Q8

I'm just starting my master's in Ed counseling and guidance and am trying to come up with an idea for a mini action research project. Any ideas?

Are you currently working in a school as a classroom teacher? or on leave from a school position? When I did my master's I was not in a school, so my access was limited. I chose to volunteer to do a program evaluation. That was survey research because my action options were sort of limited. In a school, some ideas might be a transitions orientation for students changing levels, like Jr. high to hs -- you could measure their levels of comfort before and after; or a workshop for parents on some hot issue -- you could measure their understanding before and after; or -- I love this idea -- a date rape workshop for student athletes; or a workshop for Jr. high special ed students in self-advocacy to get them more involved in their IEP; or -- a friend of mine did this -- organize a career fair where dozens of working people come in to talk about their careers. He had 100 presenters. They invited a neighboring district to participate as well. The students picked about 5 half hour presentations each to attend. They also had a lunch with a keynote speaker. The kids were great, the presenters enjoyed it, and it was very much like a real professional conference. (They didn't have school that day -- just the conference. Attendance was required.)

Hope this helps get your ideas going.

. . . . Thanks for the ideas Lorrie. I am not employed, but I do have lots of "ins" at the local schools. I think they'll let me do an action research project for any of the 3 schools - Elementary, Middle School, or HS. I'm really interested in ADD/ADHD and other LD's whose "owners" tend to fall through the cracks in public schools. The principal at the elementary school has a Ph.D. and for some reason - just loves the idea of helping me with my masters project? As if he had nothing else to do....Even tho' my main interest is HS kids, I may have to take advantage of his kindness and expertise.

One of the members of my thesis committee was the superintendent here. He had done some part time teaching at the same university, I was doing my project in his district, and he was a Ph.D.. I didn't really know him, but when I asked him to serve without pay, he said that it was a way that he could repay his mentors. Maybe your principal has some of that motivation.

You could take advantage of the principal's network and do some longitudinal research on ADD or ADHD. Your principal could identify some students who were diagnosed in elementary, but are now in middle or high school. How are they doing? A case study is a possibility. If there are several, was early diagnosis a factor in school success? ...or failure? What kinds of interventions were used? With what outcomes?