At the end of week 5 I have been given the opportunity to view action research through the eyes of a few more professors as well as the other students in the course. This was my second time through a research course in the academic partnership because of the revision of the material that happened after I had completed it in a previous program. The two courses even though they share the same course number are different in nature.
In this course we are asked to plan out a project that is attainable. We are asked to use the methods that we were studying in the course. In my case this meant that I would be looking to develop a study of how to incorporate more technology into our classes. This subject became important to me when I started the Technology program through Lamar University and I started to realize how much more technology is being incorporated into other schools. I plan to use my design to educate and empower the teachers and administrators in my school. Hopefully, the idea will catch on to other campuses and the students will reap the benefits. Action research is important and we will always use it in one form or another in our schools.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Sunday, June 19, 2011
EDLD 5301 week 4 posting
At present my plan has five parts associated with it in order to study some of the best ways to motivate teachers and students to utilize technology in the classroom. This plan was developed to help the students achieve the level of proficiency in technology that is required for their grade level with the help of the teachers and staff at the campus level.
The first three parts of the plan revolves around the necessity of data collection. I would have all the members of the campus staff review the Technology TEKS standards for their respective levels. This is important because if the staff does not understand what they need to do then it becomes harder to achieve the goal. The second area of critical importance is the STAR report for the campus. This report shows how the staff utilizes there technology as well as how they view the subject matter. With this in mind the campus administrative staff can form a plan to either train or utilize their teaching staff effectively. If they need additional training then they may be able to do it on campus or send them to specialized training to update the teachers.
The third part is a review of the teacher's lesson plans. When the plans are reviewed then we will be able to see how the teachers are planning on utilizing technology in their classrooms. It also shows how they are not planning on using it on a regular basis.
After reviewing the lesson plans the administrator needs to follow through and sit in on some of the lessons of each teacher. If they can see that the teacher is in fact working toward the technology goals then they can see where improvements can be made or have them teach skills observed to other teachers who could use that extra help in the field.
The campus in order to help assess the improvement of technology use may need to perform regular examinations of the student's proficiency. When we perform these benchmarks then the students are given an opportunity to demonstrate there achievement. It will also show us where we can improve in the future. This is one subject that will need to repeated to some degree to ensure that the teachers and students are both developing. In one school district that I had heard a presentation from I was informed that the teachers in that district had to pass tests in order to gain the use of certain technological tools such as document cameras, SMART boards, ete. The presenters stated that when there was a goal the teachers responded with more consistency. It is that consistency that we are trying to inspire in the teachers and the students.
The first three parts of the plan revolves around the necessity of data collection. I would have all the members of the campus staff review the Technology TEKS standards for their respective levels. This is important because if the staff does not understand what they need to do then it becomes harder to achieve the goal. The second area of critical importance is the STAR report for the campus. This report shows how the staff utilizes there technology as well as how they view the subject matter. With this in mind the campus administrative staff can form a plan to either train or utilize their teaching staff effectively. If they need additional training then they may be able to do it on campus or send them to specialized training to update the teachers.
The third part is a review of the teacher's lesson plans. When the plans are reviewed then we will be able to see how the teachers are planning on utilizing technology in their classrooms. It also shows how they are not planning on using it on a regular basis.
After reviewing the lesson plans the administrator needs to follow through and sit in on some of the lessons of each teacher. If they can see that the teacher is in fact working toward the technology goals then they can see where improvements can be made or have them teach skills observed to other teachers who could use that extra help in the field.
The campus in order to help assess the improvement of technology use may need to perform regular examinations of the student's proficiency. When we perform these benchmarks then the students are given an opportunity to demonstrate there achievement. It will also show us where we can improve in the future. This is one subject that will need to repeated to some degree to ensure that the teachers and students are both developing. In one school district that I had heard a presentation from I was informed that the teachers in that district had to pass tests in order to gain the use of certain technological tools such as document cameras, SMART boards, ete. The presenters stated that when there was a goal the teachers responded with more consistency. It is that consistency that we are trying to inspire in the teachers and the students.
