Action+Research-+Technology+in+the+Home+and+School

**Action Research- Technology in the Home and School**
Sue and Angel



(contains //all// EFHS materials) (single items)

Our Learning Commons:
I enjoyed creating a Prezi. It was a way for me to synthesize and express what I had learned about Information Search Process, and it was a start in using a new tool (P.S. My first draft was dizzying! But I think this one is watchable! Angel media type="custom" key="7354245"

SUE--I added the pictures and created this division on our wiki to separate our projects from our "sandbox." ANGEL-- I don't quite see the separation, but I like the pictures. I am adding a write-up of an action research __proposal__ using the model from an article by Donato in one of our resources for this module:

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It is the deductive model. I am presenting it to my principal and my school technology committee at our meeting next week. I am putting it at the bottom of the wiki... finally got a document uploaded! Sue PS- I can't view the Prezi... Sue--I was thinking we could arrange final uploads to the "upper" part of the wiki, and keep these discussions on the bottom. I did something similar--I looked at some of the suggested links to action research projects and modified the structure of the proposal format so that it worked for me. I think you may be able to see the Prezi once you save, and are out of Edit mode. I saw Amy Rider today at our regional VSLA meeting, and she had viewed it. WHOO-HOO! I GOT MY QUESTIONNAIRE AND PROPOSAL TO UPLOAD! I am cutting out the pasted docs now to clean up the space (is this the learning commons or sandbox?). I am glad I finally figured out this piece. And thank you for putting up the L4L docs. I really wanted to add them, too.--Sue Whoa! Awesome! Me next! So, put your stuff up top next to mine! Angel, I had to get back in here to tell you I LOVE YOUR PREZI! It is really cool and journal-ly. I think I could use this with kids as a creative response to literature or creative writing excercise or a giving directions exercise. Thanks for making it, I got a lot our of it!! --Sue Angel, I liked all the examples on the Londonderry page- Examples, examples, examples- especially the Student Survey for the Whiteboard Study. I am trying to attach a copy, but have not been able to yet. --Sue

Sue, Here are some links I found __Quotes:__ Unfortunately, mere access to information technology will not guarantee a more equitable and just pattern of development in rural areas. In fact, technology can be used to reinforce existing inequalities. In light of these issues, there is a pressing need to specify those conditions under which information technology can make a positive contribution to economic and social well-being. __AND__: The group has been particularly interested in what it sees as practical e-readiness indicators that are applicable at the community level based upon __four primary determinants or__ __**4C's of access: context, connectivity, capability, and content**__. These ideas are further developed in the papers and materials available below. The group is also interested in the role that rural schools may play in leveraging financial, material and educational resources to introduce broadband access across large segments of rural communities.
 * http://www.ed.psu.edu/educ/crec/research/rtwg Penn State College of Education. "Center on Rural Education and Communities"
 * Wow! Fantastic information here pertaining to rural developmetn and some great links! This info could help in the application for the Digital Wish grants out there now.

__From a link at this site__: //**Bringing the Community Along: A Case Study of a School District’s Information Technology Rural Development Initiative.**// Kai A. Schafft, Theodore Alter and Jeffrey Bridger Abstract: In this paper, we draw on an interactional approach to analyze the relationship between information technology and local development through a case study of a rural school district in Pennsylvania which has used state of the art information technology infrastructure in a broad-based community and economic development effort. [|Full text paper] (PDF from the Journal of Research in Rural Education Volume 21 Number 8) -- We pay particular attention to the leadership strategies used by school and community leaders to mobilize formal  and informal community assets. We then examine the effects  on three key dimensions of community development: educational   improvement, community identity, and economic   growth and development. We then discuss what these efforts may mean for other rural schools and communities. Many observers argue that one of most significant barriers to Internet access in rural areas stems from the fact that  people without access to Internet telecommunications are   less likely to demand these services because they have not   experienced the benefits firsthand. Further, this is thought  to be especially true in rural areas with aging populations   and lower levels of education and income (Rowley, 1999;   Strover, 2001).

--**As one teacher said, “I think the parents are** ** much more involved in their kid’s education if by chance ** ** they have the opportunity to have that kind of technology in ** Yes, their objective is a good one, ** "In rural areas, schools may be in a strategic position to leverage all kinds of formal and informal community resources necessary to create favorable conditions for the typ e of local development described above." After reading the article, it appears that there were no great leaps in the economy, but some economic development was noted, and definitely increased pride and support for the school. **
 * their home.” **

