CATALySES Action Research Proposal Template 2017

Introduction: With school reform comes recognition of the importance of teacher empowerment in
changing school culture and classroom teaching. Action research is a catalyst for collegial problem-solving
and professional growth. Action research is an excellent methodology for using inquiry to study teaching
practice, student-teacher interactions, and student learning, providing teachers with the tools, philosophy,
and practice that allow them to systematically study the effects of their teaching on student learning. Action
research is an ongoing source of teacher professional development.

Action research proposals must adhere to the requirements listed below:

The action research proposal must be word-processed and must include the following:
Title: Develop a title page with your name, position, correspondence information, and descriptive title of
your project; use it as a cover sheet for your action research proposal.

Abstract: The abstract should summarize your action purpose and methods. It should have a 150 word limit.

Rationale: This section should describe your “story”, i.e., your particular area of action research emphasis
and your reasons for choosing it. These reasons should be based on your own experience, the learning needs
of your students, and your review of pertinent literature related to biomedical sciences and infectious
disease/emerging pathogens teaching and learning. Library databases and Google Scholar are good starting
points. This section should end with your research “area of focus” statement, which includes an intervention
and its impacts on students. (You will collect data to determine these impacts on student achievement,
interests, attitudes, etc.)

Intervention: Describe the intervention (teaching strategy or innovation) that you are implementing and the
science content and skills that it encompasses. Also, provide background on your teaching context (Whom
are you studying and when?). Also describe how your proposal differs from what you normally teach -- how
you previously taught this lesson or topic versus how you plan to teach it under your action research
intervention. Make sure to attach both your lesson plan and unit plan (these can be included as appendices
to the proposal)

Data collection and analysis: Develop and describe a data collection plan linked to your intervention.
Describe data analysis and interpretation plans.

Connections to CATALySES summer institute: Describe the specific UF CATALySES Institute connections.

Literature cited: Include a reference list of all pertinent print and/or digital resources that you used in your
rationale or will use in your implementation of your action research project.
Permissions: Describe any permissions that you need to implement your action research project (principal,
parents, etc.)
CATALySES program staff will be there to support you as you write and implement your action proposal –
please contact Ryan Chastain-Gross (ryan@cpet.ufl.edu) or Faith Lambert (faith@cpet.ufl.edu) for any
additional support you need.

Teachers will present their action research proposals in a Powerpoint format at the end of the two week
institute on Friday, June 30, 2017. Teachers will then present the findings from their interventions at the
annual JSEHS, which takes place January 28 – 3, 2018 (you are only required to be there Monday, although
you are certainly welcome to stay for the student presentations on Tuesday). In addition, teachers are
encouraged to present their work at school, district, and professional meeting settings and in relevant
professional publications.

Draft action proposals must be submitted to Canvas/E-Learning site by Friday, June 28, 2017. The lesson
plan drafts should be submitted along with the draft proposal. Draft action proposals will be reviewed and
any comments will be added to Canvas consideration during final proposal preparation.

Final action proposals and lesson plans are due Friday, August 4, 2017, and should be submitted on Canvas.

For further information on Action Research, see http://www.nefstem.org/teacher_guide/intro/index.htm

For sample proposals from past CPET programs, see

http://www.cpet.ufl.edu/teachers/b2b/action-research/