3. Problem Statement
The problem is the members of the Ephesus Usher
Board (EUB) are unable to effectively communicate
across a large room without leaving their post. Upon
narrowing of the problem a intervention will be
implemented.
Action Research Proposal
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4. Problem Description
1. The EUB has established hand signals to
communicate between members while they are on
their post. It appears that members are not fully
aware of these signals. This is normally evident in
the fact that they come off of their post to
communicate information that could have been
signaled.
Action Research Proposal
4
5. Problem Description
continued
2. This is a problem because when the member
removes himself or herself from the post it can
cause disruption in the service or even present
security issues.
3. Leadership has realized the problem but often has
to spend time working on other items that need to
be addressed during monthly meetings.
Action Research Proposal
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6. Purpose of the Project
The purpose of this project is to equip the EUB
members with the tools necessary to communicate
in any situation (prayer, concert or dismissal) and
not have to leave their post.
Action Research Proposal
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7. Writer’s Role
The writer is a member of EUB and has encountered
problems communication with other members.
The topic was chosen because the writer desires to
help make the process of ushering easier for
everyone.
The writer believes once an intervention is
implemented the activity of ushering will be more
effective for the church. In addition there will be
less frustration among the ushers.
Action Research Proposal
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8. Problem Documentation
Researcher Notes:
The researcher has noted on at least five times in the
past six months ushers leaving their post to
communicate information that could have been
communicated manually.
•Subject C left post passed two ushers to get fans.
•Subject S & C let people enter without first locating seats
during a service that is in session.
•Subject V using communication system indicated she
needed to be “relieved of post” but she needed programs
for the choir loft.
•Team Lead J indicated to Subject K & R that it was time to
leave their post. Only Subject R realized that it was time to
move, though both appeared to be looking at the Team
Lead.
Action Research Proposal
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9. Problem Documentation
Researchers Notes - continued
February 1, 2014: D. Jones, Regional Usher Federation
President, during a surprise inspection, observed two
instances where “hand signals” were not used to
communicate necessary information.
October 2013 signal review, only a few members
participated.
Action Research Proposal
9
10. Problem Documentation
continued
Usher Hand Signal Survey
Complete this section by checking the box closest to your response:
Strongly
Agree
Agree
Neither
Agree or
Disagree
Disagree
Strongly
Disagree
1.
I know what to do if I am unable to get
the Lead Usher’s attention.
□
□
□
□
□
2.
I feel all the members of my team have a
good understanding of the hand signal
protocol.
□
□
□
□
□
3.
I can always communicate with my team
members without leaving my post.
□
□
□
□
□
4.
I have received enough training to
effectively communicate with my team
members.
□
□
□
□
□
5.
I understand all the hand signals used to
communicate when I am on my post.
□
□
□
□
□
6.
I think the members of the Usher Board
could benefit from additional training in
using hand signals to communicate.
□
□
□
□
□
Action Research Proposal
10
11. Problem Documentation
continued
1. Have you ever had an experience while ushering that required additional assistance from the
Lead Usher?
Yes
No
2. This signal means:
Need help
Need one seat
Need information
Need bulletin
3. Which signal would you use to let the Lead Usher know you needed to leave your post?
4. List two actions you would like to be able to communicate without leaving your post.
Action Research Proposal
11
12. Problem Documentation
continued
• The membership of EUB consist of approximately 30
members. The hope of the researcher is to get 95%
participation from the membership.
• The participants will be broken up into two groups.
– The first group will receive training via the
traditional way face to face. The member in this
group will be from weeks one and three.
– The second group will receive training via online
training. The member of this group will come for
weeks two and four.
Action Research Proposal
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13. Problem Documentation
continued
• The division of the groups by weeks makes it easier
to evaluate the communication of the group as a
whole instead of breaking them up and evaluating
each individual.
• This division will also provide feedback from
members with different terms of service.
• The EUB is part of a larger regional group and final
results will be sent to the organization for further
review.
Action Research Proposal
13
14. Literature Review
Authors of
the study
Title of
the study
Purpose of
the study
Frank Caccamise‘
Robert Ayers
Karen Finch
Marilyn Mitchel
Signs and Manual
Communication
Forms
Examine the use of
signs and manual
communication in a
hearing classroom.
