Action Research Plan Progress Report
Abstract
The vision is to compile multiple
sources for parents and staff in connecting with key stakeholders, community
leaders, and partnerships available. In order to fulfill this vision, various
researches must be done to successfully network. The goal is to establish the
best practices and initiate the best technology programs that will give
students who are economically disadvantaged a fair chance with use of
technology tools of the 21st century. The study will be spent
researching prior research on the best practices of technology and networking
to establish a list of at least 5000 technology programs and ideas that can
benefit economically disadvantaged student in various subject areas, help
increase student performance, and develop the abilities to the critically think
about key standards in educational content. Cuts are being made toward
educational programs and funding initiated by the state and government
operational system. These cuts have affected district technology programs.The
goal of this study is to find out what is available in order to close any gaps
and evalulate what is to utilized and how to utilize it. This study will
prepare the campus population of parents, staff, and administrators in
providing tools of reinforcement for all students.
Introduction
William B Travis Elementary, a recognized campus, is located in the
Port Arthur Texas, a small suburban community of southeast Texas. The ethinic distribution is 64.2% Hispanic,
26.2 % African American, 4.3% Asian, 2.2% white, and 0.8% other. 92 % of
students are economically disadvantaged and 42.4% Limited English Proficient.
The current position in conducting this study is the role of a second grade
educator. The study will serve as a means in finding cost efficient programs,
grants, websites, and local partnerships that will support technology
integration in the 21st century classroom. This study will involve networking
and collaborating with parents, students, staff, and community stakeholders to
help differentiate instruction and find additional tools for established
reinforcement through the best practices in technology. Any significant changes may be faced the
through any biases opinions about the role that technology has through
reinforcing conent, differentiated instruction, user friendly capabilities, and
the motivation of students.
Section One –
Nature of the Problem
Cuts are being made toward educational
programs and funding initiated by the state. These cuts have affected district
technology programs. The process of the research will find soulutions for
establishing cost efficient programs and resoucres for such a high economically
disadvantaged population.
Statement of the
problem
This is typically a brief paragraph describing the
problem or issue you are confronting, in general terms.
Purpose of the
Study
The purpose of this action research study is to
provide and compile a list of current technology programs being used and
analyze the information to improve technology and find cost efficient programs
and partnerships that will benefit districts with at least 70 percent of
economically disadvantaged students.
Significance of
the Study
Throughout the study, a list of at least 5000
technology programs and ideas will be composed that can benefit economically
disadvantaged students in various subject areas and help increase student
performance.
Definition of
Terms
Differentiated Instruction- is a framework or
philosophy for effective teaching that involves providing students
with different avenues to acquiring content; to processing, constructing, or
making sense of ideas;
and to developing teaching materials and assessment measures so that all students within
a classroom
can learn
effectively, regardless of differences in ability.
Title 1- Title I is a section
of the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act that is aimed at helping
low-income students who are at risk of failing in school.For a school to qualify as
a Title I school, 40 percent of its total enrollment must come from low-income
families.
English Language Learner- Student of limited English
proficiency" means a student whose primary language is other than English
and whose English language skills are such that the student has difficulty
performing ordinary classwork in English.
Section Two –
Literature Review
Topic 1: Technology
is a part of today in the digital age of the 21st century.
The first part of the research done involves
establishing the benefits of technology according to brain research and current
studies about the differentiated instruction as it benefits to the digital age
learner.
The Center for Applied Special Technology is an
organization purposed to include all students regardless of ability or
background. It is geared toward all students in selecting the most effective
technology. This organization understands that each brain learns differently
and researches ways to differentiate instruction so that educators may provide
the best for their students. Each researcher studies the three networks of the
brain.
Next, I found knowledge from an article entitled, Teaching Every Student in the Digital Age.
This article lets the reader know that every child is not the same and that we
need flexible instruction in order to reach them. The wonderful thing about
technology versus traditional textbooks is that it does not come in a one size
fits all format. We need flexible media
to engage our students. The authors Rose and Meyer say, “Learners capacities
are not inherent; capacities are defined by the interplay between learners
abilities and the tools they use.”
Topic 2: Technology
has been shown to increase student achievement in several areas and helps
motivate learners.
