EDLD 5363 Web Conference Reflection: 2

The web conference I attended was during Week 4.  It was on a Saturday morning and there weren't many in attendance.  Even Dr. Abernathy was just out of the shower with a head of wet hair.  This conference was helpful because it seemed as though quite a few of us were confused about the expectations for week 4 and 5.  Especially week 4 considering we didn't have an assignment due.  There were lots of questions like "Are you sure we don't have a discussion board this week?" and "You mean we don't have an assignment due AT ALL?".  I understand why, though, we didn't have anything due during week 4.  This video production has been a lot of work and not having a week 4 assignment helped us to be able to focus on getting our video done correctly.  My group and I worked diligently throughout weeks 4 and 5, and didn't slack off just because there wasn't an assignment or discussion boards due.  Overall, the web conferences helped to answer lots of questions.

EDLD 5363 Web Conference Reflection

The web conferences for this program are very valuable, considering we have no personal interaction with our professors and classmates.  I had a hard time understanding parts of our assignment, and the web conference was able to clarify the questions that I had.  There were also questions other students asked that I wouldn't have thought to ask, which helped me better understand the assignment and how to complete it.  The only downside to the web conference is that sometimes there seems to a bit of technical difficulty, whether it be on the professor's end or our own.  When there is technical difficulty, it's hard to stay on task when it seems we're constantly trying to troubleshoot why someone's audio or video isn't working correctly.  I do, however, like that the web conferences are recorded so that we can go back and reference any questions that we might still have from the assignment.

Personal Digital Story Reflection

Creating my personal digital story seemed at times to be a daunting task and at other times it seemed to be fairly easy to do.  I used PhotoStory 3 to create my digital story.  It is actually a very easy program to use:  it prompts you and gives very user friendly, detailed instructions for each step of creating the digital story.  Uploading and arranging photos was very easy to do, adding narration was fairly easy once I figured out how to time the slides with my narration, and choosing transitions, while time consuming, was very easy to do.

The hard part of creating the digital story was coming up with the story itself.  I am not a very creative, cutesy person, so this was the most difficult task for me (as well as hearing my voice/country accent on my video!). 

Action Research Plan

BISD Action Research Plan
Goal: To determine if the 1:1 ratio of students to laptops at Beckville High School is having an effect on student achievement.
Action Steps(s):	Person(s) Responsible:	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
1. Discuss topics with site supervisor; Agree on an Action Research topic	Myself Site Supervisor	1/19/2011- 2/1/2011	Internship Plan	Action Research topic
2. Student survey on laptop usage, effect, and benefits	Myself	2/3/2011	All students currently in grades 10-12 enrolled in BHS in 2009-2010 AND 2010-2011.	Do they feel the 1:1 ratio is benefitting their grades and standardized test scores?
3. Compile student achievement scores from first semester of 2009-2010 school year	Myself BHS Counselor	2/7/2011- 2/14/2011	Available scores for students currently in grades 10-12 enrolled at Beckville HS in 2009-2010 AND 2010-2011.	Gather previous data to compare with new data to complete action research project
4. Compile student achievement scores from second semester of 2009-2010 school year	Myself BHS Counselor	2/14/2011- 2/21/2011	Available scores for students currently in grades 10-12 enrolled at Beckville HS in 2009-2010 AND 2010-2011.	Gather previous data to compare with new data to complete action research project
5. Collect student PSAT scores from 2009-2010 school year	Myself BHS Counselor BHS Principal	2/14/2011- 2/21/2011	Available scores and data for 10th grade Pre-AP students in 2009-2010.	Gather previous data to compare with new data to complete action research project
6. Collect student TAKS scores from 2009-2010 school year	Myself BHS Counselor BHS Principal	2/21/2011- 2/28/2011	Available scores for students currently in 11th grade enrolled at Beckville HS in 2009-2010 AND 2010-2011.	Gather previous data to compare with new data to complete action research project
7. Collect student PSAT scores from 2010-2011 school year	Myself BHS Counselor BHS Principal	3/1/2011- 3/8/2011	Available scores and data for current 11th grade students who were enrolled in 10th grade Pre-AP in 2009-2010.	Obtain current scores to compare to previous scores to complete action research project
8. Compile student achievement scores from first semester of 2010-2011 school year	Myself BHS Counselor	3/8/2011- 3/15/2011	Available scores for students currently in grades 10-12 enrolled at Beckville HS in 2009-2010 AND 2010-2011.	Obtain current scores to compare to previous scores to complete action research project
9. Collect student TAKS scores from 2010-2011 school year	Myself BHS Counselor BHS Principal	5/1/2011- 5/8/2011	Available scores for students currently in 11th grade enrolled at Beckville HS in 2009-2010 AND 2010-2011.	Obtain current scores and data to compare to previous scores to complete action research project
10. Compile student achievement scores from second semester of 2010-2011 school year	Myself BHS Counselor	6/1/2011- 6/8/2011	Available scores for students currently in grades 10-12 enrolled at Beckville HS in 2009-2010 AND 2010-2011.	Obtain current scores to compare to previous scores to complete action research project
11. Compare all data and scores from 2009-2010 to all data and scores from 2010-2011.	Myself	6/8/2011	Data obtained during Action Research Project	Construct a graph comparing the results from 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 to show the benefits, if any, of the 1:1 ratio on student achievement

