studying the integration of technology into teaching through an on- line action research course: a...
TRANSCRIPT
Studying the Integration of Technology into
Teaching through an On-Line Action Research Course: A Statewide Model of Professional
Development
Joanne Arhar, Kent State University
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Ohio Standards for Professional Development
• is a purposeful, structured and continuous process that occurs over time
• is informed by multiple sources of data
• collaborative• includes varied learning
experiences that accommodate individual educators’ knowledge and skills
• evaluated by its short- and long-term impact on professional practice and achievement of all students
• results in the acquisition, enhancement or refinement of skills and knowledge
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eTech Ohio Professional Development Grants
http://www.etech.ohio.gov/
$400,000 from Ohio Legislature for 2006-07
• $20,000 per team of teachers for hardware, software, substitute teachers, travel
• Priority given to school districts designated as academic emergency, academic watch or continuous improvement
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Goals of Grant
• Enhance teachers’ abilities to integrate technology into teaching of academic content standards to improve student learning
• Expand teachers’ knowledge of AR
• Provide opportunity for collaboration
• Share research with others to expand knowledge base of teaching with technology
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Excellent
EffectiveContinuousImprovement
AcademicEmergency
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1 H G Blake Elementary—Medina City2 Hudson High School—Hudson City3 North Olmstead High School—North Olmstead City4 Washington Elementary—Ashtabula Area Schools5 Willow Elementary—Cleveland Municipal6 Botkins ElementHary—Botkins Local7 Green Springs Elementary—Clyde-Green Springs Schools8 Sandusky High School—Sandusky City Schools9 Wayne Trace High School—Wayne Trace Local10 Wilson Vance Elementary—Wilson Vance E. S. City11 Fairborn High School—Fairborn City12 National Trail Middle School—National Trail Local13 Newton Falls High School—Newton Falls Exempted14 Ripley-Union-Lewis H. S.-Huntington High School—R.U.L.H. Schools15 World of Wonder Community School—Montgomery County16 Alliance Middle School—Alliance City Schools17 Crestview Elementary—Crestview Local18 Marietta Middle School—Marietta City19 Newark High School—Newark City20 Summit Primary—Licking Heights
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Action Research and Emerging Technology
Teachers take on-line AR course to study the use of technology and share learnings state-wide.– Schools want research on use
of emerging technology– AR provides framework for
evaluation and professional development
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“Action research is a form of inquiry designed to improve our practice by using professional (informed) eyes to observe our own work.”
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“ We collaborate with others…to enhance the power of our learning. And we face the challenges we meet with action and analysis, sharing the results for the larger community to critique.”
Holly, Arhar, & Kasten (2005)
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Characteristics of Action Research
• Ethical Commitment
• Cycle of Reflective Practice
• Collaboration
• Made Public
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Creating a Knowledge Base about Teaching
As teachers assess their work and share what they are learning with others, they can contribute to a knowledge base about teaching with technology to enhance student learning.
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Organization of Each Session
Topic
Critical Colleague
ChatPower Point
Presentation
Readings
Discussion Board
Assignment
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On-Line Community
• Funding awarded to teams• AR projects conducted by
teams• Face to face meetings• Critical colleague chats• Discussion board
assignments• Weekly blogs• Weekly announcements• Studies published to eTech
web page13
Questions Action Researchers Ask
1. What is my research interest?
2. What will I try out in order to improve my practice?
3. How will I document the process?
4. How will I verify that my judgments are trustworthy and credible?
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5. How will I ensure that ethical procedures are in place?
6. How will I portray what I have learned and make it public?
7. How will it make life better and what will I do next? Who are my critical colleagues?
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Action research is the journey a teacher takes to improve teaching. More importantly, it is a journey in the company of friends.
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• What is our research interest?• What did we try out?• What did we learn?• In what ways, if any, has our
teaching changed?• What is the role of technology
in our professional development?
• What is the role of critical colleagues in changing our teaching?
• What is the role of technology in critical colleague relations? 19
What is our research interest?
North Olmsted H. S.
How can we improve our students’ listening and speaking skills through the implementation of podcasting technology?
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N. Olmsted H. S.
• Our students exhibited low skill levels in both speaking and listening.
• We were looking for something that would be new, novel and fun.
• There must be some way to motivate them to practice these skills.
• iPods-They have them. Let’s use them.
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What did we try out?
North Olmsted H. S.• Listening to podcasts both inside
and outside of the classroom • Allowing students to create their
own podcasts to support higher level thinking
• Student self-critique• Posting teacher and student
podcasts to the web to allow others to hear and critique them
• Podcasting lessons • Podcasting instructions to projects
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What did we learn?North Olmsted H. S.
•Perceptions of and attitudes toward listening and speaking exercises have improved as students create/post pod casts, and listen to other pod casts
•Listening skills have improved with practice using iPods within and out of class
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In what ways, if any, has our teaching
changed?North Olmsted H. S.
•More freedom of expression for students
•Student-centered classroom
•No wasted class time during teacher absence
•Ability to better showcase student work to parents and the community
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What is the role of technology in our
professional development?
