EDEL 620: Educational Research for School Leaders
Prerequisite: None
Credit hours (3)
This course will provide students with the knowledge and skill to identify a problem of educational practice, analyze both quantitative and qualitative data, critically examine research and professional literature, and develop a plan to act on the problem, monitor actions, and evaluate outcomes.
Detailed Description of Course
This course provides focuses on the process of conducting applied research in an educational
setting. The following topics will be included:
1) Introduction to research
2) Library/database skills in research
3) Collection and analysis of data to identify and describe a problem of educational
practice
4) Identification of those with whom to collaborate in conducting school-based
research
5) Location and critical analysis of literature related to a problem of practice
6) Development of actions designed to address a problem of practice
7) Monitoring of implementation of research actions to ensure fidelity
8) Evaluation of outcomes through both qualitative and quantitative measures
9) Presentation of research proposals and results to constituencies
Detailed Description of Conduct of Course
Course readings and an in-depth, school-based project will serve as the primary basis
for in-class and online threaded discussions. Lectures will supplement and reinforce
course readings and project work. A variety of assignments (collecting and analyzing
data, describing a problem, locating research, designing research actions, monitoring
and evaluating research actions) requiring field work, online research, and collaboration
will be used to help students develop a complex understanding of research in education
as a means to achieve continuous school improvement.
Goals and Objectives of the Course
The goals, objectives, and assignments in this class address standards specified in
Regulations Governing the Review and Approval of Education Programs in Virginia, Administration
and Supervision PreK-12 and the National Educational Leadership Preparation standards
and the CAEP Advanced Program Standards..
Students will:
1. Demonstrate their proficiencies to understand and apply knowledge and skills related to:
2. Discuss and demonstrate the capacity to lead improvement processes that include data use, design, implementation, and evaluation.
3. Demonstrate knowledge, understanding, and application of planning, assessment, and instructional leadership that builds collective professional capacity, including;
4. Demonstrate knowledge, understanding, and application of leadership and organizations, including;
5. Demonstrate knowledge, understanding, and application of management and leadership skills that achieve effective and efficient organizational operations and sustain an instructional program conducive to student academic progress, including application of data-driven decision-making to initiate and continue improvement in school and classroom practices and student achievement.
Assessment Measures
Learning will be assessed in a variety of ways. These include, but are not limited to:
1) Written responses to and reflections on readings, class discussions, and project
activities.
2) Participation in oral and online threaded discussions.
3) Completion of a project focused on an actual problem of educational practice in
which the student conducts data analysis to identify and describe the problem, develops
an action plan based on a review of scholarly and professional knowledge, monitors
implementation of actions, and evaluates outcomes.
Other Course Information
None
Review and Approval
May 2, 2016
May 5, 2022