EDLD 5363 Week 2

This week we downloaded Audacity and created a quick How To video for it.  We also created a How To video for a video editing software.  I also downloaded U2Any Screen Recorder to capture my screen as I narrated with the script I wrote.  I did edit the screen capture a little once it was finished, but it did save time narrating the video as I worked on screen.  I also added a creative commons license  at the end of both videos.


Audacity How To

iMovie How To

EDLD 5363 Week 1 Reflection

Writing the script for my photo story for week 1 came fairly easily.  When I started thinking about what story I could tell, I immediately starting thinking about my travels over seas.  The difficult part was deciding which country to write about.  Working on my Master's in Educational Technology, the story of the rural school in China quickly emerged.   After collaborating with a couple of my classmates,  I finished my script and started putting my photos together.  I printed out pages with thumbnails and numbered the photos to use as a storyboard.    Thankfully, the girls that peer reviewed my script are also going to be my group members for weeks 3-5 and our group project!   It's nice moving from course to course with the same people so that you can build relationships with them and learn from them as well.  

EDLD 5363- Week 1 Photo Story

Here is my video for Week 1 of 5363.  I'd love your feedback!

Updated Action Research Plan

I met with my site supervisor about my Action Research Plan.  I had previously emailed her my plan so that she could review it before our meeting and we had already agreed upon my topic the previous week.  She suggested that I make sure to include the teachers of the students that I will be gathering data from informed and let them give as much feedback as possible.  She mentioned making sure that they understood my goal and targeted research before we get started.  She thought that my plan was well thought out and that I had a good plan in place.  We discussed that there will always be unforeseen challenges but the planning that I had put in place should help mitigate those challenges.  

I have included my ARP below.  Please leave comments and let me know what you think.

Action Research Plan
School Vision: Engage and support every learner so that they can graduate college and career ready.
Action Research Question: Examine in what ways moving from Dell Minis to Chromebooks in classrooms will impact student achievement and engagement?  ·       How will quicker start up times and increased connectivity/reliability impact student engagement? ·       How will having Chromebooks impact achievement in a math and an English classroom?
Action Steps	Person Responsible	Timeline	Needed Resources	Evaluation
Survey Algebra 1 and English 1 students to identify things they like or dislike about the current system (Dell Minis)	Self Algebra 1 and English 1 teacher	April 2013	Student Survey	Use survey to guide action research
Review student assessment data from usage of Dell Mini	Self	April 2013	STAAR results, DCA results	Analyze assessment data to know areas to target for growth
Identify current research on using technology in classrooms and its impact on student engagement and achievement	Self	May 2013	Educational Articles, Research on use of current technology in the classroom and its impact on student engagement and achievement	Reflections over literature posted to blog
Gather student artifacts and homework/assignment completion data	Self, Algebra 1 teacher, English 1 teacher	April 2013 and June 2013	Data from teachers of students to compare data from before and after technology integration	Data in spreadsheet, compare results of student engagement and completion of homework/ assignments
Observe classroom interaction and engagement	Self	May 2013	Visit classrooms of Eng 1 and Alg 1 students, make field observations about student engagement	Field notes from classroom observations
Gather student assessment data from STAAR and DCA	Self	June-July 2013	Gather data from current year testing to compare to previous years assessment data	Compare data from assessments before and after technology integration, compile data in spreadsheet
Journal thoughts on process as progress is made through project	Self	April 2013-August 2013	Journal on blog	Blog my thoughts as I work through the Action Research Project so that I can go back and work through my thoughts as progress is made
End of year student survey to identify areas of improvement, increased engagement	Self, Algebra 1 teacher, English 1 teacher, students	June 2013	Student survey	Compare student survey information from start of research to current survey, compile data in spreadsheet
Present research to grade level teacher of the subjects researched and to administrative team on campus	Self, English 1 teachers, Algebra 1 teachers, Administrative team, Site Supervisor	August 2013	All relevant data from action research project, including: literature review, data analysis, students surveys and observation notes	Compare and analyze the effectiveness if Chromebooks in English 1 and Algebra 1 classrooms.  Present information to Site Supervisor.
Format based on Tool 7.1 Examining What We Do to Improve Our Schools (Harris, Edmondson, and Combs 2010)

Tool 8.1 CARE Model Planning Tool

Help.....does this even look remotely close to being what we are supposed to do on Part 2 of Week 4???

Tool 8.1 CARE Model: Planning Tool

Identify Concerns that must change (look to the future)

(Assign points to concerns from 1 to 3 in the order of the most important issues to consider.)

