Final week 5 Blog

Wow, this has been a whirl wind of a course. Probably one of the most difficult for me. It was not because of the material covered, just the time at which we covered the material. Christmas time for a teacher and mother is extremely busy. Getting my schedule to correlate with that of three others at this time of year was near impossible. However, we did it. We were able to collaborate with each other. I have learned how to effectively use Google Documents. We were able to share on facebook many of our ideas. And lost but not least I learned how effectively use iMovie and Audacity. I am still a fan of all of the services that iMovie has to offer even over the Audacity software that we used for audio. iMovie seems to have it all. I have not spent much time on a PC version of any of this. I, however, would like to work on that aspect in the near future.

Bullying PSA

How to use iMovie video Editing

Video Editiing with a Mac

After doing research this last week into video editing software, I have settled on iMovie '09. I would like to try the Apple Product Final Cut Pro X; however, this product cost close to $300. There is a free 30 day trial of this software; but if our school would not use it I do not want to spend time learning it. I believe that this cost is not something that our school would be able to afford. I plan on using iMovie '09 because it is something that we already have at school. I am not use to using this software and need to learn more about it.

iMovie 09 is very easy to use. Student would be able to "play around" with iMovie and figure it out very easily. Teachers as well would feel less intemidated by using this software.

My Untold Story

Also found at
http://youtu.be/fYJm_ixPwkQ

Action Research:Reflections

     Just by reading the name of the course I made a quick judgment; I will not like this class. The whole thought of doing research invoked terrible memories of hours and hours of time spent in the library during my undergrad work. I could see my hopes of a restful summer flying out the window. So, reluctantly I began the class. However, during the first week of the course I began reading the Dana text and found myself becoming very intrigued. I began to see real reasons to do research. Before this course I never thought of research that way.

     The Dana text (2009) addresses action research by saying “administrators can use it to gain deeper insights into their practice as administrators and their leadership role in school improvement efforts.”  I am able to really see how this would work for principals, teachers, and administrators. There are many benefits for educational research. As the Dana text suggests some of those benefits include “theories and knowledge” being generated, becoming collaborators in education, as well as “playing a part in the research process, which makes them more likely to facilitate change based on the knowledge they generate.”  (Dana, 2009) We expect our students to do research and apply it; we should expect ourselves to do the same.  We as educators need to be working to find what works best with our students and the only way we can do that is by asking questions and then seeking the answer.

    The Harris et al text (2010) set up a great frame work for doing research. This text and the 8 steps that were outlined in this text were a great tool for me during setting up my action research plan. I used all 8 steps and need to go back and rework some. At first I thought my research plan should be vaguer than what I have found works for me since then.   More detail works better, or so I believe.  The Harris text helped me outline what I needed to do to narrow down my action research plan.

     When first assigned to set up an action research plan I almost hyperventilated. I thought there is absolutely no way that I can do this. I really thought this course might just be the death of me. After only a week, a million ideas were running through my head. I met with my site mentor and was able to narrow down my plan rather quickly. Taking the time and working through this process was well spent time. 

     Blogging and being able to look over other people’s action research plan, as well as them looking over my plan and giving suggestions, facilitated in me working out a better plan. The dialogue that went back and forth on the discussion board, as well as the blogging was a great benefit. I grew a lot professionally during this course because of the blogging and dialogue.

   In the end I believe that this course is a course that has changed the way I will meet issues in the future. I will be able to implement action research in every aspect of my job today as a teacher, tomorrow, and in the future as either an administrator or a head of technology. I will be able to also share this with other colleagues. I am very excited about implementing my action research plan throughout this next year. I look forward to the data I will get as a result of my action research. I even look forward to sharing this with my administrators and other stake holders that will also benefit from this research.

 I am truely excited about finding out the outcome of action research plan!!!

Harris, S., Edmonson, S., & Combs, J. (2010). Examining what we do to improve our schools: 8 Steps from analysis to action. Larchmont, NY: Eye on Education.

Dana, N.F. (2009) Leading with Passion and Knowledge: The Principal as Action Researcher. Corwin Publishing.  Thousand Oaks, CA.

