The Decision Has Been Made

The decision has been made. I am going with a mixed montage of Prezi as the presentation platform, Voki, an animation program, JPEG pictures to illustrate visually the point I was trying to make, and text. The difficult thing about  utilizing new technology is the learning curve involved with learning new software.  Its so ironic being that my action plan has been about getting teachers to use new technology and the resistance that is often encountered. I want to stand tall and tell you I am not one of those teacher. Since I have never used Prezi before there was a learning curve involved, but I worked through it and I will continue to do so.  That ultimately is what makes teachers successful technology integrators. There willingness to see the value in technology and be willing to go through the painful part to expand their abilities.  But, this is not about me.. So off we go. Check it out when you get a chance.

 http://prezi.com/xowjnqlrs19v/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share

Last Minute Changes and Final Presentations

What a semester! Following the progress and the growth of a project for a few months has been an interesting experience. Learning the process in how to do an action research study has given me the skills to create one in the future. Wether it be for school or for my thesis project, I feel I am ready to go and can product an excellent study.

The culmination of this assignment went thought various versions. To present this project, is just as important as the study itself, you want to present it in a way where it is clean, neat, easy to digest information and one they can come back to. Originally I was working on a Powtoons video for my Web 2.0 demonstration. By going though the video, i quickly decided to switch gears to a Prezi. The Prezi allowed me to put more graphs, charts and pictures into the presentation. I thought it looked a lot cleaner.

The final project has come together, with the Prezi, the Action Research write-up and chronicling my progress on this blog, It gave me a perspective to see the value of action research. The study allows the person conducting the research and the person reading to gain new insight on any given topic. When done well, people will learn form it and grow as a professional.

Web 2.0

I stepped outside by comfort zone and took a risk and did a prezi.   I never did a prezi so I am relieved that I can do it.  I was nervous and it took me a couple hours to do it.  I was going to do a power point but I decided to step outside and do it.

Finished Web 2.0 Presentation

Web 2.0 Presentations

In choosing a web 2.0 tool for my presentation, I was reluctant to use Prezi as it's replacing PowerPoint as the new go-to tool. I also was interested in using other tools that I was less familiar with. One problem with using a tool that you're less familiar with is the time it takes to learn the features and how to use of them. I spent some time playing around with Powtoon, Visme, and StoryboardThat. After a while, I realized I was spending too much time selecting a tool to use. Eventually, I settled on Visme because I had the most success when testing it out. There were a few hiccups, but I managed to work through those.

Web 2.0

It is always a daunting task to describe what you are working on. This seems amplified when that discussion is supposed to be visually engaging and captivating.  The audience shouldn't simply undertand the action plan. They should be rivited to it like they are at some action film. For me, the question has been, where do I start. Which platform is the best for getting my point across in an engaging way. It was my fear that the wrong platform that would be less enagaing to use but easy for me to work with would act to diminsh the point of my action, which is teachers using technology. Therefore, it had to be a combination of snazzy graphics, eye catching navigation and be cutting edge. The first technology I had to cut off my list was a powerpoint presentation. There is not a platform more flat and disinteresting than powerpoint. At this point in educational history, I think we have all been powerpointed to death (hence the term "death by powerpoint). So, I knew right away to scratch that off the list. Prezi is newer, has some interesting navigation but its graphics are just ok. It might work so I wont table it completely yet. "Storyoard That" seemed like a winner but I am not sure of the learning curve involved in using it. It has some interesting possibilities. Go Animate a web based animation solution looked very cool and i will begin playing with it but still not sure which way to go. Stay tuned and I will let you know which one I choose.

Final Tweaks: A Plan Not Yet Fully Realized.

