Action Research Project Outline

  1. What is the topic or focus of your action research?

Teaching computational thinking using robotics increases students’ reading comprehension skills.

  1. What is the purpose of your study?

Show the relation between learning computational thinking and higher comprehension in ELAR.

  1. What is your research question?

Does teaching computational thinking using robotics increases reading comprehension on bilingual 6th grade students?

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

Mixed methods

  1. Why did you choose this design?

Choosing both methods will allow the study to address different aspects of the main focus.

On one side, qualitative methods will allow to assess students’ comprehension and understanding about robotics and coding.

On the other hand, quantitative methods will measure students’ reading and comprehension level.

By using mixed methods, the study will be able to show how teaching robotics affects the results on standardized ELAR tests

  • What data will the study collect?

The data will collect students’:

  • Knowledge on robotics and coding,
  • Results from formal and informal tests
  • Results from standardized tests
  • What types of measurement will you use?
    • Written Interviews
    • Surveys
    • Summative classroom assessments
    • Standardized Test scores
  • What is the focus of your lit (literature) review?

My lit research will be focused on how others have used computational thinking, coding and robotics directly in their instruction curriculum. My intention is to find relevant material where academics have used these concepts as tools to increase reading comprehension. Due to the scarce information on this matter, I will also include not only how robotics influence in comprehension reading, but also in other subjects as math and science. I have run into information where robotics are used in early stages to improve students’ engagement.

As well, I will be including in my research the use of computational thinking in the classroom. Fortunately have run into more information as for how using and teaching computational thinking to students helps them to learn new skills that help them to approach learning in a different way.