•Consistency
Nancy Scheetz
Phillip Gunter
Online Versus
Traditional
Classroom
Delivery of a
Course in Manual
Communication
Determine the
effectiveness of
Online education to
assist with teacher
shortage in manual
communication area
•Each delivery method is almost
comparable. One small difference that is
probably sited to the actually time spent in
class training.
Action Research Proposal
Pertinent findings that
support your project
•Need to stay current
•Importance of training
14
15. Literature Review
Authors of
the study
Gerald Buisson
William Vicars
Title of the
study
Purpose of
the study
Pertinent findings that
support your project
Using Online
Glossing Lessons
for Accelerated
Instruction in ASL
for Preservice Deaf
Education Majors
Increase student ASL
knowledge outside the
classroom with
glossing, or translation
activities online
•Pre-test administered
ASL online: The
design and
implementation of
a web-based
American sign
language course
Determine the best
way to design an
online course in ASL
•Need for two way communication
between learner and instructor
•Improvement seen
•Online good for theory and practice,
missing face to face usage.
•Success based on motivation to learn
•Importance of determining usable
website
•Current technology is needed for such a
program. Need to make sure it is being
used.
Action Research Proposal
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16. Literature Review
Authors
of the
study
Phillip Hubbard
Trudde Heift
Ann Rimrott
Title of
the study
Purpose of
the study
Making a case for
learner training in
technology
enhanced
language learning
environments
How to bring the
different levels of
computer literacy in
online learning to a
point of where all can
benefit from the
course.
•Most important part of technology training is
what the learner does with the given
technology.
Task-Related
Variation in
ComputerAssisted
Language
Learning
Will the level of
knowledge change
with the addition of
form-focus or
meaning-focus
activities
•Immediate feedback important
Action Research Proposal
Pertinent findings that
support your project
•Learners will gravitate to areas where they
determine they are most successful
•Given an opportunity learner may avoid
activities they find difficult. In open-ended
activities this may be seen.
•Task selected whether open or closed
activates should be structured so that the
intended activity is taught and tested.
16
17. Literature Review
Authors
of the
study
Shenggao Wang
Camilla Vazquez
Title of the
study
Web 2.0 and
Second Language
Learning: What
does the research
tell us?
Purpose of
the study
Benefits and
Limitation of using
Web 2.0 for second
language learning
Pertinent findings that
support your project
•Benefits
•Comfortable learning environment
•Increased collaboration
•Increased use of target language
•Adult learners seem more open to
pedagogy learning style
•Disadvantage
•Open environment for students
who may wish for more private
submission of assignments.
Simona Gabureau
Irina Vasilescu
Learning task and
feedback in
computer-assisted
educational
situations. New
Challenges for
teachers as 21st
century
professionals
Determine factors
needed in CALL task
assignment
•Important features in task selection
•Language learning potential
•Meaning focus
•Learner fit
•Authenticity
•Positive impact
•Practicality
Action Research Proposal
17
18. Action Goal
The goal of this intervention is to increase the
effective use of signaling among EUB members in
their endeavor to communicate across a large area.
The intervention will be online course in the use and
purpose of signaling. The instruction will include
text, visuals and videos (Vicars, 2003) to
demonstrate proper use of the system.
Action Research Proposal
18
19. Selected Solutions
• EUB members will participate in a two week online
class to help them learn to utilize the signaling system.
• Day 1-3 the class will cover signals used by the weekly
team lead to communicate.
• Days 4-7 will be signals each individual usher will use to
communicate with the team usher.
• Days 8-10 will be signals each individual usher will use to
communicate with each other
• Days 11-12 will be review
• Day 14 will be an exam and course exit survey.
Exact videos, graphics and assessment have not been
included. They will be based on information in the
preliminary survey.
Action Research Proposal
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20. Selected Solutions
• An online library will be developed that will contain
videos and graphical representations of the
signaling process (Vicars, 2003). Included in the
library will also be the EUB Handbook.
• A quick reference guide will be made available at
the end of the course.
• To encourage participation a $20 Resturant.com
gift certificate will be given for successful
completion of the course.
