 2017-
YouTube

Here is the link of the sample proposal discussed in the video:

https://www.researchgat.net/publication/
344608953_Improving_Attendance_and_Academic_Performance_Among_Grade_12_STudents_th
rrough_Incentive-Based_Intervention

Model B: DepEd Template

Action Research Proposal

Name:
Proposed Title:

I. Context and rationale Study Background

II. Action Research AR Questions

III. Proposed innovation, Intervention Strategy. Describe innovation/intervention/strategy

IV. Action Research Methods

a. Participation/Other sources of Data

b. Data Gathering Procedures

c. Data Analysis Plan

 V. Action Research Work Plan (Summarize Action Research Work Plan)

VI. Cost Estimate (White cost estimate)

VII. Plan for dissemination and Utilization (Describe how the results will be shared)

VIII. References (Write at least three references)

Self-Learning Activity A

What was you experience in writing action research plan?

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What knowledge, attitude, and skills did you have that helped you accomplish it?

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What do you still need to learn and develop in yourself to be skilled teacher-researcher?
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
B. Preparing an Action Research Plan requires observation, noticing, inquiry, reflection, prior
readings. It is tedious process but you will find it easy to implement of you have a good plan. As
mentioned earlier “A good plan, is half the work done”

Direction: Choose the most appropriate answer from the given option.
1. As a beginning action researcher, what should be your primary task?
A. Identify the problem that us a cause of concern in the class
B. Reflect on the other problematic situations
C. Ask help from your mentor on how to solve the problem
D. Disregard the problem, after all you are still a student
2. In doing action research, continuous reflection in every step of the way should be done.
A. This statement is NOT true since reflection has its own time
B. This statement is TRUE since research requires continuous inquiry
C. This statement is DOUBTFUL sine there are steps to follow
D. This statement is ONLE APPLICABLE to other kinds of research
3. In looking for an appropriate solution to the identified problem, the main purpose is to _______.
A. remove malpractice in teaching-learning
B. reward learners who do more than others
C. promote teachers who conduct research
D. A, B and C
4. In an action research, you should see to it that the intervention ____________.
A. is doable C. is of short duration
B. is new D. should not require statistics
5. Planning an action research requires a researcher to ________.
A. follow strict procedures
B. frequently reflect on the process
C. match the solution to the identified problem
D. A, B and C

SHOW Your Learning Artifacts for your Portfolio

Your artifact will be taken from your activity in preparing an action research plan, in this
episode. You will just expand the answer that you have given and place in the template below.

My Initial Action Research Plan

1. Proposed Title:

I. Identified Problem:

II. Reflection about the Problem

III. My Plan of Action

References

Submitted by:
Name: __________________________________________________________ Degree Pursued: _____________________
Name of Institution: ________________________________________________________ SY: _______________________

JOB WELL DONE!

Remember, in the succeeding episodes, you will be reflecting back on how you can conduct an
Action Research in the different topics that you will be able to participate and assist.
Good luck to all. Enjoy your journey to becoming a Reflective Teacher Practitioner!