Action Research Project

GOAL: To create awareness of bullying on our campus and to find ways to prevent bullying.
OBJECTIVES:
1. Administrators, faculty, students and parents will learn the characteristics of bullies and victims and the signs of bullying.
2. To find out the perceptions of bullying on our campus from students and teachers.
3. Teachers, staff and students will work together to create a bullying policy.
4. Teachers will learn ways to use school related activities, including classroom activities to curtail bullying.
5. Teachers, administrators, parents and students will learn the consequences of bullying.

Action Step 1: Students and staff will learn characteristics of bullies and victims and the signs and consequensences of bullying.
Persons responsible: Karen Maerz
Timeline: Start at the beginning of the 2010 fall semester and continue throughthe end of the 2011 spring semester.
Resources needed: Informational handouts and posters, research information from various sources, create a blog to display information.
Evaluation: Informal assessments will be given to administrators, faculty, staff, students and parents throughout the project.

Action Step 2: Students and teachers will complete survey and questionnaires.
Persons Responsible: Karen Maerz
Timeline: Start on 9-7-10 End on 9-14-10. Students and teachers will be able to give continual feedback bgy using a question/concern box.
Resources needed: Student survey (paper or web based), teacher questinnaire (paper or web based), question/concern box, Survey Monkey or other technology based instruments.
Evaluation: Follow up survey will be administered at the end of 2010 fall semester and again at the beginning of the 2011 spring semester.

Action Step 3: Create a bullying policy.
Persons Responsible: Karen Maerz is initially responsible. Responsibilities will later be handed over to group members.
Timeline: Start 9-13-10 and a draft wil be completed by 11-1-10. The final copywill be completed by 12-1-10 in order for all students and staff to be familiar with the policy before the holidays.
Resources needed: Results of surveys and questionnaires. Groups will be assigned and they will bring their ideas and research results and sampl;es of bullying policies from other schools, Dr. Dan Olewus' framework for creating a bullying policy.
Evaluation: I will evaluate the ongoing process by asking questionsof the groups and making sure that deadlines are met.

Action Step 4: Sharing classroom learning activities to curtail bullying.
Persons Responsible: Karen Maerz
Timeline: Start by 9-13-10 and will continue to the end of the school year.
Resources needed: Create a blog for ideas to be posted on.
Evaluation: I will check teacher blogs and assess activities as well as in class activities and make suggestions on the blog.

Action Step 5: Administrators and teachers will learn ways to observe and monitor bullying
Persons Responsible: Karen Maerz
Timeline: August, 2010 to June, 2011
Resources needed: Conduct and informational session to learn what to look for and "hot spots" to be aware of while observing and monitoring hallways and classrooms.
Evaluation: I will periodically contact teachers and administrators for their feedback.

Reflection

Last week I had a partial knee replacement, I am at home now, trying to get my thoughts together for what needs to be done for this weeks assignment. I will be posting my action researach plan shortly. I would appreciate any comments that you may have to offer.