Chris Hatcher

Action Research Write-Up

Section 1- Identification of the Problem
The problem I identified for my action research was that, in history
class, many students forget the date or location of significant historical
events, which means that they end up missing questions that require
those pieces of information to receive full credit. I chose this problem
because it is one that I have noticed throughout my educational
career, and because I think it is important to the field of history and its
study. Part of truly understanding the events that happened in the past
is understanding the context and details surrounding them. Otherwise,
students are only learning and therefore only remembering parts of the
whole picture, which is not accomplishing the goal of teaching history.
Dates and locations are significant to understanding timelines and
greater concepts of the subject. However, finding a practical way of
addressing this problem was difficult. Thats why I chose the route that
I did, using additional, or background information to help the students
remember the important and pertinent facts of an event. I think it can
absolutely be beneficial to others, and not only in history, going
forward.
Section 2- Action Plan
My plan to address the stated problem was to provide students with
factual background information or additional information about an
event that was not part of the typical instruction per state standards.

Chris Hatcher
This would allow students to use their working memory and schemata
to make connections with the event that would help them to later
recall important details. My timeline to accomplish this action was one
unit on World War II, which typically would last about two weeks
according to the pacing guide.
Section 3- Data Collection
I collected test answers for three questions based on the World War II
instruction using a pretest and a posttest to judge students knowledge
of the event and pertinent details before and after the instruction took
place. I used two experimental classes who received the different
method of instruction and one control class, which was instructed in
the normal manner for this unit. My literature review didnt
necessarily help me decide what type of data to collect, but rather
reinforced the idea that collecting the data using test questions and
ones developed by using the additional or background information was
the correct way of doing so.
Section 4- Data Analysis
In reviewing the data, I found a stark increase in the amount of
students who were able to correctly answer the questions on the
posttest in the experimental classes, many of whom were unable to
answer the questions on the pretest. However, some students did not
perform according to my speculation in the topic draft, incorrectly
answering questions that they previously had gotten correct. There

Chris Hatcher
was no discernable pattern to explain this or to suggest that this was a
common theme among the majority of students. Overall, the study
tended to indicate that my speculation in the topic draft was correct,
and that students performed better when given the additional or
background information. My data analysis means to me that if class
lessons are taught using this method, students may be able to retain
pertinent information such as dates and locations of historical events.
Again, I believe this could be applied to other disciplines as well.
Section 5- Future Action
My study suggests that when using the method of teaching of
providing additional or background information for context, that
students are more likely to retain information required for full credit on
assessments, both ones created by the teacher and of the
standardized variety. This practice, which should not be timeconsuming despite the constraints already put on teachers, should
provide students with a better understanding of the necessary
concepts of a course as well as to enrich their understanding of the
material. As a result of my study, I would recommend using this
strategy for specific pieces of information of import, or applying it to
complicated, lengthy or data-packed concepts to alleviate confusion
and help students to retain more of the information given in
instruction. Using my study as an example, a way to provide additional
information to students would be giving them background knowledge

Chris Hatcher
on the United States cracking of the Japanese Naval Code that led to
the U.S. victory at Midway and all subsequent Pacific victories.