Burning the Midnight Oil. week 3 web conference

  Burning the midnight oil this week.   In this weeks’ web conference, we were reminded of the items that should be submitted in tk20, as well as, the consequences for not turning things in correctly.  Dr. Borel assured us that we could get the action research project report completed, and emphasized the importance of following the APA guidelines and template.  She also directed us to other resources that she created to help us be successful on the action research report.  My favoritebpartofnthe evening was when she helped us with the APA activities.  I spent hours on this assignment last night and still had a few mistakes according to Dr. Borel.  I hope that I cite in-tetx references and the reference page in the correct format.  I want to receive all credit for the work and hours that I put in.  I have collected many articles, but mostbofnthem are through ERIC.  Dr. Borel has placed several links to other sites where peer reviewed journals can be found.  I’m looking forward to looking for more articles so that I can get started on my paper tomorrow night.  She shared past grades that were earned for the report and they were low.  I will make sure to check the rubric to make sure that I meet the requirements.

Unexpected Path on the Action Research Journey

      This action research project has definitely taking me on a journey.  I have done background research on how technology increases engagement and student achievement, completed surveys from stakeholders including student perceptions about learning with and without technology, as well as collaborated with teachers and administration about low engagement and achievement.  While doing my background research,  I knew I first had to find information on what student engagement looks like.  According to VanDeWeghe,  student engagement is multidimensional and includes behavioral, cognitive, and emotional aspects. (p.89). He goes on to describe the three levels of engagements in detail.  Students are physically engaged in a lesson when ther are sitting in theiur seat, looking at the teacher, and working on the assigned activity.  A student is actively engaged at the cognitive level when they are making an effort to successfully complete an assigned activity.  Emotional engagement seems to be the hardest level.  Finding ways to get students to complete activities because they are interested about what they are learning is a challenge and an expectation that I will promote as a future educational leader.Unfortunately, their have been some minor set-backs including the grade levels I’m teaching. Also,  the iPADs and Smartboards were delayed and I was unable to implement my plan last year.  Although we have the Smartboards in place, the iPADS will be released to students next month.  This would be an excellent opportunity to have my new students complete the surveys and compare this 6 weeks data without technology, to future data for my project.  All suggestions or experience with a similar project are welcomed.

Citation

VanDeWeghe, Rick.  What is engaged learning? English Journal. 95(3), 88-91

      

