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Step 1—Selecting a Focus

 

The action research process begins with serious reflection directed toward identifying a topic or topics worthy of a busy teacher's time. Considering the incredible demands on today's classroom teachers, no activity is worth doing unless it promises to make the central part of a teacher's work more successful and satisfying. Thus, selecting a focus, the first step in the process, is vitally important. Selecting a focus begins with the teacher researcher or the team of action researchers asking:

 

What element(s) of our practice or what aspect of student learning do we wish to investigate?

 

Context

 

My action research project took place in my Advanced Biology classroom which is made up of freshman and sophomores. I have been with these students since late August and at this point in the year students have found their niche in the classroom and there aren't much surprises in terms of their effort or grades.

 

Monarch HS is a 1:1 school, meaning that each student has a device (laptop, tablet, etc.). Students are expected to bring their device with them to class each day, and as a school we are encouraged to incorporate digital learning opportunities into our curriculum.

 

Despite being a 1:1 school there are still a lot of students that aren't completely comfortable using technology and opt for completing hard copy or paper assignments when available.

 

For my project I wanted to investigate if these barriers kept students from trying to build a website and instead opted for creating a poster to display their Immune System Project. I then decided to compare the scores for the two types of formats, anticipating that website scores would be higher because of their to display more information and include a wide variety of graphics and media.

 

My project took place over several weeks. The students had almost a full week to research and create their Immune System projects, and they had one day to present in a mini "fair" style. 

 

 

Advanced Biology

When Something Goes Wrong: Immune System Project

 

Disease/Disorder:________________________________

 

For this project you will study a bacterial or viral disease. You will research the disease/disorder and make a project to present to the class at a disease fair on Friday February 20th. The project will include:

  • What human body system the disease/disorder affects,

  • How the Immune System reacts to the disease (innate immunity and specific immunity)

  • How other systems could be affected as a result,

  • Causes and symptoms of the disease/disorder,

  • Demographics (Who has this disease?),

  • Incidence and prevalence (How common is it?),

  • Prognosis (Is your disease fatal? What’s life like if you have it?) and any possible cures or treatments.

 

Types of Projects You Can Do:

  • Make a website (Google Sites are easy)

  • Video presentation (limit to 4 minutes)

  • Poster

 

Responsibilities:

 

You need to make sure your project includes the following:

 

  • Thorough description of the disease/disorder

  • Description of the system the disease/disorder affects

  • Relevant images

  • Clear descriptions and flow on the poster

                                               

Content: The information to be included in your presentation

  • Thorough description of the disease/disorder

    • Causes

    • Symptoms

    • Demographics, Prevalence, and Prognosis

  • Treatments and Preventions

    • Description of the system the disease/disorder affects

  • What organs/parts of the system does it attack

  • How does this affect the system as a whole

  • How might this be detrimental to other systems

 

Appearance: How your project looks looks

  • Pictures

    • Clear images showing the effects of the disease, and the organs and systems affected

    • Represented with corresponding written material

  • Material presented in a clear way

  • Useful labels and headings

  • Adequately sized writing/type

  • Organized flow of information

  • Descriptions match pictures

    • Creativity

  • Original, engaging design

 

Presentation: How you help other people understand your poster

  • Be able to clearly explain the information on your project to other students and teachers

  • Anticipate relevant questions and be ready to answer them

 

*Everyone will also be responsible for visiting other groups’ projects and must fill out a  questionnaire about 3 different diseases/project that you visited. 

 

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