Finally, I am at the point where I am down to final Tweak's. I next can look forward to my Web 2.0 presentation to make my plan more marketable and break it down for those interested in implementation. Looking back, it was a wild ride. Defining and re-defining what the project objectives are, as I came to understand what I was truly after. The literature guided me. But the data gathering and statistics also played a role in defining how best to measure outcomes. The process is organic in that it grows and changes with the conditions under which are presented.  I have picked up so much learning. A new way to view an old problem and a professional contact in the field to boot. I have been asked to send my plan to Smart but I might wait to do that. Mainly so that I can gather genuine data. It is my true belief that this plan will continue to grow and change as I learn more about teachers and how and why they chose to implement technology.  Additionally, as technologies change and augment,  I hop to learn which will be the ones that effectively work to close the achievement gap within our schools.

Web 2.0 Idea

In brainstorming my web 2.0 selection, I found this video made with PawToon. It's pretty cool.

Setting A Timeline For Analyzing Data

As I complete the analyzing the data setting up a time table is very important..   Setting up an incremental  time table allows the examiner to evaluate the effectiveness of online learning plans and to make  any changes or adjustments before extensive periods of time have passed. 

Analying Data

In the homestretch on the Action Research Plan.  When analyzing the data the research questions are being re-examined.  At this step I am finding that the main purpose is to re-assessing the  research questions.  Through this research I am reflecting what purpose do I get out of how my data will answer my research questions.

The Value in Sharing Results

Ideally, the findings and conclusions that we make in our action research align with the affirmative answer to our research questions. But, there's also value in sharing findings even if they are not the desired outcomes. Sharing results allows action research teams to further reflect on the problem as well as the process of conducting research. Experiences and results may benefit other educators in their attempts to improve their teaching and student learning.

Applying Data

I am at the stage to apply data and how to interpret the data.    To measure data is effective and getting to answering your research questions.   To finally get at that step makes the research worthwhile.

Applying the Data....The Buy In

Your action research is now complete. You complied all the data, wrote a conclusion, but how do you get people to buy in to what your saying. Its all about the presentation. You want people believe what your selling. A good video, poster, PowerPoint, Prezi or other mediums can turn a so so report into something great. Great service at a restaurant can make just OK food a reason to return. The same for a presentation. Talking to many teachers, they don't like the idea of the flipped classroom. The most common answers are, its too much work, or they want to ensure that students understand the work. Doing new work at home is too much responsibility for the average student. Well, after the surveying students, that have worked through a flipped classroom, they feel they get more out if it. In addition, as a teacher who does this, it creates a more rewarding teacher experience. Don't believe me, check out this article.

http://researchnetwork.pearson.com/elearning/the-flipped-classroom-a-students-perspective

or this one

http://www.eschoolnews.com/2013/02/15/how-a-flipped-classroom-flipped-a-students-perspective/

The student perspective of a flipped classroom changes once they work though it. Most get on board very quickly. Here is a great video that shows this.

Putting It All Together! Applying the Results

The final step in any research is how to use the results. You want the reviewers of the research to be able to engage in discussions about the research. You want them to clearly see the results and how they can use that in their own classrooms. To show the results, there are many different options. I previously posted a poster.  Another way is the following video.

I like the these two ideas, because it creates a clear visual of the result of the research.

When I post my final results, I want the the viewers to to be able to clearly see the results, engage in a quality data driven discussion and look for ways to adapt this model into their own classrooms.

Applying the Results

Now that the data analysis portion of my ARPP is completed...well the rough draft anyway...it is now time to focus on applying the results. I must say that this may be a bit challenging in that there are no actual results. I'll use this part of the plan as an opportunity to reflect on how I would apply the results given certain scenarios. My research questions are:

1. Does student motivation improve as a result of the use of technology-based personalized learning?

2. Does student math proficiency improve as a result of the use of technology-based personalized learning?

 The considerations for reflection will depend on whether the data supports that student motivation and math proficiency both improve as a result of the use of technology-based personalized learning. I'll need to consider the reasons for the possible results, and how they might be used to invoke change in a school setting.