Action Research Plan

Action Research Plan Jennifer Millsap ET 8033
Goal: “Will students that are allowed to use technology (computers, cameras, digital microscopes, iPods, iPads, printers, and calculators) in class daily score better on subject test than students that are taught in a traditional manner, such as book and notes?”
Action Steps	Person(s) Responsible	Timeline:	Start/End	Needed:	Resources	Evaluation
1.       Do research about technology currently used in classes	Myself	Ongoing	8-22-11	Websites, articles, etc	Internet, Melissa Seward	None
2.       Teach classes the same for the first 3 units of study. (using the CScope Lesson Sequence)Test each class at end of unit. Average Classes Test scores.	Myself	Approx.  9 Weeks	8-22-11/ Approx.  11-23-11	Sixth grade science units of study. (Following CScope Lesson sequence)	CScope lessons	CScope Unit Test
3.       Compare class scores. Find classes with similar makeup in order to test use of technology	Myself	Approx.  1 Week	11-23-11	Gradebook	Gradebook	None
4.       Survey students about how they have learned so far. Make a survey on survey monkey. Have them complete short questionnaire	Myself	Approx. 1 week	11-23-11	Survey Monkey	Survey Monkey
5.       Allow one class to have unlimited use of all types of technology (computer, iPads, iPods, digital microscopes, digital cameras, printers, and calculators) One class will only be taught with books, notes, and labs in a traditional manner of teaching.  Teach the next three units from CScope in this manner. Test at the end of each unit and average the scores of each class again.	Myself	Approx.  9 Weeks	Approx. 11-28-11/ Approx. 2-10-12	Sixth Grade Science units of study (Following CScope Lesson Sequence) computer, iPads, iPods, digital microscopes, digital cameras, printers, and calculators	CScope Lesson Plans, Technology Aide	CScope Unit Test
6.       Survey students of both groups to see how they were affected by how they were taught.	Myself	Approx 1 week	2-10-12	Survey Monkey	Survey Monkey

Action Research Week 2

This week I opened my eyes to many new areas that could possibly be researched. I like to focus on the area of technology but I had not realized how many other areas I could research if I were to become a principal. I like this idea of action research for my class as well. This is often what we ask our students to do any ways; so why wouldn’t we as educators use this same method. Often I allow students to choose areas to research that they find important and relevant. They often learn more about this area then they ever would if I told them about it, made them take notes about it, or had them do a worksheet over. We as educators will do the same. If we are researching areas that are relevant to our classroom, our school, or our beliefs in curriculum, we will put it to work more efficiently because it is relevant to us. So this week I was able to see many areas that I as an educator would like to improve within our school or classroom.

How educational leaders might use a blog.

Blogs are a very important way for educational leaders to communicate.

Blogs allow educational leaders the chance to collaborate with other member of their profession. Often there is only one principal on a campus and no one near them that shares their responsibilities. Through blogging principals and other leaders of the school can communicate effectively over the internet and shorten the gap between campuses, schools, districts, and even states. Blogs can be used by educational leaders to put their action research ideas out there and have others read and comment on them.  Many school issues can be worked on collaboratively through blogging.  This also allows leaders to reflect on their own thought process. It gives them a place to put their own ideas. Blogging gives leaders the place to start stringing their thoughts together.  Often times thoughts don’t make sense by themselves but when you put strands of thought together they become a complete idea. Blogging not only give the leaders a chance to do this but allows people from all over the world to comment on these thoughts to further them.

Dana, N.F. (2009). Leading with passion and knowledge: The principal as action researcher. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

What I have learned about action research

Action research is a tool that can be used by principals, teachers, and superintendants to design professional development for themselves based on what their class, campus, or district needs are. Action research is a way to allow leaders to take control of what they learn and they need. I believe that action research is what leaders in the school should be doing. The only people that know what the true issues on their campus is, is the principal or the leaders.   If the principal is able to pick a topic that effects the school, devote time to researching it, and then able to report back to either her teachers or her superintendant about the finds of the inquiry then the school will be able to truly work on the issues that face them, not the issues that face another school or district. Many times I believe we are grasping for answers and only finding things that worked for other schools not our own. We each have individual schools just like we have individual families and what works for one, what issues one has, is not necessarily the issues that ours has or what will work for ours.   Action research is a great tool that if used right will help us create better campuses and district on which to work.

 

Dana, N.F. (2009). Leading with passion and knowledge: The principal as action researcher. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.