Week Three Research Class

Goal: To Determine if the AVID program affects the drop out rate at Brazosport High School.
1. Action Step: Identify target group.
Person Responsible: Mrs. Burnside (Lead Counselor), Jason Thompson (AVID department
Chair).
Timeline: Start August 16, End August 27
Needed Resources: Class schedules, grades, class rankings, surveys, drop out list.
Evaluation: Actual generation of student list.
2. Action Step: Data Collection.
Person Responsible: Coach Moseley, Mrs. Burnside, Jason Thompson.
Timeline: Start August 23, End May 26, last day of 2011 school year.
Needed Resources: Student List of targeted group. TAKS scores, grades, surveys, class
Schedules, class rankings, college acceptance.
Evaluation: Begin to compile list of drop out students.
3. Action Step: Analyze Data.
Person Responsible: Coach Moseley, Mrs. Burnside, Jason Thompson, Susan Wood
District coordinator for AVID.
Timeline: Start April 11, End May 26.
Needed Resources: All above mentioned resources.
Evaluation: Final list and numbers of AVID high school drop outs, with analysis of why and
For what reasons.
4. Action Step: Present Research
Person Responsible: Coach Moseley
Timeline: June 15th
Needed Resources: Data analysis findings, presentation. Evaluation: Research Findings, Survey to audience.

WEEK TWO RESEARCH CLASS

Lessons learned from week two: Education is on-going, if your green your growing, if your brown your dying(?). Leaders need to ask wondering questions. Research, research, research. But don't leave out the qualatative side either. Don't reinvent the wheel. Don't site literature, like our district did around moving the start time to 7:30 for the high schools, without being specific. Focused on specific research topic, programs like AVID, Vocational Education, College Partnerships, and Credit Recovery (Odyssey) leading to a lower overall drop out rate.

Week 9 and Done

1. What did you like? What were your favorite discoveries or exercises on this learning journey? Honestly, what I liked was the exposure to so many things out there that can be done using technology. 2. What was your least favorite thing that you discovered? Least favorite thing that I discovered was how really clueless I am around technology. 3. How has this journey affected your views on technology? Again it opened my eyes to some of the gazillion things that are out there and available to use. 4. Were there any take-a-ways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you? This program was really overwhelming for me, this is the toughest inservice I have ever been through, there were numerous times that I was going to quit. 5. What do you think you will be most likely to incorporate into your classroom/library? Just technology overall, I really need to make an effort to allow the kids opportunities to get on computers and create projects like Go Green as much as possible. 6. Can you describe your learning experiences in ONE WORD or ONE SENTENCE? Frustrating. 7. What suggestions would you make to help us improve this experience? Maybe not incorporate so much material. 8. Now go and comment on some of the adventure’s blogs.

Week 8

The 21st Century Skills Project that I found which I think my students my really enjoy is called Go Green. The process for creating the example project using Google SketchUp 6 is described below. The Completed Project Movie shows what the finished product might look like. The tutorial movies that follow demonstrate, step-by-step, how to construct the Go Green 3D model using tools available in the software application. This project can be easily modified or adapted for other subject areas or other grade levels. For a complete project description, including goals, objectives, and materials, see the Project Overview. I had a hard time finding the Pre-Test on Atomic Learning (I really am clueless when it comes to this stuff). I did find one that I got a 50 on and had the results emailed to my district address.

Week 7

Again found that each site had a ton of information, really liked the Wordle site and am working on posting mine. Liked the Think site because of all the different lesson plans that were out there. The Kid Pix Deluxe could really motivate my kids, we do vision boards and things like that and this could be a really useful site. I will have to do some more with Terra Clues, had a hard time with it.

My classes spend one day a week in the computer lab. I am responsible for creating lesson plans around those visits. There is no one else in the lab for assistance or anything else. I would say that everything I have seen so far in this course could be incorporated into my lesson plans in some form or another, and I really believe the kids would enjoy using the sites and tools associated with them. I could also use the information for myself, for example I am now having to use a blog in my research class for my principals certificate.

WEEK 6

I found all five of the sites to be usefull with a ton of information and possibilities on each one. Word Sift was neat because you could type in a phrase and it would show the speech, which could come in handy in Social Studies, or research. Scribble Maps could also be used in research or Social Studies classes, I found myself just playing around with it. Google Lit Trips could easily be used in English. Kids Zone could be used to incorporate technology into the lesson plan for any curriculum very easily. And the Math Manupalives could be used for any math class.

RESEARCH CLASS

Just found out I have to create a blog for a research class I am taking so I am hoping to combine these two in order not to go through the process again. We will see if this works.

Action Research: By allowing local leaders to ask and attempt to answer questions that are unique to their particular school will allow for greater individual student success. Instead of the old cookie cutter model, where one shape or plan is good for everyone, regardless of individual differences, leaders can shape and develop courses of action so that they are the most beneficial for their unique school.

Using a blog could allow leaders to converse, share ideas, ask questions, and communicate in a readily available format in order to save time, resources, and money.