In a review of existing evidence of
technology's impact on learning, Marshall (2002) found strong evidence that
educational technology "complements what a great teacher does naturally,"
extending their reach and broadening their students' experience beyond the
classroom. "With ever-expanding content and technology choices, from video
to multimedia to the Internet," Marshall suggests "there's an
unprecedented need to understand the recipe for success, which involves the
learner, the teacher, the content, and the environment in which technology is
used" (North Central Regional Educational
Laboratory, 2005). The North Central Regional Educational Laboratory has done
much research on the technological effects on student learning. The results
show a positive effect in student learning in the subjects of reading a math in
uses discrete educational programs (DES). The definition of the discrete
educational programs include the use of programs such as integrated learning systems (ILS),
computer-assisted instruction (CAI), and computer-based instruction (CBI).
Further studies done by Software and Information Industry Association have
shown positive and consistent student achievement when students were engaged in technology enriched
environments. The student targeted the area of pre-school thorugh highschool as
well as in the regular education and special education departments.
One of the articles that I most enjoyed was entitled,
The Impact of Education Technology of
Student Achievement. Research shows that students learn more in less time
when receiving computer based instruction and that they enjoy their classes
more when there is computer based instruction. I have noticed that my students
love working on the computer during our station time and that engages them.
When students have a positive attitude toward something then they tend to
achieve higher. Students are in a technology enriched society that promotes the
latest technologies in a positive light.
It reinforces what has been already taught and reaches all types of
learners from visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners. The research also
positively showed that students scored in the 64 percentile on test of achievement
versus the 50 percentile without the computer.
The negative results did show that technology was
not as effective in all areas especially standardized testing concepts such as
vocabulary, reading comprehension, and mathematics. Technology can be used to
to enhance and add additional reinforcement to learining.
Secondly, Rowan-Salisbury School System
administrators say technology is one of the primary resources being used to
bridge the achievement gap among economically disadvantaged students (Cambell
2010). This particular school system provided
I-POD touches that students could use at home and school. This was explained to
be an great opportunity because economically disadvantaged student may not have
otherwise had the opportunity to use these types of technology. The North Rown principal
says, These are applications that many would not have at home if we did not
provide it. It definitely provides a level of access and exposure that will
ensure their success as a student.” He further explains that these technologies
can give students access and connections to things virtually and build additional
connections to the content in the classroom. As they are exposed to more
knowledge then it allows them to be better performers in the classroom as they
can relate to the schema.
References
North Central Regional Educational Laboratory.
(2005). Critical issue: Using technology
to improve student achievement. Retrieved from http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/methods/technlgy/te800.htm#issue
Taranga. (2009, June 19) . Different types of technology and educational applications. Retrieved from http://taranga-tuphan.blogspot.com/2009/06/different-types-of-technology-and-their.html
Schacter, J. (1999). The impact of
education technology on student achievement: What the most current research has
to say. Santa Monica, CA: Milken Exchange on Education Technology.
Retrieved from http://www.mff.org/pubs/ME161.pdf.
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. Retrieved from http://www.cast.org/teachingeverystudent/ideas/tes/
The Brain Research
Lessonbuilder.cast.org (nd). The Brain
Research. Retrieved from http://lessonbuilder.cast.org/window.php?src=videos
Diversity of Learners
Lessonbuilder.cast.org (nd). Diversity
of Learners. Retrieved from http://lessonbuilder.cast.org/window.php?src=videos
Sarah Campbell. (2010, December 19). Technology helps bridge achievement gaps. Salisbury Post. Retrieved
on March 10, 2012 at http://www.salisburypost.com/News/121910-Poverty-Technology-qcd
Fichman, Nancy Dana
(2009). Leading with Passion and Knowledge: The
principal as Action Researcher. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
principal as Action Researcher. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.
Section Three – Action
Research Design
Subjects
The target population is initiated towards the
indiviual campus.
Procedures
The plan involves interviewing and sending out an initial survey to
teachers about the views on technology. The next step involves compiling
information and researching the best practices. Also, networking and
interviewing various stake holders. Then, compiling the information for
sharing. The final steps involve presenting the information,providing ongoing
support, evaluation, and following up with faculty, parents, and staff on
effectiveness.
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Action Plan Proposed Timeline
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Goal: To seek and compose a list of at
least 5000 technology programs and ideas that can benefit economically
disadvantaged students in various subject areas and help increase student
performance.
In what ways is technology being used to
benefit our elementary students who are economically disadvantaged?
What type of
technology is currently being used?
How do teachers feel about technology?
What are free
technology programs that may benefit economically disadvantaged students?
How to use
technology to increase student performance?
