Action Research Design Outline

In today's rapidly evolving digital age, it is essential for educators to equip students with the skills necessary to thrive in a technologically advanced society. Recognizing this need, I embarked on a transformative journey through the Applied Digital Learning (ADL) program, which has significantly shaped my approach to teaching and learning. As part of my coursework in 5305: Disruptive Innovation in Technology, I developed an innovation proposal aimed at implementing student e-portfolios in the middle school classroom. This initiative seeks to enhance student engagement, foster self-reflection, and improve digital literacy skills by providing a platform for students to document and showcase their learning journey. This action research outline details the steps and considerations necessary for conducting an action research study on the impact of e-portfolios on student digital literacy skills, engagement, and academic outcomes.

I. What is the topic of your action research?

In 5305, I created an innovation proposal focusing on the implementation of student e-portfolios and I have chosen my action research to focus on exploring the impact of integrating e-portfolios into the curriculum for middle school students. This involves investigating how digital portfolios can be used as a tool to document, reflect on, and showcase student learning and growth over time. The research aims to understand the effectiveness of e-portfolios in promoting deeper learning, improving student engagement, taking ownership of their learning, and developing essential digital literacy skills.

II. What is the purpose of your study?

The purpose of this study is to investigate how the use of e-portfolios can impacts student engagement, self-reflection, and digital literacy skills. Firstly, it aims to determine whether e-portfolios can enhance students' engagement with their learning material by giving them a sense of ownership and control over their work. Secondly, the study seeks to explore how the process of creating and maintaining an e-portfolio can encourage self-reflection among students, helping them to understand their strengths and areas for improvement.

Lastly, the study will assess the impact of e-portfolios on student digital literacy skills, looking at whether students who use e-portfolios acquired more digital literacy skills compared to those who do not.

III. What is your fundamental research question?

This research question is designed to cover three critical aspects of student learning: engagement, self-reflection, and digital literacy skills. By examining these elements, the study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the benefits and challenges associated with the use of e-portfolios in a middle school setting. So my research question is How does the implementation of e-portfolios affect student engagement, self-reflection, and digital literacy skills in middle school?

IV. What is your research design (Qualitative, Quantitative, or Mixed Methods)?

My action research design will be based on a qualitative method. I chose a qualitative method because Qualitative data will offer deeper insights into student engagement and self-reflection through surveys, interviews, and reflective journals. This combination will enable a comprehensive analysis of how e-portfolios influence various aspects of student learning.

V. What is the most appropriate type of data to collect?

The most appropriate type of data to collect for this research is qualitative data, which will be obtained through student surveys, interviews, and reflective journals. These qualitative data sources will capture students' personal experiences, engagements, self-reflection, and how e-portfolios impacted their digital literacy skills.  

VI. What types of measurement instruments will you use?

For the qualitative measurement, I will use student surveys, interviews with students, and student reflective journal entries. This method will provide a rich, detailed understanding of how the project impacts students' engagement, self-reflection, and digital literacy skills.

VII. What is the focus of your literature review?

The focus of my literature review will be on several key areas: reviewing existing research on how e-portfolios influence academic performance and student learning, exploring the connection between student engagement, self-reflection, and their impact on learning outcomes, examining the differences and potential advantages of e-portfolios over traditional assessment methods, and understanding how the COVA and CSLE frameworks support student-centered learning and their relevance to the use of e-portfolios in education, and identifying effective strategies and practices for integrating e-portfolios into the curriculum.

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