Action Research Project Update

My action research project has hit several delays and roadblocks this year.  My project was to determine if a 1:1 iPad implementation would increase student performance on standardized tests.  Our school had a delay in getting the proper amount of Internet bandwidth, which made most of the teachers hesitant to use the devices.  When teachers did use them for instruction, it was often an exercise in frustration.  We received approval on March 28, 2014 to purchase the switches needed to improve the Internet access.  We have been asking for these since January of 2013.  We also had to wait over nine months to purchase an app that we are using for student workflow.  Our district is not ready for students to have email addresses. This is why we chose to have a paid app over using Google docs and Gmail for free.  We received the approval to purchase the app in December of 2013.  We started training teachers in January and have had some success.  Several teachers are using the app and the iPad during the spring semester, but it is too little too late in my opinion.  I do not feel that I will be able to accurately tell if the use of iPads increased student performance.  More than likely any increase will be the result of good, old-fashion teaching.  When the results come back from the 2014 round of STAAR testing, I will finish my analysis and draw any reasonable conclusions.  Documenting these results in my paper will conclude my action research project.

EDLD 5397 Week 5 Web Conference Reflection

Dr. Borel has been a wonderful professor.  The Week 5 web conference was just as expected.  Dr. Borel is always extremely clear on the course expectations.  Dr. Borel explained the course requirements again and stated all the documents that must be submitted to Blackboard and TK20 in order to receive credit for this course. She answers any questions that you may have, no matter how many times you ask the same question.  This course has been challenging and I will be excited once I make my last upload to TK20, but I feel this course has made me a better student. 

EDLD 5364 Week Five Assignment, Part 3

EDLD 5364 Teaching with Technology is a course that I thought all of the courses in the Educational Technology Masters Program would be like.  As educators, we need time to research and develop lessons and activities that integrate technology and address all students’ needs.  In this course, we learned about a specific lesson plan model, the UDL.  “Universal Design for Learning is a set of principles for curriculum development that give all individuals equal opportunities to learn.”  (Rose & Meyer, 2002) Most teachers adapt their lessons and modify at the time of instruction for students with special needs, but less experienced teachers need time to practice this skill.  Every teacher, new or old, needs to spend time researching and staying current on new modifications and technologies available to help all students participate in learning.  The UDL model explained the steps necessary to include all students and discussed the three brain networks.  The networks are affective, strategic, and recognition.  “As our knowledge of the distributed processing in the brain grows, we know that the students do not have one kind of intelligence or one way of learning; they have many. To accommodate these many ways of learning, we can use what we know about how each brain network operates to make our teaching methods and curriculum materials flexible in specific ways.” (Rose & Meyer, 2002)  The UDL model should be retaught at professional development opportunities throughout the years at schools. 

Another wonderful tool discovered in this class is using the book builder from the cast.org website.  Creating an eBook allows students to access the content at home or repeat the book several times at school.  eBooks also give teachers the ability to create coaches throughout the book to help when students are having trouble.  eBooks are not only for teachers, but for students.  This would make a fabulous end of unit assessment.  The best way to test students’ understanding is to see if they can explain the concept to someone else.

I also feel like we learned a great deal about the professional development surrounding new technology teachers need in order to be successful.   “Simply putting computers in schools does not mean effective technology integration has occurred. Teachers must see the connection between new hardware and software and their educational applications in the classroom.” (Pitler, 2005) Schools receive money and administrators make plans to purchase new technology without consulting with the IT department or considering the money and hours their teachers will need to become familiar with the technology.  Far too often, good technology sits in the corners of classroom collecting dust because the teachers were not trained properly.

I feel that I am a better instructional technologist after completing this course.  I have a new outlook on ways to modify for all students with technology and to make sure that teachers are comfortable with the technology they are being asked to use.

 References:

Pitler, H. (2005). McRel technology initiative: The development of a technology intervention program final report (Contract Number ED-01-CO-0006). Aurora, CO: Mid-Continent Research for Education and Learning. (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED486685) Retrieved from http://eric.ed.gov/ERICWebPortal/custom/portlets/recordDetails/detailmini.jsp?_nfpb=true&_&ERICExtSearch_SearchValue_0=ED486685&ERICExtSearch_SearchType_0=no&accno=ED486685

Rose, D., & Meyer, A. (2002). Teaching every student in the digital age: Universal design for learning. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. Available online at the Center for Applied Special Technology Web site. Chapter 1-7. Retrieved from http://www.cast.org/teachingeverystudent/ideas/tes/

EDLD 5364 Week Five Reflection

Week 5 came easier than week 3, but there was still much confusion over the assignment expectations.  This class has been the most challenging so far.  Not because of the content or the course requirements, but from the lack of communication.  Thank goodness for our wonderful IA’s-you saved us! 

I really enjoyed the video interviewing James Paul Gee.  His view of the future of learning and video games was extremely fascinating.  He states that all games are a series of tests.  You are constantly learning new material, being tested on it, and provided feedback when you pass or fail the test. (Gee, 2008)  I have never thought of games this way, but it makes perfect sense.  When you are “playing”, your brain is constantly working and attempting to solve problems.   I also found Howard Gardner’s research on ethics among youth interesting.  I agree with Garner that most people do what is convenient instead of doing what is right.  (Gardner, 2009)  I think some people are trying to change this movement in our society, but it will take some work. 

References:

Citation: Edutopia.org (nd). Big Thinkers: Howard Gardner on Digital Youth. Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/digital-generation-howard-gardner-video

Citation: Edutopia.org (nd). Big thinkers: James Paul Gee on grading with games. Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/digital-generation-james-gee-video