Revised Action Research Plan

	Revised Action Planning Template
	Goal:  To investigate the effect that technology will have on the achievement of eighth grade science students at Smith Middle School.
	Action Steps(s):	Person(s) Responsible:	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
	1.Setting the Foundation Collaborate with site supervisor, science coach , and other 8th grade science teachers about the low engagement and achievement with 8th grade students.	Mrs. Davis will meet and discuss problem with Mrs. Akers and Ms. Miranda.	March 18th	4th 6 weeks test data from Eduphoria data analysis system	We will analyze 4th 6 weeks data to find students to focus on with low performance results.
	2.Analyzing data Research ways technology is being used to engage and increase performance in middle school students in science class.	Mrs. Davis will research information about improving engagement and achievement in science by using technology.	April 1, 2013 to April 5, 2013	Use electronic search engines such as Google or  AASA, NASSP, NAESP	Gather information, read and reflect on how it can be applied to students at my campus.
	3. Developing a deeper understanding Survey 8th grade students about how they learn best and what interests them in science class, and how often do they use technology currently each day.	Mrs. Davis  and Ms. Miranda will implement a survey during science class.	March  25,2013 to March 28, 2013	Create a survey through survey monkey or a paper-based survey if computer access is not available.	Collect and analyze information gathered from surveys.
	3. Developing a deeper understanding  Interview students of  various tier groups to get feedback on how they feel about the implementation of smartboards and ipads in the classroom.	Mrs. Davis will interview eighth grade students of various tier groups.	May 5,2013 to May 9, 2013	Create a questionnaire for students to complete about how they feel about the implementation of the new technology.  Is it helping them to improve?	Collect quantitative data from students to gain insight into how they feel about their achievement.
	4.  Engage in Self-Refelction Reflect on where I can find activities that include student participation through smartboards and ipads.	Mrs. Davis, Mrs. Miranda, and students.	March 18,  2013 to March 22, 2013	CSCOPE, Stemscopes, Smartboard program, other interactive science sites	Give short assessments at the end of each technology infused lesson to collect data about content learned.
	5.  Exploring Programmatic Patterns Discuss plan with site supervisor, science coach, and peers to get feedback on the pros and cons of increasing student engagement and achievement with technology.	Mrs. Davis will meet with site supervisor, Science coach, and peers.	March 20, 2013	Copy of Action Research Plan	Document and summarize discussion, Analyze data
	6.  Determining direction Reflect on Action research plan to make certain all components are present.	Mrs. Davis, Site Supervisor	March 25, 2013	Action Research Plan	Write -up, Reflection
	7. Take Action for school improvement Form a committee including the Science Coach, and 8th grade science teachers to assist me with my project.	Mrs. Davis, Science Coach, Ms. Miranda, Leadership Team	March 18, 2013 to June 5, 2013	Action Research Plan	Write-up, reflection
	7. Take Action  Have all 8th grade students complete a new assessment to analyze improvement and achievement.	Mrs. Davis and Mrs. Miranda will test students.	April 18th	STAAR Test Maker and Students	Collect and analyze data from test results.
	8. Sustain Improvement Share and present positive findings with peers and sit supervisor to help improve student engagement and achievement in every subject and grade level.	Mrs. Davis	October 1, 2013	Gather all quantitative and qualitative data to make a report.	Collect all data for report and presentation.

Action Research Plan

Action Planning Template
Goal:  To investigate the effect that technology will have on the achievement of eighth grade science students at Smith Middle School.
Action Steps(s):	Person(s) Responsible:	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
1.Gather   previous science assessment scores for all 8th grade students. In particularly, the science mock test scores.	Mrs. Davis will get 8th grade science data from Eduphoria, our data evalkuation system.	March 18, 2013 to March  22, 2013	Internet access, and Eduphoria Data System	I will print out data information from eduphoria.
2.  Survey 8th grade students about how they learn best and what interests them in science class, and how often do they use technology currently each day.	Mrs. Davis  and Ms. Miranda will implement a survey during science class.	March  25,2013 to March 28, 22013	Create a survey through survey monkey or a paper-based survey if computer access is not available.	Collect and analyze information gathered from surveys.
3.  Research ways technology is being used to engage and increase performance in middle school students in science class.	Mrs. Davis will research information about improving engagement and achievement in science by using technology.	April 1, 2013 to April 5, 2013	Internet	Gather information, read and reflect on how it can be applied to students at my campus.
4.  Implement activities that include student participation through smartboards and ipads.	Mrs. Davis, Mrs. Miranda, and students.	March 18,  2013 to April  25, 2013	CSCOPE, Stemscopes, Smartboard program, other interactive science sites	Give short assessments at the end of each technology infused lesson to collect data about content learned.
5.   Interview students of  various tier groups to get feedback on how they feel about the implementation of smartboards and ipads in the classroom.	Mrs. Davis will interview eighth grade students of various tier groups.	May 5,2013 to May 9, 2013	Create a questionnaire for students to complete about how they feel about the implementation of the new technology.  Is it helping them to improve?	Collect quantitative data from students to gain insight into how they feel about their achievement.
6.  Have all 8th grade students complete a new assessment to analyze improvement and achievement.	Mrs. Davis and Mrs. Miranda will test students.	April 18th	STAAR Test Maker and Students	Collect and analyze data from test results.
7.  Prepare all data and findings for final presentation	Mrs. Davis	May 25th	Gather all quantitative and qualitative data to make a report.	Collect all data for report and presentation.