Blindsided

I have already met what may prove to be my biggest challenge; it was discovered just this morning through an email. It all began over the weekend when I was finalizing my plan. I was wondering if students had access to SurveyMonkey or if it was blocked through our filter. Yesterday, Monday, I emailed the appropriate person in the district inquiring for the purpose of using the survey with my students for my action research project that I was conducting for my Master’s course. I received a response that she did not know if it was blocked, she has used it before and thought it was really cool, and that she would find out for me; however I needed to contact the Assessment and Accountability Department concerning permission to conduct research within the district. In fact she sent a “cc” to this person. She stated there are "strict guidelines and directives that employees must follow whenever research using any type of district data is involved". I emailed this person in charge and his reply was “Per district policy, any individual or organization requesting to conduct research in the district has to complete a formal request to conduct research.” He provided me with link to a PDF outlining strict guidelines to follow for requesting permission for doing research. It was noted that an incomplete request will not be considered.

All requests must be accompanied by the following documents and attachments:
1. Proposal cover letter addressed to the appropriate superintendent and to the Instruction and Student Services officer. Submit this letter with your proposal.
2. Three to four page written outline that addresses the following clearly defined twelve components.
(This was too long to list in this discussion forum and, I might add, some of the twelve components had sub components.)
3. Required attachments including the following:
a. Copies of instruments and their source/publisher in all languages required
b. Copies of informed consent forms in all languages required
c. Completed Human Subjects application from institution represented
d. Approved thesis/dissertation proposal from institution represented
e. Letters of authorization from building principal(s) if students and/or school
staff are to be utilized

So, this is my greatest challenge. I think it will take me as long or longer to request permission as it did to come up with my plan. In fact there are details in this request that weren’t even covered in our course. Needles to say I am stunned by all of this.

As far as my research itself goes, one of the challenges that I was concerned about was the acceptance of the two teachers that I will be working with. I am not in the Math department. I teach a technology elective course, and knowing this I wonder how they will accept me coming in and “stirring things up” in their department. I plan to meet with both of the teachers early on and explain the purpose in my research. I am hoping that once they learn that I had previously taught math and science in a TAKS grade level and now I am teaching technology that they will be more receptive and therefore begin to build a trusting relationship. I also plan to work closely with the teachers in using a blog for communication and modeling how it could be used in the classroom with their students.