North Olmsted H. S.
•Technology opens doors
•It keeps us as up-to-date as our students are
•Encourages higher levels of thinking
•Supports multiple intelligences and different modes of learning
•Never-ending possibilities
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What is the role of critical colleagues in
changing our teaching?
North Olmsted H. S.
•Critiques and view from the outside
•Advising from experience
•It is never too late to learn
•If you love it, the kids will love it!
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What is the role of technology in critical colleague relations?North Olmsted H. S.
•Allows for constant communication (when the networks aren’t down!)
•Helps to allow for quick and easy dissemination of data
•Sharing of great ideas made easy
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What is our research interest?
Ripley-Union-Lewis H. S.
How can we: Improve standardized test results in both math and science; improve students’ technology skills; increase student participation in classroom activities?
Target group: Freshmen class 2006-2007
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What did we try out?
Ripley-Union-Lewis H. S.• Incorporated SMART Boards into
algebra, geometry, information technology and chemistry/physics lesson plans
• Incorporated personal response systems into informational technology and chemistry/physics classes
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What did we learn?
Ripley-Union-Lewis H. S.
•Student motivation increased
•Student participation increased
•Classes and teaching were revitalized
•Students felt empowered about their own learning
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In what ways, if any, has our teaching
changed?
Ripley-Union-Lewis H. S.
•Provided variety to classroom instruction
•Lesson plans have been revised and rejuvenated
•Presentations can be reviewed and absent students have access to classroom lessons
•Provided instant feedback 31
What is the role of technology in our
professional development?
•As “experts” we can lead professional development sessions encouraging teachers to integrate technology into their classrooms
•Encourages us to further our own knowledge base concerning technology in the classroom
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What is the role of critical colleagues in changing
our teaching?
Ripley-Union-Lewis H. S.
•We have had the opportunity to share ideas and lessons across the curriculum
•We are accountable to each other and to our students to provide high quality education
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What is the role of technology in critical colleague relations?
Ripley-Union-Lewis H. S.
•Provides instant access to presentations, lesson plans and concerns
•Provides sharing of ideas throughout various districts
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What is our research interest?
Wilson Vance E. S.
Using podcasting to focus on learning vocabulary and motivating students while increasing reading comprehension and standardized test scores.
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What did we try out?
Wilson Vance E. S.
Students created audio and video pod casts to provide direct vocabulary instruction for their peers.
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What did we learn?
Wilson Vance E. S.• Third graders are proud to
share their work with peers and like being authorities.
• Students quickly become critical listeners when working with audio.
• Students re-listen to pod casts and seek out specific topics.
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In what ways has our teaching changed?
Wilson Vance E. S.•Seek new content resources and uses for iPod delivery
•Incorporate more media use into classroom activities
•View peer tutoring more positively
•More disciplined about adjusting practices
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What is the role of technology in our
professional development?
Wilson Vance E. S.
•Locating resources
•Networking
•Troubleshooting
•Collecting documentation39
What is the role of critical colleagues in changing
our teaching?
Wilson Vance E. S.
•Keeps us accountable
•Share a vision and values but different perspectives
•Provide support to be unique and promote change
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What is the role of technology in critical colleague relations?
Communication is the key to these relations
Technology is the communication tool
That tool takes on many forms: discussions boards, email, file sharing, and instant messaging
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How Has Teaching Changed?
• More student centered• Greater variety in teaching
strategies• More effective use of data
to modify instruction• More effective in dealing
with teacher/student absences
• Increased student learning42
Role of Critical Colleagues
• Honest, non-judgmental critique and support gives courage to try out new ideas
• Role models for one another• Share ideas across the
curriculum• Shared accountability• Shared vision with different
perspectives
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Role of Technology in Professional Development
• Encourages higher level thinking
• Supports different ways of learning
• Increases motivation to learn• Increases access to resources• Enables networking,
troubleshooting• Assists in documentation
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Role of Technology in Critical Colleague Relations
A tool for communication and collaboration to improve student learning within and beyond critical colleague groups.
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On-Line Action Research Supports
High Quality Professional Development
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Critical colleagues
honest yet non-judgmental
role models who stretch us in new directions
talented
inquisitive
strive to meet individual needs
humorous and smart
The days of closing the classroom door are over.
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What are we learning through sharing?
• School board meetings• School web sites• Face to face meetings• eTech Conference• eTech web page• Media blogs• TV • Faculty meetings• Hallway conversations
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What are we Learning Through
Sharing?• View colleagues as
authorities
• Networks are formal and informal
• How best to use the internet to share??
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Impact?
Legislature wants teachers to use technology and be accountable in terms of student learning. How best to document this given that so much of learning is difficult to document.
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What are we learning from documenting?
• blogs
• on-line data mgt systems
• video recordings
• student work: podcasts, saved interactive white board work; spreadsheets created on palm pilots
• AR analytic memos
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Nature of documentation has changed
Accountability
Value added progress
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Impact?
Network of teacher scholars in Ohio whose critically reflective conversations are becoming a part of ordinary practice.
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