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Focus on student strengths

Overview of MAT research project by A. Kay AlleyJanuary, 2012 ED697 -- Black

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The purpose of this action research project is to determine if students can become more aware of their strengths and then realize that potential in applying those strengths in daily activities.

+Research question

Can SEL skills taught in brief

lessons followed by

opportunity for reflection

and application, increase

students’ awareness and

utilization of specific

strengths as framed by SEL

competencies?

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This review is in no way exhaustive; rather materials have been selected that are central to the study to be accomplished

This study provides

an opportunity for

the integration of

four areas of

research…

Social and emotional learning

-- a strength in ASD

Theory and practice of Kinlein

Character strength research from field of positive psychology

Nature of the middle school student – incl new info from brain research

+Methodology

A. First step: Design and teach mini-lessons based upon SEL curriculum.

+Methodology

Data to be collected and analyzed:• Student pre- and post-

survey of perception of success as a student in science class

• Student artifacts, ie, responses to mini-lessons

• Researcher journal that documents student response to instruction.

Setting and population• Charter school

science classes that meet one hour, twice weekly.

• Class of 6th, 7th and 8th grade students.

+TimelineJuly 29: Submit Chapter 2 draft to committee for feedback

August 15: Submit Chapter 3 draft to committee for feedback

August 30: Submit Chapter 1 draft plus revised chapters to committee for feedback

September 15: Submit ASD request for approval of research packet.

January, 2012: Begin ED 697—Research and Data Analysis

January 10, 2012

Give pre-survey of student perception of success.

Begin teaching mini-lessons, focus on use of strategies

Begin researcher journal

January to March: Data collection

March 6, 2012

Give post-survey of student perception of success.

Complete researcher journal

March 9-25: Data Analysis and Writing of last chapters

March 25: Submit drafts of chapters to committee, begin final revising

April 2012: Prepare presentation and schedule it.

Graduate

+ How did I:

Accommodate APU requirements for action research?

Obtain Anchorage School District approval?

Satisfy my original intention for my master’s work and my sense of integrity?

Benefit my students and their families? I take delight in assisting students to

discover their own capabilities to reason, to question, to understand and then to integrate the new things they have learned.

+ Last summer, I grew

my master’s…Next summer, I am growing my garden!

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The end…

is in sight!

+Chapter Two What is social and emotional

learning (SEL)?

Benefit of SEL for student achievement

Self-awareness one dimension of SEL

What is self-awareness?

What are the benefits of focusing on self-awareness?

Child development and self awareness (characteristics of the middle school student)

Best practices that might foster self-awareness

ASD standards and benchmarks

ASD Initiative to integrate SEL into science curriculum, 2010-2011