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Action Steps(s):
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Person(s) Responsible:
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Timeline: Start/End
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Needed Resources
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Evaluation
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Faculty and staff
will have all the needed information of how to access the technology
currently used in their school
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Technology
Specialist,
Assistant
Principal, Interim Principal
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August
2012-November 2012
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Interviews with
technology department leaders, technology reports, principal, and curriculum
coordinator
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A follow-up
survey will be given on the effectiveness of now being able to access current
technology and feedback given to any additional questions
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The campus will
know various benefits of the current technology programs
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Assistant
Principal, Curriculum Coordinator, and
Technology Specialist
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November
2012-February 2013
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Books, Internet
Research, Lamar Resource folder, blogs, journals, surveys, and IPAD
applications, Promethean Boards and interviews
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A follow-up
presentation will be given with benefits including a feedback session. I will
use a checklist to evaluate.
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A list of 5000
technology programs and resources will be complied for economically
disadvantaged students. This list will be given to faculty and staff.
Professional
Development session for faculty and staff and then parents.
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Websites, various
teachers of things that they use in their classrooms (even from other
districts), principal, and curriculum coordinator
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February
2013-April 2013
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Texas Bureau,
Orange &Beaumont Public Library, Blogs, Books, and Internet References
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A follow-up
survey will be given on the effectiveness of the list and plan.
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Recommendations
of what can be added to improve student performance will be given according
to the research
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Interviews and
quotes of various teachers of what is already being done in their classrooms
and what data seems to be beneficial for their students/grade level
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April 2013- June
2013
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Teacher and
Faculty Surveys, Quotes, Books, and Internet Research
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A follow-up
newsletter will be sent given based on the study as well as a recommendation
box
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Data Collection
Data for this study will be collected thorough
ongoing interviews, observational checklist, questionaires, and surveys.
Surveys will be given to faculty, staff, and parents about views of technology
and resources that they know are already readily avaiable to them. Data collected from interviews with
stakeholder and experts will continuously recorded and evaulaed throughout the
project.
Section Four –
Proposed Analysis of the Data
I plan to present the data thorough technology
programs and graphs about the best practices being used and the best cost
efficient resources available.
Section Five –
Proposed Evaluation
Evaluating the
Results of the Study
My results will be evaluated the the compling of my
data of at least 5000 technology programs and the follow up interviews and
surveys about the effectiveness of the resources provided. My workshop will
also have a formative evaluation form where faculty and staff can rate
effectiveness of workshop and materials. I will also follow up with any changes
in student performance according to data analysis reports that must be
conducted by teachers every six weeks to look for any trends.
Dissemination of
the Results of the Study
I propose to share my Action Research Plan thorough a campus
professional development workshop. The information and research will be shared
at the workshop as well as the excel document of 5000 progams I complied
through the research and local partenership information. I also propose to
share this information through blog where the information can be shared with an
network of others connected with Education.
Appendix A
Leadership Plan
As part of your internship or practicum, you will
be the leader in developing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating your
action research project. List proposed
leadership actions in each of the 12 areas.
Specific actions you propose to do in order to:
1)
Build trusting
relationships- be consistent and follow up
2)
Create a shared
vision- I will establish the vision and allow others to share their views.
Then, allow members to help set the vision and goals measurable goals.
3)
Collaborate on
decisions – Effective collaboration can
be done by allowing others to collaborate and be apart of the the decision
making process. Also, establishing trusting relationships thorugh networking
and asking questions.
4)
Communicate
effectively- Effective communication can be done thorugh communicating clear
goals and purpose to let others know how they can benefit and grow toether.
5)
Lead productive
groups – I can do this through ample planning and allowing others to put input
to what will be effective and resources that they have found.
6)
Resolve issues or
conflicts- I will handle any conflict issues right on, continue to share the
vision, and keep encouraging others in building relationships.
7)
Motivate others – I
will help to motivate others by providing little incentives throughout the
project for cooperation and praise.
8)
Manage a positive
culture and climate-I will try and build a positive culture and climate by making
sure that I present research and provide resources.
9)
Use appropriate
leadership style –I will collaborate and connect with others in order to find
partnerships that will initiate change. I will play the role as facilliatator.
10) Empower others – I propose ot empower others to
praise and continued collaboration.
11) Manage change – I can help manage change by
following up with ongoing progress and evaluation and be open to adjustments if
any are needed.
12) Self-evaluate- I can evaluate myself in making sure
that I am finding the best research, collaborating, networking, and compling
the list.
