Ellen teaches the pull out gifted science program for intermediate grades in a moderately sized school district. Her program goal is to provide quality instructional experiences for exceptional science students. Targeted student outcomes for her program include not only achievement as measured by both classroom based and standardized tests, but also student interest in and motivation for science.

Two contributing factors have made Ellen question one of her instructional units, the fetal pig dissection project. First, while the district supports her program, her budget has come under scrutiny. The fetal pig dissection is one of her more expensive units. Second, while some of the students cite this unit as their favorite, other students and their families have questioned the necessity of the dissection on moral grounds. She questions whether alternative instruction for the unit might be possible. Ellen decides to conduct a study to investigate this issue.

A. Write an area of focus statement. B. Define the variables. C. Develop the research questions. D. Describe the intervention or innovation. E. Describe the membership of the action research group. F. Describe negotiations that need to be undertaken. G. Develop a timeline. H. Develop a statement of resources. I. Develop data collection ideas.