Capstone Project

Course Overview

During this course, participants will complete a classroom-based inquiry project to explore the effects of instructional innovation on student learning. Participants will select one innovative activity or teaching practice to improve their instruction. They will write and implement a plan of action, discuss the results, and create a final report for other teachers.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

  • Identify possible methods for classroom inquiry.

  • Write an action research plan.
  • Collect and analyze evidence of teacher action and student responses. 

  • Make a professional report of action research results (in writing or at a 
conference/meeting).


Course Scope and Sequence 


  • Week 1: Course introduction and cohort building. Descriptions of instructional contexts. Identification of action research topics. Draft of action research plan. 

  • Week 2: Peer and instructor feedback on action research plan. 

  • Week 3: Classroom implementation of action research plan. 

  • Week 4: Analysis of action research. Draft action research report (paper or presentation).
  • 
Week 5: Peer and instructor feedback on action research report. Revision to final draft. Publication plan for action research report. 


Course Requirements 


Course participants will be required to:

  1. Complete reading assignments in Weeks 1 and 2. 

  2. Participate in weekly online discussions. 

  3. Submit action research plan and action research report. 

  4. Document implementation and share documentation. 

  5. Give constructive and substantive feedback on fellow participants’ plan and report.