Action Research Plan

1. Goals and objectives/outcomes of the research investigation:-To identify the effects of 1:1 (student: laptop) ratio on student achievement
-To identify the effects, if any, of 1:1 ratio on PSAT performance scores
-To identify the effects, if any, of 1:1 ratio on TAKS performance scores

2. Activities designed to achieve the objectives:
-Surveys for student opinion and thoughts
-Collection of data, scores, and ratings from the 2009-2010 school year and 2010-2011 school year

3. Resources and research tools needed for data gathering:
-Student surveys
-Test scores
-Accountability ratings
-Semester averages

4. Draft timeline for completion or implementation of activities:
-January 2011:  Agree on research topic
-February 2011:  Student surveys, collection of 2009-2010 first semester averages, 2009-2010 second semester averages, 2009-2010 TAKS and PSAT scores
-March 2011:  Compilation of 2010-2011 first semester averages, 2010-2011 PSAT scores
-May 2011:  Acquire 2010-2011 second semester averages, 2010-2011 TAKS scores

5. Persons responsible for implementation of the action research plan:
-Myself
-Site Supervisor (help to develop research plan and gather information)
-Beckville High School Counselor (help to gather information, obtain scores, data, and ratings)
-Beckville High School Principal (help to obtain scores, data, and ratings)

6. Process for monitoring the achievement of goals and objectives:-Student surveys for student opinions, ideas, thoughts, and outlook
-Gathering of information from 2009-2010 to compare to information obtained in 2010-2011
-Scores and ratings for the current year, as compared to the previous year, will determine an increase, a decrease or a static level of achievement

7. Assessment instrument(s) to evaluate the effectiveness of the action research study:
-Student surveys
-Test scores
-Accountability ratings
-Semester averages
-A graph will be prepared to illustrate the findings of the action research study to compare the achievement level of students in 2009-2010 and the achievement level of students in 2010-2011

Week 2 Reflection

Well......two weeks down!  I have increased my understanding of action research this week.  After meeting briefly with my site supervisor, I am ready to get my plan in gear and start researching.  My action research project is "What effect has the implementation of the 1:1 ratio of students to laptops had on student achievement, and will there be an increase in TAKS scores because of this implementation?"  I'm a little nervous about starting the plan and how it will actually come together, but my site supervisor is really interested in seeing the results of my action research project so I am too.

How Can Educational Leaders Use Blogs?

Blogs are a great way for educational leaders to keep students and parents updated in the happenings in their classroom and/or in schoolwide events.  Relevant information can be posted on the blog, which may be accessed at any time by those needing that information.

Colleague collaboration is another great way for blogs to be used in education.  Teachers, principals, and campus leaders can share a wealth of information on a blog.  In our fast-paced society today sometimes little time is taken to sit down and share information so that we might learn from others.  Sharing information through a blog allows users to contribute information as their schedule allows.