• Additional time may be required for the course if
additional classes are offered.
Action Research Proposal
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21. Selected Solutions
• Successful completion is a
• 80% correct use of signal,
• 80% recognition of signal
• The use of a two-way video conferencing tool is
being considered to evaluate individual
demonstration of the signaling process. Successful
completion of this stage would be 80%.
Action Research Proposal
21
22. Calendar Plan
Week 1: Initial Reflection of situation.
Week 2: Develop/Design EUB survey. Prepare for
paper and web distribution (Survey Monkey)
Week 3: Distribute survey to all EUB members
Week 4: Collect survey information and conduct
research on additional concerns of research group
Week 5: Begin design of weekly assignments in
Edmodo. Be sure to incorporate video, picture and
text assignments (Hubbard, 2013). Continue
research.
Action Research Proposal
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23. Calendar Plan
Week 6: Conclude design of assignments and course
website
Week 7: Distribute information to register for course.
Deadline Week 9
Week 8: Send reminders to the members who have not
registered for course
Week 9-10: Conduct online class on signaling. If all
members are not able to fit in one class a second
one may need to be available for the reminder. This
may move some timelines out.
Action Research Proposal
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24. Calendar Plan
Week 11 - 14: Observe participants while on duty after
class, also paper survey days activity.
Week 15: Analyze data
Week 16-19 : Observe and survey members after a
time serving
Week 20: Analyze data
Week 21: Prepare presentation
Action Research Proposal
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25. Expected Outcomes
In determining success of this intervention the
member of the EUB will see increased effective
communication among members. With effective use
of the signaling system the members stationed on
the floor will become almost invisible to the
congregation, due to the reduction in movement.
Action Research Proposal
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26. Measurement of Outcomes
• In addition to researcher observation each team will
be asked to complete a short survey at the end of an
event.
• The information will be compiled. To be effective
the researcher will look for a 30% decrease in
movement to communicate information
Action Research Proposal
26
27. Measurement of Outcomes
Sample Post Training Survey Questions
1.
Were you able to communicate/signal today so that you did
not need to leave your post for more than 1 minute?
Yes
No
2.
Did a member leave their post to communicate with you? If
so, how many times.
Yes
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
If so, how many times.
Did you have to leave your post to communicate with
3. another member serving on the floor? If so, how many
times.
If so, how many times.
Any time during your service today did you have problems
4. communicating/signaling with your team leader? Please
explain on the back of this card.
Action Research Proposal
27
28. Analysis of Results
• Narrative observational data will be coded. Some
suggested codes are:
– left post,
– used signal, and
– frustrated communicating.
• In survey each question will have a point value. An
optimal total value would be 4.
• In coding positive values will have lower numbers
(1) and negative value will have higher number (2).
Action Research Proposal
28
29. Analysis of Results
• Information will be compiled by event (service,
funeral, and concert). Service or weekly stations will
be compiled together as well. Then an overall
analysis will be done. This will assist in learning if
there are differences in events as well as weekly
teams.
• Effectiveness of the plan will be in the lower of the
numbers on the observational and survey data.
Action Research Proposal
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30. Analysis of Results
• Finding presented to EUB executive member
– head usher,
– team leads, and
– elder board representative.
• Results will be presented in a quarterly meeting.
Request would be made at that time to also share
information with the all the members of the usher
board as a whole. This will help them bring closure
and promote unity in continued use of the
system(Hendricks, 2009).
Action Research Proposal
30
31. References
Hendricks, C. (2009). Improving schools through action
research: A comprehensive guide for educators (2nd ed.).
Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson. Retrieved from University
of Phoenix EDD/581 —Action Research and Evaluation
course website.
Hubbard, P. (2013). Making a case for learner training in
technology enhanced language learning
environments. CALICO Journal, 30(2), 163-n/a.
doi:10.11139/cj.30.2.163-178
Vicars, W. (2003). ASL online: The design and implementation
of a web-based American sign language course. (Order No.
3111612, Lamar University - Beaumont). ProQuest
Dissertations and Theses, 63-63 p. Retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com/docview/305284652?accountid=
35812. (305284652)
Action Research Proposal
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