Web Conferences EDLD 5363: Reflections

WC Date: July 16, 2012

This week’s conference helped a lot of students get familiar with knowledge of software for the podcast and making sure groups are being created for the main project. As Dr. A addressed, the podcast was supposed to be a quick start of something you can share with other teachers. I think digital media and the use of podcasts can really affect student learning if used more to its advantage. I used it for the first time on the last month of school, but truly wished I had become more familiar with it before then. Also, during the conference, a lot of students appreciated the side chat format so that it was easier to catch up with everyone’s thoughts and comments. 

WC Date: June 18, 2012

This blog definitely cleared up a few things in regards to creating our groups and how to interact with one another. Email and google documents are great ways to interact with your group members, but it is a lot easier to be able to all meet up together through a chat and webcam. The use of Google hangout was something I was not familiar with. I realized that it was very handy, especially when collaborating on ideas and to see where each of my members are in the project. Also, this web conference helped to establish if you could be with other classmates that were not in the same section as you. We had this difficulty at first figuring things out, but eventually we were able to solve the issue. This conference also addressed some ideas of lesson ideas for the video. It really does help to be informed of some examples before getting started with the project. This sums up the main points from this week’s conference.

WC Date: July 1, 2012

This blog assisted greatly in some of the confusion that was going on in week four. We had several assignments due and a lot of people were confused of how exactly things were supposed to be turned it. Some could be on the discussion board, the wiki and the actual assignment in epic. I’m glad that the assignment that dealt with technical aspects was mentioned because my group seemed to have a lot of concerns towards this assignment. Also, I truly believe week four was defined as a lot of making progress and documenting evidence. Our group, like Dilene N. mentioned corresponded a lot through email through week four. I think all of my group members realized how much of a struggle it can be meeting one on one at times. It definitely made me think of my own assignments that I gave as a teacher in reference to group projects and struggles they might have encountered.

Digital storytelling

This assignment allowed me to flourish in many different ways in my technology skills. I was able to work on my fluency with recordings. At times, I did get frustrated with the challenges of recording my voice because it ends up being alot easier said then done. I was also able to look back at old pictures and rethink of old memories with my family and friends. It was good to have partners to look over your work and get suggestions. You were able to feel closer to some of you peers with being able to look over their script and step inside of some of their interests and major events in their life. I'm looking forward to using his activity in my own classroom again soon.

Final Reflection

My final reflection over this course is that I first feel that is was very useful and informative. I feel that each assignment, reading or lecture was beneficial for my future endeavors.

First, the lectures helped me to be informed of information and have everything laid out. I felt it was just enough to not make me overwhelmed, but knowing I will be able to conquer every task that was needed for this course.

Next, the readings were a great way to see the big picture of information. Since I am a visual learner, I tend to grasp material a lot easier by seeing it then listening to the information. The readings also gave us examples of how to do go about developing our research project.

Next, the various electronic searches enabled me to review over topics and to learn more about how to go about the action research project. I was able to look into different strategies to use in the project and how to collect various forms of data. I also looked at examples of past research action plans to get an idea of what layout to use.

Also, I felt the assignments allowed me to get much needed experience over action research and helped me to further understand the idea behind it. It allowed me to think outside of the box during many occasions while I completed the assignments.

I thought the discussion board was beneficial in many ways. Writing is a great way to express your ideas and I feel that is exactly what we did each week. As we go through this program, feedback is always greatly appreciated. It is also great to get a glimpse of what others are doing and what action plans they are going to work towards. I have learned after this second class in the masters’ program, that we are becoming more of a community and really helping each other. I feel that we were able to email each other with concerns and get the feedback we needed.

Finally, like the discussion boards, the use of blogs is very similar with being able to express your ideas and get feedback. Since we created only a blueprint of our research plan, input from others can only help us grow tremendously in our learning. It is critical to go forth with some of the ideas that classmates give you. It is drastically affect your plan.

To conclude, this action research course was a good stepping stone into the program. I was able to learn about something completely new to me and grasp information as well as ideas that I would have never thought about. I also feel this course can help me to be a leader for my school.

Action Research Plan : FINAL DECISION

My agreed upon Action Research plan will be over the investigation of academic achievement in technology verses the standard textbook. I will collect data from a smaller community of junior high teachers. I feel this research plan will help to broaden the use of our technology resources, increase performance in technology mastery for students as well as help with budgeting for resources in the future. This investigation will also help to understand the outcomes of using the resources for today’s 21^st century learners and see how they affected academic performance compared to the standard textbook. I plan to still use the textbook as a resource as well as compare data from various junior high teachers of the outcomes they encountered. Any thoughts or ideas towards this research plan would be greatly appreciated.

Action Plan!

