Digital Graphics and Web Design course wrap up.

This course provided another opportunity to work in a group.  I enjoy the group work because it gave us an opportunity to network and to share ideas.  It always makes me happy to see when a group of people can manage to create a product even though they probably would not be able to pick each other out in a crowd. Being able to use Google Docs makes the group work quite a bit easier. The group work also presents a challenge to be able to coordinate time and work despite our varying schedules. This is the one thing that is a little nerve racking to me.  Our group work began just as my school year was beginning.  Knowing that my school district is the only district in Texas that has begun made me nervous.  I did not want my group mates to think I was not putting in the same amount of effort they were putting in.  My schedule allowed me to be the most productive on our assignments on the weekend.

 

    I really enjoyed several of the assignments during this 5 week course.  I particularly enjoyed the self logo assignment.  I appreciated having to stop and reflect on what I could use to represent me and what I want to accomplish as a teacher and a person.  I enjoyed it so much that I turned around and gave that assignment to my Pre Advanced Placement students.  Their self designed logo was used to decorate the composition notebook used for my class.

 

     In creating my logo and reflecting on the kind of teacher I wanted to be, I realized that I wanted to incorporate more technology into my class.  As our team divided up the portions of the web page I was able to work on the “How To” page.  This allowed me to research three Web 2.0 tools.  I researched an animation site in which you can manipulate a stick figure to create a flipbook type animation (www.stykz.com), a site that allows you to create a poster of words (www.wordle.com), and a site that allows you to share PowerPoints you have created with people around the world (www.slideshare.com). But my greatest find was the tool that I used to show how to use all these sites.  Screencast-o-matic (www.screencast-o-matic.com) is a site that allows you to record what is being seen the screen of your computer.  I was able to record my mouse actions as I navigated through each site.  Not only does it record my screen activity but I was able to record my voice as I narrated what I was doing on the site.  This site could play a crucial role in creating a reverse classroom in which my students can watch my lecture for homework and come into the class to apply their knowledge in class.  This group assignment also allowed me to triple the amount of posts I have on YouTube.

To check out the web site we created go to https://sites.google.com/site/everyoneelseleftovers/

Movie Maker video podcast

This morning I had never podcasted in my life.  Now at 9:15 pm (Mountain standard time) I have not only podcasted but I have video podcasted as well.  Here is a link to my effort at creating a video podcast using Jing a free screen recorder.

http://screencast.com/t/HGEmWouulb

 

Podcaster...the Evolution of a Blogger

For my week two assignment I was to record a podcast using the open source application Audacity.
I had used Audacity once years ago to create my own custom ringtone.  I thought every one would enjoy Dane Cook's car alarm song every time I got a phone call.   I was wrong. 

I chose to explain how to download and install Audacity in my podcast.  I could definitely feel the pressure of recording my voice as I read from a script I had written.  I fumbled over a couple of words but I was able to edit those flubs out using the user friendly Audacity tools.  I also found myself editing out a lot of my breathing.  I could have pieced together the clips I cut and created a pretty good obscene phone call.

Here is a video of my podcast.

I know what I did last summer.

The first assignment for my EDLD 5363 Multimedia Video Technology course was to create an autobiographical video using a movie creator. In this case I chose to use iMovie for Apple.  In making this video using video clips and still pictures that I took last summer reminded me how productive my summer was last year. 

 

This assignment began with creating a script for the movie.  I was able to create a theme for the video.  Our principal constantly reminds us that she lives her summer through our adventures and travels.  I imagined having this video cue up when she asked, "Did anyone do anything interesting this summer?"  I would answer with a "Well Mrs. Cook, this is what I did this summer...start the video."  So the script took a direction of me speaking to my colleagues and my principal.

 

Next we had to create a storyboard that we had to share with a classmate for critiquing.  I created a story board using the Show Me application on the iPad.  This was my first show me and it has opened my eyes as to how I could use this application in my classroom.  Here is the link to my Show Me storyboard.

http://www.showme.com/sh/?h=JDrXWGu

 

Finally we had to post our final product to Youtube or Teachertube websites.  This was my first posting onto either site which completed a goal that I had had.  Here is my final video product.

The search for action research.

I think the whole action research topic has been very enlightening and refreshing.  I now have a name for something I have done in my classroom throughout my ten year career.  I was able to see examples of action research in my school and in my school district.  I saw I had been involved in action research as both a researcher and as a participant.  I saw how informal action research was used by my administration to improve faculty meetings and teacher inservices.  I also saw how formal action research is used to plan for the year within the school and by the district.
One specific area in which I want to learn more is using action research to improve as a leader of adults as opposed to a leader of children.  If I decide to go into administration the style of leadership I use with the kids will have to be altered to lead adults.  I am constantly observing our administration to see how they handle themselves in different situations. I watch how they talk to faculty, staff, students, and parents.  
In order to improve on my leadership skills I plan on seeking out more leadership positions.  Recently I took on the task of organizing our school's Pre Advanced Placement scheduling.  Students were offered the opportunity to take a test which score along with the students grade point average and teacher recommendation would determine if they were eligible for Pre AP.  I had to work with teachers to obtain their lists of qualified students and to organize a Pre AP night in which parents and students came to get a general understanding of Pre AP and to sign district created contracts to be apart of the program.  Once contracts were signed it was my responsibility to give our registrar a list of the students and the courses they had agreed on taking.

