After looking over the syllabus, listening to the podcast, down loading and printing to many articles to count, purchasing a book, and organizing my thoughts, I am a little nervous of this class. Now that the readings have begun at least Chapters 1 & 2, the podcast has been listened to, and the first article has been read, I am a little more at ease (only in a panic now instead of cardiac arrest.) Stringer has given me many things to think about over the last few days. First, action research seems to be very fitting for me and my personality. Second, Stringer caught my attention when he said this may increase the effectiveness of the work in which our faculty and students engage. As he states it could make our work more meaningful.
In my background as a teacher and coach, I am looking forward to the research of how athletics effect students at the high school level. I want to look into several things that Stringer pointed out: 1. A problem or issue, is athletics helpful to students or does it hurt their grades? 2. How will I process the information? I will look at each of the students in our High School and meet with the faculty. I will also meet with each coach to determine what they do to help and encourage student athletes. 3. Exploration as a staff I hope to help both teachers and coaches understand the effects of athletics in high school students. This research is going to be an ongoing research throughout the semester in gathering data, talking to others, and researching other sources of information.
As Stringer says, I need to look think and act, and then keep looking, thinking, and acting. My hope is that this research will help and benefit Cherryville High School in a positive way. I will try to involve faculty, staff, students, parents and community leaders in this research. The community will play a role in my research in the youth programs and how they feel about athletics and education. Also Stringer pointed out focusing on people’s actual lived experience. I will interview and talk with both athletes and non athletes in the research project. Honesty and communication will play a major role in the research that I intend to do. I will need to do as Stringer says and make sure relationships are in tact. I know that not all people are pro athletics, but I also must value their imput.
I look forward to hearing your input and what ideas you may have that would help me in my research.
Scott Harrill
Comments (7)
I know I am not just supposed to say good idea, but this is one. I was active in our schools atheletic program for several years and have seen the positive effects on students at the middle school level, probably much more so at the high school level, especially with the quality of the basketball and baseball teams at Cherryville. I think, and Mr Harrill will probably agree that the overall effect of atheletics on a student is great. It has to build confidnece and helps some students fit in. Even at the middle school level, the threat of losing the chance to participate in atheltics can help even the squirliest student to stay in control of their actions. I think it also gives them a way to release some pent up frustration from their lives, whatever the source.
Craig Cavender
Posted by Craig Cavender | January 17, 2009 10:29 AM
Posted on January 17, 2009 10:29
This topic also speaks to the need for collaborative effort and reflection. Depending on the relationship between coach and athletes, collaboration on changing team practices may be difficult. Add in the egos and other baggage a diverse team of student-athletes bring with them makes such a process potentially high-risk and high-reward.
Conrad Martin
Posted by Anonymous | January 17, 2009 10:56 AM
Posted on January 17, 2009 10:56
I too am interested in what your findings will be. As the Baseball Coach at Cherryville High School we share most of the athletes. I think that potentialy yes athletics can hurt student achievement but does it have to. I will be very interested to see how this plays out. Those students who do well in the classroom generally do well on the field and playing sports has little to no affect on their grades. Those students who have to work a little harder in the classroom, these are the ones who's grades may suffer. How do we as coaches keep that from happening? (Achievement contracts, punishment (running), study halls, I don't know. I would love to help you. Let me know
Scott Heavner
Posted by Scott Heavner | January 19, 2009 10:23 AM
Posted on January 19, 2009 10:23
At our middle school the situation seems to be very similar to the one Craig describes. Athletes who are good students, continue to be good students in-season and out, while students who are not as successful in the classroom actually tend to succeed more during in-season than in the off-season. It will be challenging to determine exactly what factors are at work within these student-athlete's lives. Obviously, as you continue in sports to the collegiate level most schools have tutors and advisers specifically for their student-athletes. Good luck on a very interesting bit of research.
Jeff Kitchen
Posted by Jeff Kitchen | January 19, 2009 1:16 PM
Posted on January 19, 2009 13:16
I am very interested to see how athletics relates to education. I played three sports in high school and considered myself to be very driven to achieve. It seems to me these days not as many students play multiple sports. I wonder if that has an effect on their grades as well?
Posted by Shannon Mosteller | January 19, 2009 11:34 PM
Posted on January 19, 2009 23:34
Scott,
This is an excellent idea. The angle that interests me most is the angle of athletes who struggle academically. It seems that you'll find fairly "obvious" answers to the relationship between athletes who also achieve in school. What would probably benefit more would be to identify some student-athletes who struggle and do a study to discover those factors. You may find that it's not about athletics at all, but something else, and then the outcome of your research would be some strategies to assist those students.
Think about it.....
Posted by Alecia Jackson | January 21, 2009 2:32 PM
Posted on January 21, 2009 14:32
Scott, Will you contact me via email please? Every time I send an email to the group, yours bounces back. I have no idea if you are getting my messages or not.
Thanks.
Posted by Alecia Jackson | January 21, 2009 3:22 PM
Posted on January 21, 2009 15:22