A Reprieve

Just as the pulse of my project seemed weakest, a reprieve in the form of an extension. The difficult part of the process of crafting an action plan is the meeting of deadlines. Any number of twists and turns can cause your plan to spiral out of control and before you know it your down the rabbit hole chasing some literature that you have discovered, and must now add, or mired down in the statistical vortex that is your data.  For sure, you want to get it right. You want to make sure your plan doesn't become the ramblings of a babbling fool but instead the musings of a beautiful mind. You want the conveyance to be as crystalline as the day you first dreamt of it. This however, would never happen without the occasional extension to regroup and rethink. So for this week I would like to thank our professor who took pity on our poor souls and new that the product is as important as the process.  

Methodology and Analyzing the Data

Once I changed my topic I feel much better as I approach analyzing the data.  There are studies done throughout the country examining online learning.  I will use comparison of control group and non control groups to analyze my data.

Backwards Planning and Analyzing the Data

Completing the Analyzing the Data section in my Action Research Project made me realizing how much backwards planning is actually involved. When I began to hone in on how I want to analyze the data, the big picture began to appear. It helped me to refocus the methodology and what literature would be good to analyze.

Moving forward with this research, I can see how much data that i will be collecting. And thats a good thing. This will allow me to analyze students grades but bring the students into the fold by asking their own opinions. A Likert Scale using survey monkey is an easy way to do this. In addition, I have begun to think about what my final presentation for the project will look like.  Here is an example of one, Poster of a Flipped Classroom.

Revising Methodology

During the last week, I took some time to revise my methodology to include more specificity about the variables that will be included in my research plan. Originally, I had not provided enough detail so that those reading my plan would clearly understand the intervention being used. I also revised the survey I intend to use to include more options used in the intervention so that responses are more targeted and so that my research question can be answered. Now I feel more confident in developing a plan to collect, organize, analyze, and interpret data.

Technology and the 21st Century

I found something relevant and we can all agree something said by our Secretary of Education.


      "The factory model of  education is the wrong model for the 21st century.  Today our schools must prepare all students for college and careers and do far more to personalize instruction and employ the smart use of technology. "




                                            - Arne Duncan , U.S. Secretary of Education

Online School

Will online schooling eventually replace the traditional classroom?   As an educator if I don't keep up with technology will I be replaced.  Advanced Path programs are being used for credit recovery.   Do these programs give students the  incentive to pass classes the first time if they have the opportunity to complete classes online?

Sign Test

A well-known example of a sign test is the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test. I was reading about it on Wikipedia and it's used for repeated measures, which is what my ARPP uses as the design.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilcoxon_signed-rank_test

The Virtual Classroom

The virtual classroom seems to be the wave of the 21st century.  Florida and Michigan are using the Virtual and online classroom.   I found some links on you tube on the virtual classroom I will check the url link on another blog. .

First Formative Assessment Results

Usually I post my blog on Wednesdays, but this week I held off till today, due to my first formative assessment with my flipped classes. Over the course of the past few weeks, my classes have been split into two different groups, traditional classroom and a flipped classroom. I gave my students a quiz today and wanted to to post my results. 54 students took the quiz today. It was 35 selected responses and 5 short answer constructed response questions. The same quiz was given to the same classes, as they were taught in a traditional classroom.  The stats are as follows:

Last year: Events from end of WWI though the start of WWII

Last year:

• Traditional Classroom: 67% average score

This year:

• Traditional Classroom: 69% average score
• Flipped Classroom: 74% average score

The average scores went up 5%. That is a big jump. My students were very happy with this increase and so far are pleased with this new type of classroom. They have begun to ask are the U.S. History classes next year going to be flipped. Seems like the student buy-in is very high at this point. The video also shows why student buy-in is high.

Methodology - Using Observation

As  I do my Action Research I will be using observations and surveys when working on my methodology design.  My data will be more qualitative.