This was an action research project in which I learned how important communication is in order to create a successful event.  I jumped into the situation with both feet and I had a tremendous amount of help from a colleague who did the organizing last year.  I did learn that I have to improve on my communication skills.  I also learned the timing of the communication is very important.  I look forward to making more mistakes and learning from them in a leadership role.

Finalized Research Plan

Title: When used as a supplemental material, can the educational software Compass Learning increase academic performance of low performing 8th grade science students?

Compass Learning is an online educational software which is in line with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS).  The software can be used to determine a learning path for individual students based on the results of a pre-test. The learning path includes video modules, interactive activities, and quizzes.

Participants for the research will be determined by averages in science after the 1st 3 weeks of the 1st 9 weeks on the Fall of 2013.  The students will be asked to come in before and after school in order to access the program and to complete the learning paths designed for each student.

Compass Learning maintains records of the students performance on assessments.  I will also use unit exams designed by CSCOPE to track progress of participants.  Most importantly the participants overall grade will be monitored as well.

The Action Research will continue for the duration of the 1st 9 weeks.  Results will be analyzed and perhaps more inquiries will arise during that time.

Action Research Draft

Action Research Report Draft

Abstract or Executive Summary

This is a ½ to 1 page executive review of the completed action research study - basically, an overall summary.  Wait until you have the results and conclusions of your research study to write this.  The purpose of an abstract is for the reader to quickly see if this is a report that they wish to read.  So, be sure to include the basics, i.e., school, location, problem addressed, intervention, and results as clearly and succinctly as possible.

 

Title and Author

The title of your research report should clearly describe your problem and intervention.  Although some titles need to be longer than usual, please try to limit the number of words you use.   More information on the title will be given in EDLD 5398.

 

When used as a resource for tutoring, can the online educational program Compass Learning increase academic performance in low performing 8^th grade science students?  Compass Learning is a program purchased by the district and I want to know if it is worth the cost.

 

Introduction / Background (Section One) 

This section sets the stage for the reader to better understand the overall action research project.  The first part is typically several paragraphs describing the overall scenario or context of your study, e.g. name of school, location, relevant history, demographics (ethnicity and socio-economic level of students, grade levels, urban or rural, etc.), your position, and any other relevant information that will assist the reader in understanding the context of your study.  Include any significant challenges or biases discovered that might impact the project.

The next part is a description of the problem you confronted, e.g., students disrupting class, detention hall not causing any improvements, low levels of knowledge or skill in reading or computer applications, etc.  In general terms, try to describe to the reader the nature of the problem including severity, how long the problem has occurred,  or any other relevant information so that the reader has a full understanding of the details of the problem or issue.

The next part is typically a brief paragraph stating what you want to find out.  This may be in the form of a research question or simply a statement describing the purpose of conducting your action research.

The next paragraph explains who will benefit from the information that your action research project will provide, and how, or in what ways they will benefit.  Be sure to add a sentence noting that your study will add to the knowledge base of your topic (e.g. middle school discipline, elementary peer tutoring, etc.)

The last part of this section will be a listing of terms that you believe need to be defined so that readers outside of your school or field can better understand.  Education seems to have its own language.

 

John Drugan School is a kindergarten through 8^th grade public school located in El Paso, Texas.  Drugan is a part of the Socorro Independent School District.  The school opened its doors in 2005.  The students involved in the research are of varying socio-economic backgrounds and are mainly of Hispanic decent.

 

The researcher is a 7^th and 8^th grade science teacher with 10 years of education experience.  The researcher has been teaching middle school science at Drugan since 2007.

 

Compass Learning was introduced to Drugan during the Spring semester of the 2012-2013 school year.  The program is designed to provide additional support to teachers of all levels and all subjects.  The version of Compass Learning made available to teachers of Socorro ISD is for middle school Math and Science.  Middle school Math and Science teachers received two, day long professional development courses on how to use Compass Learning.  

 

Teachers were encouraged to work Compass Learning into their weekly lesson plans but with limited computer lab access it quickly became an issue.  Compass Learning modules were designed and assigned to middle school students to complete at home.  Issues with internet access soon arouse and a different use for Compass Learning was then sought.  The educational program was then used with students during intersession tutoring.  Smaller groups of students made the computer lab more accessible and for a longer period of time.

