My table did not transfer with my cut and paste. I am not sure how to fix the problem. This may be why I need to do an action research plan concerning technology.
Goal: To examine the current technology uses in daily classroom instruction and to make recommendations concerning how to tweak those activities to get maximum usage out of our available recourses. Also to research new technology that would help elevate our technology capabilities in the classroom.
Action Persons Timeline Needed
Steps Responsible Start/End Resources Evaluation
1. Assess the current available technology (including hardware and software) to classroom teachers.
Tamara Williams and the school technology aide
First week of school (August 23, 2010)
The school’s technology inventory
The total number of technology resources available to classroom teachers.
2. Survey the classroom teachers concerning their use of technology during classroom instruction
Tamara Williams and school librarian
September 13, 2010 through September 17, 2010
Computer survey on Survey Monkey and all 55 classroom teachers to complete survey
Tabulate the results from Survey Monkey
to determine teachers strengths and weaknesses concerning technology
3. Survey the student body concerning technology usage by their current classroom teachers
Tamara Williams and school librarian
September 27, 2010 through October 1, 2010
Computer survey on Survey Monkey
and all 660 students complete the survey during their ELAR classes in the library
To determine student’s perception concerning teacher computer use in the classroom. Compare these results with the teacher results to look for similarities and discrepancies
4. Analyze last year’s technology lab logs. looking for patterns in use, lack of use, and types of use.
Tamara Williams, school technology aide, and school librarian
October 11, 2010 through October 15, 2010
Technology lab logs from previous year
I will be using these logs to look for patterns in usage, lack or use, and types of use
5. Analysis successful technology academies and they handle technology within their classrooms.
Tamara Williams, technology director
August 16, 2010-October 29, 2010
Interviews with personnel from technology academies
Evaluate the best practices from the technology academies looking for ways that these practices could be implemented at our school.
Analyze current technology trends looking for available hardware and software that is applicable to our school
Tamara Williams and technology director
August 16, 2010 through October 29, 2010
Current technology articles that addresses trends in middle schools
Evaluate these trends to see if they are a viable fit for our school.
Compile data and submit to our principal with recommended steps to make technology more prominent in individual teacher’s classroom lessons
Tamara Williams
August 16, 2010- January 14, 2011
All of the results from the previous steps of this action plan
To survey teachers and students in January to see if the results have changed concerning use of technology in classroom lessons
Friday, July 30, 2010
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Technology Classes Here I Come!
After meeting with my campus administrator, I realized her ideas and my ideas about an inquiry research project were not the same. I really very felt passionate about my project concerning raising our commended scores in ELA, however she felt our school would be better served with an inquiry project concerning school wide discipline or how to increase technology use within our building. I was some what downcast about the idea of my project not coming to fruition, but after sleeping on the new ideas, one of them became vey appealing. Not being technology literate at all, I thought doing an inquiry research project concerning the use of technology at our school and how to improve usage might be the ticket. I begin to brainstorm ideas about student and staff surveys, and looked through our beginning of the year technology in-services and signed up for as many as possible.
Who knows because of this project I might become the new “technology queen” at White Oak, or at least become technology literate? I would just settle for being able to hook up my projector and Elmo at the beginning of the year by myself with out begging for help.
Lesson learned through this process…just because I feel passionate about a topic does not mean that is what is best for our entire school. Finding a way to increase technology at White Oak will benefit all students and subject areas, not just the ELA department.
Who knows because of this project I might become the new “technology queen” at White Oak, or at least become technology literate? I would just settle for being able to hook up my projector and Elmo at the beginning of the year by myself with out begging for help.
Lesson learned through this process…just because I feel passionate about a topic does not mean that is what is best for our entire school. Finding a way to increase technology at White Oak will benefit all students and subject areas, not just the ELA department.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Action Research Projects and Blogging Can Be Fun!
Traditional Research Projects vs. Action Research Projects
When I was completing my undergraduate degree eighteen years ago every type of project or report was based on research done by experts. I felt as if the only original part of my papers were the introduction and conclusion. (Side note…I did not plagiarize, I always gave credit to my sources.) This idea of action research is so intriguing; so much more interesting and hands on rather than the traditional reports or projects. It is exciting that I will be deciding on a problem that needs to be solved at my school, and then doing the hands on research rather than reading volumes of research that may not totally apply to my school’s situation. This research can be completed using observations, interviews, problem solving skills, and research with experts as needed. I also like the aspect that a committee of educators can put their heads together and their arms around a problem at their school or district and work on a solution that is explicitly derived for their situation. I also like the idea of reflecting on the problem and spending time each day, or week journaling about the progress being made on the solution. I am not drawn to journaling by nature, but I do like the aspect of following the progress of the inquiry through a journal. This is also a hands on way to measure the growth, or success of the project by reviewing the journal.
Needless to say, I am excited about this project. I must also confess I am somewhat apprehensive about the unknown that is also included in this inquiry.
Blogs are Great
If you perused through my blog you can tell that I try to blog with my classroom students every week during the school year. I enjoy the idea of communicating my weekly expectations with them and having them respond to my trivia questions. I also encouraged the parents of my students to check the blog weekly so they were aware of any up coming assignments or tests. This is the first year that I have attempted this type of communication, and honestly I was not able to update it every week, but I did try to keep major projects and tests posted. The parents were always very grateful for the posts and felt as if the blog was extremely helpful. I believe that is technology is definitely the wave of the future for education. It is a quick and easy way to communicate with a large group of colleagues, students, or parents, and then it allows all of the involved parties respond to everyone. My next year’s project is to require my G/T students to establish their own blog sites and blog their assignments. I think it sounds exciting.
When I was completing my undergraduate degree eighteen years ago every type of project or report was based on research done by experts. I felt as if the only original part of my papers were the introduction and conclusion. (Side note…I did not plagiarize, I always gave credit to my sources.) This idea of action research is so intriguing; so much more interesting and hands on rather than the traditional reports or projects. It is exciting that I will be deciding on a problem that needs to be solved at my school, and then doing the hands on research rather than reading volumes of research that may not totally apply to my school’s situation. This research can be completed using observations, interviews, problem solving skills, and research with experts as needed. I also like the aspect that a committee of educators can put their heads together and their arms around a problem at their school or district and work on a solution that is explicitly derived for their situation. I also like the idea of reflecting on the problem and spending time each day, or week journaling about the progress being made on the solution. I am not drawn to journaling by nature, but I do like the aspect of following the progress of the inquiry through a journal. This is also a hands on way to measure the growth, or success of the project by reviewing the journal.
Needless to say, I am excited about this project. I must also confess I am somewhat apprehensive about the unknown that is also included in this inquiry.
Blogs are Great
If you perused through my blog you can tell that I try to blog with my classroom students every week during the school year. I enjoy the idea of communicating my weekly expectations with them and having them respond to my trivia questions. I also encouraged the parents of my students to check the blog weekly so they were aware of any up coming assignments or tests. This is the first year that I have attempted this type of communication, and honestly I was not able to update it every week, but I did try to keep major projects and tests posted. The parents were always very grateful for the posts and felt as if the blog was extremely helpful. I believe that is technology is definitely the wave of the future for education. It is a quick and easy way to communicate with a large group of colleagues, students, or parents, and then it allows all of the involved parties respond to everyone. My next year’s project is to require my G/T students to establish their own blog sites and blog their assignments. I think it sounds exciting.
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