CREDIT RECOVERY:  STAYING ON THE PATH                                            1

 

 

 

 

Credit Recovery: Staying on the Path to Graduation

Brad Harbers

La Grange High School

La Grange Independent School District

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Author Note

     Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Brad Harbers, U.S. History, Teacher, La Grange High School, PO Box 100, La Grange, TX 78945.  E-mail:  harbersb@lgisd.net.

 

 

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Needs Assessment

     As we looked at our credit recovery program, we wanted to ensure that our students were getting the best quality education that they could receive.  We have seen increasing numbers of students who were using the NovaNet program to recover credits that they had not gotten during their previous semesters in school.  We began to look at ways to improve the overall performance of the program.  In doing so, we analyzed data concerning the number of students in the program, the makeup of the students in the program, the number of credits recovered, and the courses offered in the program.  We then compared how the NovaNet curriculum  correlated to what the teachers were teaching in the classroom.  As we looked at the numbers and the curriculum data, we began to notice some shortcomings with our current system. We wanted to create a program that included some aspects of the traditional classroom.  This promted us to begin looking at changes to the current program or alternative programs to better meet the needs of our faculty and students.    

Objectives and Vision of the Action Research Project

     My vision for the action research is to find an online courseware that will offer a challenging curriculum, while at the same time provide students with an alternative plan to recover lost credits.  The hopes are to create an effective credit recovery program that we will keep students in school and on track for graduation.  As we looked at our current online courseware,

 

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we discovered some areas that needed improvement.  We began to develop a list of what we wanted the program to encompass.  Some of the areas we addressed concerned the visual appeal, user-friendliness, improved test review, increased rigor, and wider variety of courses.  We then began to research what programs were available that met our expectations and needs for the program.  The goal of the action research is to find a challenging, yet easy to use online  courseware that will help our students remain on track to graduate with their classmates.

Review of the Literature and Action Research Strategy

A committee was created that would research what courseware was available to us.  The committee was comprised of myself, the principal, assistant principal, technology coordinator,  and the credit recovery teacher.  As we looked into the different programs available to us, representatives from two different companies gave presentations on their credit recovery courseware.  We compared the information given to us with our goals and objectives for the program.  In reviewing the information that was provided to us, we decided that the Pearson GradPoint courseware met the criteria for our credit recovery program.  This courseware provided the necessary improvements that we needed to make with our current system.  This new system was more cost-effective and provided the rigor and flexibility needed to meet the expectations and needs of our students.

   **More literature needs to be reviewed on the benefits of a well-rounded credit recovery program.**

 

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Articulate the Vision

     I spoke with the principal and credit recovery instructor about my idea for the action research.  We discussed plans for how we were going to proceed and began to identify strengths and weaknesses with our current system. 

Manage the Organization

     We began our discussion on the action research project by identifying the goals and objectives.  I began by asking our credit recovery instructor to give me her opinion on the strengths and weaknesses of the NovaNet courseware.  She was also able to provide feedback on how the students felt about the current program.  Using this information, we began to formulate a needs assessment for our credit recover program.  I asked the technology coordinator to help identify what limitations we might have as we tried to change our current system or implement a new system.  The technology coordinator arranged for representatives from two companies to meet with us about their courseware.  The principal was responsible for looking at what funds were available to us and providing any other information that I might need.  As the process continued, we were focusing on creating a program that would give the students a challenging and supportive environment to complete their coursework.

Manage Operations

     Through this process, we have managed to identify our goals and objectives and develop a plan to create a program that will offer our students the opportunity to recover lost credits.  This will give them a chance to stay on target for graduation.  Together, as a team, we were able to

find a courseware that met the needs of our students and the expectations of the school.  The group was able to openly discuss support and concerns throughout the project.

Respond to Community Interest and Needs

     The revamped credit recovery program will offer the students the opportunity to stay on track for graduation.  The courseware can be customized to meet the individual needs of the student.  It has features that meet RTI requirements, supports Special Education students, and provides all students the ability to work in a safe and challenging work environment.  This program can be used for summer school to provide an alternative avenue to gain the credits that the students need.  The updated technology and user-friendliness should have a positive impact on our students.