Sunday, June 12, 2011
EDLD 5301 week 3 action research plan
1. Examinging the work- The purpose of my study is to examine how we are implementing technology in our classrooms, looking for ways to improve that aspect, and raising the teacher's level of conscience on the issue. When we do this we will make the school environment an improved place to learn. The original idea came from my site mentor who encouraged me to find ways to expand technology in our school.
2. Analyzing Data- The initial data for this study came from the number of instances where help was needed from the Instructional Technology Specialist. Following that there was a review of the Texas STAR report. In addition the student's work was reviewed to estimate the level of proficiency that the student body was currently at in our school.
3. Developing deeper understanding- After we started to see some trends that called our attention we started to conduct interviews in order to see how the staff feels about the subject of technology. Many felt comfortable with the subject and others did not feel that they had enough training to implement the needed instruction.
4. Engaging in Self-Reflection- This process had us look at how we could best meet the needs of our population both student and staff. We looked at the average lenth of service for our staff and seen that the level that the older member came in was behind that of the current hires.
5. Exploring Programmatic Patterns- We noticed that although we wanted more technology in our classes we did not always provide meaningful staff development for the older cadre and the newer teachers had much of the information that we were putting forth in the lessons that we did provide. The gaps in the knowledge base were widening at an accelerated rate.
6. Determining Direction- One of the solutions that we started to implement was that of a mentoring program. We would utilize the teachers that we had who wer proficient in the needed areas to teach the staff that required the extra instruction. Through this measure we saw more of the areas that we could teach with both groups and looked to get specialized training for the staff that required large chucks of instruction.
7. Taking action for school improvement- Our actions will be carried out in a timely fashion to ensure that we have the highest amount of time to close gaps. These areas are going to need continued levels of instruction with an understanding that in time the newer teachers will grow to be the seasoned veterans. That means that everyone will need an attitued of continued improvement to keep on track in this area.
8. Sustaining improvement- As a campus we will need to utilize the action research that is started in this program. In time the program developed here will need to be a consideration in all programs. The data that we receive will need to be utilized to its fullest extent to make the students as successful as possible.
2. Analyzing Data- The initial data for this study came from the number of instances where help was needed from the Instructional Technology Specialist. Following that there was a review of the Texas STAR report. In addition the student's work was reviewed to estimate the level of proficiency that the student body was currently at in our school.
3. Developing deeper understanding- After we started to see some trends that called our attention we started to conduct interviews in order to see how the staff feels about the subject of technology. Many felt comfortable with the subject and others did not feel that they had enough training to implement the needed instruction.
4. Engaging in Self-Reflection- This process had us look at how we could best meet the needs of our population both student and staff. We looked at the average lenth of service for our staff and seen that the level that the older member came in was behind that of the current hires.
5. Exploring Programmatic Patterns- We noticed that although we wanted more technology in our classes we did not always provide meaningful staff development for the older cadre and the newer teachers had much of the information that we were putting forth in the lessons that we did provide. The gaps in the knowledge base were widening at an accelerated rate.
6. Determining Direction- One of the solutions that we started to implement was that of a mentoring program. We would utilize the teachers that we had who wer proficient in the needed areas to teach the staff that required the extra instruction. Through this measure we saw more of the areas that we could teach with both groups and looked to get specialized training for the staff that required large chucks of instruction.
7. Taking action for school improvement- Our actions will be carried out in a timely fashion to ensure that we have the highest amount of time to close gaps. These areas are going to need continued levels of instruction with an understanding that in time the newer teachers will grow to be the seasoned veterans. That means that everyone will need an attitued of continued improvement to keep on track in this area.
8. Sustaining improvement- As a campus we will need to utilize the action research that is started in this program. In time the program developed here will need to be a consideration in all programs. The data that we receive will need to be utilized to its fullest extent to make the students as successful as possible.
Sunday, June 5, 2011
EDLD 5301 Research week 2 comment
During week two we looked at some of the reasons that we do action research. These reasons centered around why we should make any choice in the field of education. When one of us notices a problem then it becomes our job to find out why we are having problems and address those issues as soon as possible. In our line of work we will have issues come up. After all we are dealing with human beings that are striving to learn. To that end we are obliged to figure out the best way of handing those issues. We need to utilize our time effectively and using action research to its fullest gives us a direction to follow as we deal with our issues.
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