Displaying Results

While working on the data collection component of my action research plan, I decided to download the app Statistics Visualizer, on my iPad to explore its functionalities and to gain a sense of how user-friendly it is. I created sample data of the heights and weights of basketball players on a team, and then used the app to conduct a correlational analysis. Screenshots are shown below. I found that the app is easy to use and a useful tool.

Sample Data

Stat Report

 

Regression Plot 

Finalizing Draft of Methodology

For my methodology design, I decided to stick with the quasi-experimental research with one group pretest and posttest. This design is limiting in terms of reliability, but it allows for some flexibility within my research plan. I made both my pretest and posttest performance assessment tasks which will allow me to answer research question regarding improved student math proficiency. I’m sure this part of my plan will require edits as the others. I look forward to the feedback as I begin to learn how to analyze the data. 

 

SNOW DAYS!!! SNOW DAYS!!!! SNOW DAYS????

SNOW DAYS!!! SNOW DAYS!!!! SNOW DAYS????

Technology is ruining the traditional snow days for the students and myself. This is the first year I have taken advantage of Edmodo and had my students do work during the snow days. While other teachers are saying they lost those days with their students and are behind, mine kept on going. I posted videos and assignments in a true Flipped Classroom fashion. The student came in with their work and were ready to go.  Surprisingly, I only had a small number of complaints that they had to do work on the snow day. Most just did it as an expectation of the class. I think this may become a norm.  A flipped classroom can be done at any time and any place. Snow days didn't interfere with the learning, because the learning takes place at home.

Thinking Outside The Box

I had to refocus on my Action Research.  I have made my research more relevant.  I am examining the impact of online and blended learning on at-risk students.  More and more schools are using online learning and blended learning to deal with the at-risk population.  I am seeing the relevance of this research.   Virtual learning is a great tool and vital in keeping with the 21st century.  As I research more I am becoming more confident in my research.  Will online learning and blended learning contribute to the decline in the dropout rate among certain groups of students?   I see the relevance of this topic even more.

Letting the Research Guide You

Research is like drilling for oil, the deeper you go the more you tend to find. This has been my experience in writing an action research plan.  After not feeling satisfied with the quantity of literature I reviewed in my first go around, I decided to cast a wider net and delve deeper to find literature that spoke more specifically to my topic.  I was successful in gaining greater insight and
potentially a professional contact.  I reached out to an author whose article, according to the abstract, would be perfect to add to my literature review. The article itself, not available and hence the need to contact the author. This particular author was a professor at a college I attended years ago and whose classes I never took. But, having great faith in mankind and the hope he will take pity on a former alumnus, I look forward to hearing back from him soon. I view this encounter in the most positive light possible, with either the contact providing the article needed or perhaps with guidance to suggest other articles for my research.  Whatever the outcome, approaching expert authors in the field is never a bad thing and could lead to great professional contacts. I will keep you posted. 

As my professor has pointed out, action research planning can be a very heuristic process. I am understanding that better every day. 

Creating a Focus with 21st Century Skills.

The problem with conducting research on 21st century skills, is that it can be to general. There are so many avenues a teacher, schools, and a researcher can explore. But how can you narrow a focus to one element? This seems to be the issue within my class and my research. I am too spread out. I am throwing to many new skills at my students instead of having them master one or few 21st century skills.  In addition, as a teacher, I am trying to many new ideas, instead of creating a platform of instruction. Therefore, over the past few days, I have reevaluated what may focus should be.  I am going to create a centralized focus on what it means to have a 21st century classroom. My research should help identify a few strategies should that exemplify this classroom and the impact in can have on teaching and learning.  Therefore, I see this research as two fold.  

• What teaching and learning skills create a 21st century classroom?
• What everyday technology can be used and infused within a 21st century classroom?

I do not want to say its back to the drawing board, but an attempt to refine.  

This video does a great job showing a true 21st century classroom.

