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The Impact of Blended Learning on Encoding Skills
An Action Research Plan
Melissa Richards
May 4, 2025
In an educational landscape that is always evolving, the quest for effective learning strategies seems never-ending. This action research plan, titled "The Impact of Blended Learning on Encoding Skills," leads us to explore how innovative teaching methods can elevate the way young learners acquire essential literacy skills. With a focus on second-graders, this study explores how a combination of blended learning and UFLI-aligned practice aims to enhance encoding skills.
What is Action Research?
When you hear the word research, you might think of a long formal process that may include the use of a laboratory, months or years worth of studies, and being conducted by someone formally trained in the concepts of scientific research. You probably do not think of educators in classrooms looking to enhance their current practices. Action research provides educators a practical way to answer a question with the intentions of improving instruction (Mertler, 2020).
Action Research Outline
Before generating an action research plan, it was important to develop an outline to help support my efforts in effective planning and design. The outline shared here lays out the topic of my action research, the question I am exploring, the purpose behind the investigation, and details of the types of data being collected.
What Does Literature Tell Us?
To help develop a greater context for a research topic, educators can review literature related to the practice being explored (Mertler, 2020). This literature review examines a deeper look into what blended learning is, different models of blended learning, some benefits of blended learning, a description of UFLI, and some obstacles to consider when using a blended learning model. Conducting this literature review helped provide support by highlighting effective strategies in literacy instruction and considerations to keep in mind when implementing the activities that will be assessed.
Action Research Plan
An effective active research plan consists of many stages such as the planning stage, acting stage, developing stage, and reflecting stage (Mertler, 2020). Each stage has smaller and more manageable tasks. In an effort to stay focused and organized, I created a timeline to help narrow my focus during the acting stage.
After organizing a timeline to help guide the many components of this research, I was able to develop a complete action plan. The Impact of Blended Learning on Encoding Skills: An Action Research plan seeks to investigate the potential of blended learning in enhancing foundational literacy skills. The significance of this research lies in its potential to inform instructional practices that promote student ownership and engagement. This plan hopes to enhance encoding skills by utilizing a blended learning framework.
References
Mertler, C. A. (2020). Action research: Improving schools and empowering educators (6th ed.). SAGE
Publications, Inc.