1. Increase test scores on STAAR

2. Technology must support the curriculum

3. Increase student engagement and participation

Identify Affirmations that must be sustained (look to the present)

(Assign points to affirmations from 1 to 3 in the order of the most important issues to consider.)

1. Maintain Rigor- technology should add to rigor not be a distraction

2. Teachers must continue to grow in their understanding of technology and it’s implementation

3. Maintain Teacher and Student commitment

SMART Recommendations that must be implemented:

(Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Timely)

(Assign points to recommendations from 1 to 3 in the order of the most important recommendations to implement.)

1. Technology will be used daily and be implemented into the curriculum.

2. Students will use the technology to produce products related to the subject being studied.

3. Technology will be implemented to increase critical thinking and problem solving skills.

EVALUATE – Specifically and Often

(Identify the best ways to evaluate the implemented recommendations.)

1. STAAR test results

2. Observation and documentation of technology usage in classroom

3.  DCA, Common Assessments and other student artifacts will be analyzed for improvement

Action Research Plan

Here is my Action Research Plan.....let me know your thoughts and give me feedback!

Action Research Plan
School Vision: Engage and support every learner so that they can graduate college and career ready.
Action Research Question: Examine in what ways moving from Dell Minis to Chromebooks in classrooms will impact student achievement and engagement?  ·       How will quicker start up times and increased connectivity/reliability impact student engagement? ·       How will having Chromebooks impact achievement in a math and an English classroom?
Action Steps	Person Responsible	Timeline	Needed Resources	Evaluation
Survey Algebra 1 and English 1 students to identify things they like or dislike about the current system (Dell Minis)	Self	April 2013	Student Survey	Use survey to guide action research
Review student assessment data from usage of Dell Mini	Self	April 2013	STAAR results, DCA results	Analyze assessment data to know areas to target for growth
Identify current research on using technology in classrooms and its impact on student engagement and achievement	Self	May 2013	Educational Articles, Research on use of current technology in the classroom and its impact on student engagement and achievement	Reflections over literature posted to blog
Gather student artifacts and homework/assignment completion data	Self, Algebra 1 teacher, English 1 teacher	April 2013 and June 2013	Data from teachers of students to compare data from before and after technology integration	Data in spreadsheet, compare results of student engagement and completion of homework/ assignments
Observe classroom interaction and engagement	Self	May 2013	Visit classrooms of Eng 1 and Alg 1 students, make field observations about student engagement	Field notes from classroom observations
Gather student assessment data from STAAR and DCA	Self	June-July 2013	Gather data from current year testing to compare to previous years assessment data	Compare data from assessments before and after technology integration, compile data in spreadsheet
Journal thoughts on process as progress is made through project	Self	April 2013-August 2013	Journal on blog	Blog my thoughts as I work through the Action Research Project so that I can go back and work through my thoughts as progress is made
End of year student survey to identify areas of improvement, increased engagement	Self, Algebra 1 teacher, English 1 teacher, students	June 2013	Student survey	Compare student survey information from start of research to current survey, compile data in spreadsheet
Present research to grade level teacher of the subjects researched and to administrative team on campus	Self, English 1 teachers, Algebra 1 teachers, Administrative team, Site Supervisor	August 2013	All relevant data from action research project, including: literature review, data analysis, students surveys and observation notes	Compare and analyze the effectiveness if Chromebooks in English 1 and Algebra 1 classrooms.  Present information to Site Supervisor.
Format based on Tool 7.1 Examining What We Do to Improve Our Schools (Harris, Edmondson, and Combs 2010)

Action Research Plan

Action Research Plan

It was easy for me to determine what Action Research Project I would do.  Our school is testing a change from Dell Minis to Chrome Books in our COWs (Computers On Wheels).  A math teacher has already gotten a class set and an English teacher will be receiving a set the Monday after spring break.  Administration wanted to know if the Chrome Books are a more efficient use of time in the classroom and what impact they have on student engagement and achievement.  There are teachers in the same PLC/grade level that will not be receiving the Chrome Books, so I will be able to compare data between classes with and without the Chrome Books and also compare between before and after Chrome Books.  My site mentor gave me some great suggestions about questions to ask the teachers that are using the Chrome Books and also had some suggestions on other district staff to contact about information (technology and our District Director of Instructional Technology).  I'm looking forward to getting into the meat of this project and seeing if there are any true long lasting impacts on students as a result of having access to this technology.