 

Because of the limitations of using the educational program with an entire class it was decided that perhaps it could become a resource for low performing students.  This research will determine if Compass Learning would benefit these students.

 

 

 

Literature Review (Section Two)

 

This may be several pages or many pages that explain what the current research shows about your topic.  You will cite research from articles, studies, books, etc., including district or state information gathered that is pertinent to your study.  You do not need to review all the research, but try to find quality articles from experts in the field.   There is no limit on the number of references cited but typically, 6-8 studies will suffice.  The answer to how many or how long this section should be is stopping whenever you feel you have a good grasp of what the literature shows about your topic.  Remember that each reference cited in the literature review should be written in APA format and included in the references section of your Action Research Project Report.

 

Action Research Design (Section Three)

Subjects

Describe your target population and if you used a sample, how did you select your sample and the rationale for your sample size. 

 

The target population of this action research will be 220 8^th grade students of varying academic levels between the ages of 13 and 15.   The sample will be made of almost entirely Hispanic students with a small percentage of Caucasian and African-American students. These students are students at the school in teach 8^th grade science.

 

Procedures

Describe the actions (in research terms, this is the intervention) you took to address the problem you were trying to solve.  Include a timeline of when you began and the completion date.  If your intervention utilized steps of a longer process, include the timelines for each step.  Also include resources used and persons responsible, if others were involved in your action research project. Remember that other teachers and administrators may read your report, so think about how best to describe what you did so that they may replicate, if desired.

 

The goal of this action research plan is to determine if the online educational resource Compass Learning, made available to Science teachers by the Socorro Independent School District, is worth the expense based on its effectiveness on increasing the academic performance of low performing 8^th grade students.

I plan on beginning this action research plan next year.  I will determine low performers during the first three weeks of school.  Those students will then be brought in for tutoring for the remainder of the 9 weeks.  Three week progress report grades will be used as the baseline for the student’s performance. The research will end at the conclusion of the 1^st 9 weeks grading period.  Final grades will be used to show amount of growth.

 

Using the Compass Learning system I will be creating a pre-test that coincides with TEKS being covered.  Based on the student’s performance on the pre-test, compass learning designs a learning path best suited to address the student’s needs.  The students will follow the learning path which includes different modules made up of videos, quizzes, and interactive activities for the student to complete.  At the end of the learning path the student will then take a post test to evaluate student growth.

 

Data Collection

Describe the methods you used to collect data.  For example, this could be collecting data from observations, journals, surveys, interviews, homework, tests, office referrals, test score data, etc.  Be sure to accurately describe the method.  For example, if you used a survey, was it for the entire group or individually; was it a pre and post survey; or was it a checklist or open ended questions?  Give enough information that the reader fully understands what and how you collected the data.

 

Computers with internet access will be the main tool needed to complete this research.  The Compass Learning program not only provides the learning modules, quizzes, and tests, but it will also track student progress. Compass Learning will keep track of the student’s scores are each test they take on the program.  The student’s class grade will also be taken into consideration.

 

 

Findings (Section Four)

 

This section presents the findings from your study.  If you collected quantitative data (numbers of office referrals, grades, etc.) you should present the data in a clear fashion with tables, bar graphs, etc.  In short, present numerical data in a simple way that the reader can easily see the results.  If you collected qualitative data (observation notes, interview highlights, etc.) you may present your findings in narrative but bullets or sub-headings may help the reader better understand your results.  This is not the section for long explanations of how’s or why’s, but the simplest and clearest way for the reader to see your results.

 

Conclusions and Recommendations (Section Five)

 

The previous sections presented the facts of your action research project.  This final section is for you to present the conclusions that you believe can be drawn from the results you found.  This is your judgment, as you are now an expert on your study.   Your study may have shown major or minor results or no changes in the problem you were trying to solve.  Regardless of whether you got the results you hoped for, the findings of your study are a help to others.  To know whether a particular intervention in a particular context works or not, is good information for educational leaders to have.  So, be honest and do not feel your study failed if you did not have major changes or you completely solved the problem. 

Following your conclusions, you should reflect on your entire study and findings and conclusions.  Since you led the action research project, you are in the position to best advise the reader with recommendations.  A recommendation could be for all teachers or administrators with the same problem you solved to use your intervention or not to use.  Most often you will recommend better ways to implement the intervention due to all the lessons you learned in your study.  In short, the section is your opportunity to teach those reading your study what worked, what did not, and ways to better solve the problem.  You might add specific actions that the field of education needs to conduct further research on. 

 

References (Final Section)

 

References are listed at the end of your report.  Review carefully the APA guidelines to ensure all references and citations are formatted correctly.  Be sure to double check that each of the references listed in this section are cited within the report using APA guidelines.