Action Planning Template
Goal: We, the school of St. Ambrose will utilize all technology resources and investigate academic achievement through these resources beyond the standard textbook.
Action Steps(s):	Person(s) Responsible:	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
Create an environment in all classrooms through using various technology resources throughout the year that go beyond the textbook	Laura Kopecky and St. Ambrose Faculty	March 2012-May 2013	Various technology resources will include USB connections, smartboard with brains, internet access and computer lab	Administrators will complete walk through and interview teachers and students.
Faculty will peruse various forms of professional development and gather new ideas and options over academic success over technology vs. the textbook	Laura Kopecky And St. Ambrose Faculty	March 2012-May 2013	Trainings will be available at Region 4, Houston ISD (Private schools)	Faculty will collaborate together their new ideas and see what successes various schools seem to have with technology and textbook usage.
Various assessments over material will be used to help understand test scores for the 1st quarter of school	Laura Kopecky and St. Ambrose Faculty	August 2012-October 2012	Computer lab access, scantrons, computerized test forms, hard copy test	Faculty will collaborate to discuss the outcome of tests and what changes need to happen in the next quarter.
Data will be collected after the first quarter over academic success from the use of primarily technology and students interest	Laura Kopecky and St. Ambrose Faculty	October 2012	Data Analysis, student interviews, survey monkey	Faculty will discuss outcomes of the use of technology over the standard textbook. We will also see what gains a student’s interest more.
Students will prepare for mid-terms and address any needed gaps	Laura Kopecky and St. Ambrose Faculty	November 2012-December 2012; April 2013-May 2013	Students will use Curriculum on wheels videos, Smartboard, Wordle and other internet sources	Faculty will then discuss what strengths and weaknesses have come about the use of technology over textbooks. We will also see if we have addressed the needed gaps of what students were struggling with.
Teachers in the junior high level will be surveyed over academic outcomes over mid-term grades through the use of technology and textbooks. We will also see what strategies have worked thus far	Laura Kopecky and St. Ambrose Jr. High Staff	January 2013	Survey monkey via email	Reflections will be done by junior high faculty and submitted to administration
Final Step: Collaboration with administration and faculty over technology usage and what budgets should be made for the upcoming year with technology and textbooks.	Laura Kopecky and St. Ambrose School	March 2013-July 2013	Faculty meetings, survey monkey via email	As a school, we will be able to see what academic achievements have been able to be fulfilled through test scores and students interest. We will also be able to participate in options for budgeting our finances in needed materials for the school year.

Week Two Reflection: Real Life Research Action Examples

I feel this week I was able to become a little more comfortable with the concept of action research. I feel that concerns that have crossed administrators or teachers minds can easily be turned into an inquiry. This week helped me gain new insight into real life examples and see how they are used by scholars. It allowed me to open a new array of thoughts and ideas for my own school. I feel that an action research plan can only be effective if you make sure your school has a sense of community. It is important for administrators, teachers, parents and students to all work together for results to occur. It is safe to say just like the title of the book read during this course, you must “Lead with passion and knowledge”.

Blogging for Educational Leaders

As educators living in a world of technology, blogging has truly become an important part to this profession. It allows educators to capture their thoughts and ideas as well as receive feedback from people all over. It lets you see the big picture and help you better understand your own practice. A lot of times, people need to see something in order to understand it. This even goes with blogging. It is critical to see your thoughts written out .I feel the use of blogging can really help you gain new insight and help you build confidence in this profession. 

What I learned about Action Research

Action Research

Action research has truly helped me put a new perspective into my profession. I was not very familiar with the concept until reading over the material. I feel that it has helped me gain new insight into teaching and becoming an administrator.

First, I feel that action research is something that doesn’t even compare to traditional research. I feel that in action research you go beyond the four walls of your classroom or office. A lot of times, growing as an educator means to step outside of the box and that can also mean to step outside of the normal environment that you interact with on daily basis.

I feel that I would be able to use action research in various ways. First, when it comes to a community or school, everyone will have different views and ideas. This allows for more than just a few people to make changes. It is important to hear different input from others and understand people’s views. I think regular faculty meetings can help that situation because they usually consist of various types of input. It is great to share ideas and to work together in the decision process. I also feel I experience a part of this when we hold level meetings with my grade. We discuss important topics and work together to come up with short term and long term goals for our school. I believe we can go further with this by attending professional development classes or staying in contact with various people.

Collaboration is definitely a key to a successful school, district or community. It is vital to be able to work as a team and to make changes together. If I decided to work on an action plan for my school in reference to the significance of academic achievement through the use of whiteboards, I would already be able to list a variety of things to do or people to speak to. I would need to interact with other faculty, have students complete surveys, email technology companies, meet with other teachers off campus as well as read up on important information in the news. Even though this plan might seem rather lengthy, I believe a lot of change can happen because of it.

In reference to the reflection period, it is always important to know that you will be a lifelong learner. It is critical to understand that in order for any change to come about at a school, you do need a lot of people on board. It is essential to examine the problems, find accurate data and reflect on what outcomes occurred because of it. Regardless of how long you have been teaching or in the field of education, it is always good to know that growing can truly help you achieve.