Grappling with Research Design

For my research design, I will use a quantitative approach. I will use a survey to examine the effect that personalized learning has on student motivation. I will use quasi-experimental research with the one group pretest and posttest design to examine the effect that personalized learning has on math proficiency. My concern with this design is its flaws. The findings could show an increase in math proficiency, but there is no way to be certain that the increase would be a consequence of personalized learning. While this research design is commonly used in action research, I’m still debating on whether one of the other designs will allow me to meet my research aims.

New Research Engines

As I am working on my Action Research I become familiar with Questia and ERIC as a research tool.   It has helped me find educational journals.  I need to work on narrowing my topic as I research my Action Plan.  I have found journals on various topics not necessarily my topic which has caused me to re-evaluate the topic in which I am researching.  I was talking to the STAT teacher at my school concerning my topic and how technology on the achievement gap but she felt I needed to narrow my topic.  She was going to send me additional research engines to use.  I will blog more later after I check out her sources she sends me. 

Writing, Re-writing and then Writing Again

One of the most arduous and tedious aspects of this endeavor is revisions. I know how important accuracy is in action planning and I get that researching and revising is the process by which one becomes more accurate. But,for first timers, like myself, being accurate is an acquired skill. One that comes from much painful work. Not to sound cheesy but I have a better understanding of the dictum "no pain, no gain," As I drill down through the literature and gain new insights, I find myself gently nudging my plan in ever slightly different directions, refocusing my plan while expanding my scope of understanding on the topic.  It is a journey akin to mining for gold. The deeper you dig, either the more gold you discover or the more you question whether or not you are digging in the right place, Just like gold rush miners, the dream of finding that one giant nugget propels you to carry on your dig. I am currently in the process of revising my action plan but I will continue researching until I feel confident that the literature accurately reflects current thinking on the topic of the plan. I will keep you posted as I progress along.  

Technology not integrated with curriculum is just furniture

In my experience as a teacher I have all but toll often walked into a classroom to see a smartboard sitting unused in the back of the room or an Elmo covered in books and paper. Often times this is because teachers don't see a connect between the technology and what they do to accomplish there curriculum. Many teachers see the software and hardware as not aligning to their textbooks and thus lose interest in its employment. The way to get teachers on board is to change our viewpoint from infusing technology into the classroom and instead infuse technology into our curriculum. This will require us as professionals to find connection points between appropriate technologies and curriculum.

Literature review and attitudes toward technology. A student and teacher perspective.

I have found several important themes in doing my literature review. In regards to student achievement, researchers have found a positive correlation between student achievement increases and the use of instructional technology. This achievement increase relates to the students view of the instruction as being more meaningful, engaging and employs methods they see as more current.  Additionally, the literature has indicated that in-service teachers are less likely than pre-service teachers to view instructional technology as worthwhile. Lastly, in-service teachers are more likely than pre-service teachers to only use instructional technology to support out dated methods of instruction. Research shows that attitudes towards employment of instructional technology is tied to prior experience with digital technology.

Video - Learning Styles

Here is a video clip of basic learning styles and its relation to one's preference:

Literature Review

As a result of class tonight I have a clearer understanding of the Literature Review process.   Next week's blog will focus on the Methodology.

Different Instruction with Media

During my literature search to write my review, I read an interesting study about the use of media in instruction. The study discusses that even with electronic delivery, students with differing learning styles can still be engaged and make progress. Examples of electronic presentation can include images, diagrams, videos and simulations. Examples of classwork surrounding this type of presentation can include practice with electronic discussions and virtual meetings for group work. Students that may not think they can be captivated by electronic learning may realize they can enjoy this type of learning.

Relating Team Focus and Problem Statement

The Tech Leaders’ focus is to use technology to enhance lessons and student engagement. Our mission is to help teachers use technology as an accelerator of learning. This can be done by implementing technology-based personalized learning approaches in classrooms. The objective is not to let technology drive learning, but to have it serve as support while students’ individual needs are met. There are multiple ways this can be done such as, providing students with options to demonstrate their learning using a variety of tech tools.