Week 5 Observations

I have learned alot over the past five weeks.  Before this class, research was a dreaded topic.  The use of action research has changed my mind.  It is an ongoing process that continues to evolve the more you get into it.  I feel the use of action research will continue to provide opportunities for professional growth.

Week 4 Reflections

This week was very informative.  Thanks to those that posted comments.  They were a great help.  After reviewing everyone's comments, I felt a little more relaxed about the project.  The development of the plan sometimes feels more hectic than the actual plan.  I felt reassured that my plan was on the right track, but I also understand that glitches may arise at any moment.  I just hope too many don't show up.

Week 3 Reflections

This week's study was helpful in determining what direction my research will take.  It was good to put it down in writing and see waht areas I needed to put more attention.  It will be interesting to see how the plan will change as i progress through the project.

Action Research plan

Action Planning Template
Goal: To determine if our current credit recovery program is the best model to meet the needs of our students and enhance their learning.  Evaluate other programs to identify the best fits for our students
Action Steps(s):	Person(s) Responsible:	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
Identify the current expectations for the credit recovery program	Bill Wagner, Principal Karen Dooley, Counselor Ms. Calhoun, Nova Net teacher	February-March 2012	Framework of our current program Guidelines for the expectations of our credit recovery program	Identify if our current system aligns with the goals of the credit recovery program
Analyze the data regarding the success of the current program to date How many credits have been recovered?	Bill Wagner Karen Dooley Ms. Calhoun	February- March 2012	Number of students enrolled in the program and the number of credits recovered	Analyze the data to see if the program is successful in helping students recover credits that not been acquired in the regular classroom.
Create survey questions to obtain data from current students in the credit recovery program on the strengths and weaknesses of the current program and ideas for improvement	Brad Harbers Bill Wagner Karen Dooley	March-April 2012	Current program guidelines Number of students enrolled in the program	Analyze the student responses Categorize strengths and weaknesses Identify areas of improvement
Interview Ms. Calhoun Identify strengths and weaknesses of the program from a teacher perspective Identify any recommendations for improvement	Brad Harbers Ms. Calhoun	March 2012	Framework of our current program	Identify areas of strengths and weaknesses Compare responses to the responses of the students Align any recommendations to the goals of the program
Perform a needs assessment bases on responses and interview	Bill Wagner Karen Dooley Ms. Calhoun	April-May 2012	Data collected from interview and survey questions Goals of the program Framework and guidelines of our current model	Compile the data and identify areas of concern Align our current model to the goals of the program
Research other programs currently being used by other districts	Bill Wagner Karen Dooley	April –June 2012	Internet Other models currently being used Interviews with staffs from other districts using different models	Analyze the strengths and weaknesses of other programs Identify which program best aligns with the goals for our program Identify which program best meets the needs of our students

Action research reflections

As I was reading through my assignment regarding the Dana text, it was interesting to see how many examples of action research are done on a daily basis.  I began to think about many of the projects or assignments our faculty has been asked to do over the last several years.  They were action research projects, but no one ever called them by that name.  It is amazing how much we do on a daily basis and sometimes never fully realize the importance of what we do.

Use of blogs by educators

The use of blogs can be a excellent tool for all educators.  It allows a person the ability to record thoughts and ideas and receive feedback on those ideas.  Blogs can also be used as an avenue to collect data and serve as a model for other people to follow.

Action Research Week One

Upon reading several texts, I have gained a greater understanding about the concept of action research.  Action research is the systematic process of reflection and developing a plan of action based on one's findings.  It allows for personal professional development on a constant basis.  It allows a person to examine areas of strength and weakness and offers them the opportunity to put the knowledge gained to practical use.  It has become evident that the use of action research is continuing to grow.  There are  benefits to using this avenue of research compared to the traditional forms of research.  It becomes more personalized.  The process is ongoing.  The use of action research makes the process more hands-on.  It has been shown that the use of action research, or inquiry, can be extremely beneficial to the educational process.  As an administrator, one can model this behavior in an attempt to initiate a campus-wide movement towards constant reflection.  We, as educators, are always looking for ways to make a greater impact on our students.  Action research gives us the opportunity to do that on a daily basis.  We can find things that reach the students, and we can identify areas that might need improvement.  It can become a valuable professional development tool.