I really liked the rubric for evaluating apps on this page; could be adapted for tech tools in the classroom. Also, I had no idea that iPods could be used in these ways, we have none at our school. The 4 C's again- but too complex for our purposes, I think.
 * www.salisburypost.com/News/101410-edu-Wired-**Bus**-qcd Using wireless access on the school bus
 * Very Interesting story, I can see it in the near future!
 * I agree! There is no reason not to think of the bus as an extension of the school. For several students, a super-long bus ride could be an opportunity to access resources for assignments, etc. At least, until they get into the "dead zone."
 * @https://www.ischoolinitiative.com/Educational_Applications.html Using iPad for education. Developing/sharing new apps.
 * Yes, my understanding is that Apple plans to develop educational apps as well as provide textbooks in e-book format for the iPad. It was good to see at least one app that could be used immediately.
 * Another interesting app: GALE has implemented AccessMyLibrary, an app for searching GALE student databases. Check out the tutorial! There are also videos for other GALE databases and products.
 * @http://www.urisa.org/Journal/protect/APANo2/Laituri.pdf "Issue of Access" and the 4 C's

@http://itmanagement.earthweb.com/osrc/article.php/3831751/55-Open-Source-Apps-Transforming-Education.htm Educational apps. Very interesting- BSD is using a lot of open source stuff these days.

The question that is forming in my head is, **"What resources can the school library provide that will raise students' satisfaction with their ability to gather information?"** We would need to know what access students have at home, including wireless and smartphone capability. What types of resources and tools are available? How do we link this to learning, or learning styles (Tour Guides)? Survey students on level of satisfaction vs. confusion/anxiety regarding online resources, etc. Do this before and after direct instruction of using resources and marketing (adding link to webpage/adding widgets/smartphone apps) I am also curious as to the level of technology integration (Substitution, Augmentation, Modification, Redefinition) in school assignments. How to ask teachers where they place their own use of technology; how to raise their level of awareness? Ooo-almost forgot! We should seek input from parents, too. Angel

Angel, I really agree about involving parents, and I think the survey used in Londonderry is really too complex for my elementary age students anyway, so I will need to send it home to parents. The other questions you raise are thoughtful and I will look over these resources. ( I am having trouble myself with "widgets," and uploading documents on this wiki. I hope I can figure it out so I can upload any documents I create for use at my school.)

Right now I am trying to gather the questions and data that my integration specialist sent out to our staff last spring. Then I need to create a survey similar to the Londonderry one for home information. If I can get input from staff and families I will get a better picture of the needs in my community. Many homes (including teachers' homes) in Huntington only have dial up, and cell phones don't work at all at my school, and are spotty outside the building, so there is really no need for me to evaluate smartphones and apps as far as I can tell at this time.

I think if I focus on the basic information geared toward families and teachers in an elementary school and you take on the questions of greater complexity, together we could get a tiered plan that could provide tools for SLMSs in different circumstances. I'm going to look at your articles now to get a better idea of your thoughts. Sue

Angel, I added my notes from the links to our wiki in red. You can delete if you like, because I have my copy, but it does document our collaboration and our thoughts. I think it we might want to reference the 4c's in our action plans, and possibly to mention a study or 2. I really liked a couple of ideas from the study I noted above from your first link to the Penn State " Center on Rural Education and Communities". I really am a step behind at my school, my 2 questions are: " **Which families do or do not have Internet Access at home, how do they utilize it (or not) and how can we facilitate equity in technology for all students?"** and Sue
 * "What skills do teachers have or not have in use of technology and how can we facilitate training for teachers and staff that will encourage technology integration in teaching?"**

Angel. Here is an interesting link that shows how far ahead home use may be compared to school use of technology: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/36143162 I have revised the Londonderry student survey and will be sharing it with my tech integration specialist for her input. I have no idea how to upload a word document into the wiki without copying and pasting the whole document. Can you help me out with this? I would like to have it on our wiki at some point, even if it is a work in progress. Sue
 * Sue, I would LOVE to play some of those games myself!

Sue, I am also revising some of the questionnaires that have to do with using online databases. I am planning to use some of the L4L Reflection questions as well. I think that a combination of direct instruction, modeling the use of online resources, and reflecting on the research process will raise students' awareness of their own research practice and thinking. Angel Powerpoint(this is a test in uploading a ppt. Much of the information, and all of the logos, are the property AASL, so please don't use the graphics.)

AASL's L4L resources

Angel,

I am posting the questions I settled on for the basic survey to send home to parents. I have additional questions regarding what technologies are working best in the classroom, but I would like to save those for a later survey. Right now I need to know who is actually using our new Schoolfusion web pages and who is not able to do so. In addition, I just got the results back from the spring survey of staff comfort with technology. It is 26 pages long and in some parts not readable. I will share this with my technology committee next week and we can get started on planning when to get the parent/student survey out and what training needs we have to address for staff. That's all for now. I will have a timeline soon. -Sue

**Sue,**  **I like your questions. I am wondering if asking about smartphones would be good, too.**  ﻿         Here is my Proposal for Action Research:       Sue, it looks great--it really addresses all aspects of Action Research. What a nice format! There are so many things to consider. I was more focused on the time frame and data collection tools. You really set the stage for implementation and analyzing results. P. S. I dragged my materials to the top for easy viewing...add yours! P.P.S. A little more blogging and I'll be done! Angel, it looks like I can read your Prezi at school so it must be my new Windows 7 system laptop that was the problem last night. The 2 docs I already put in and you moved to the top are pretty much it for me. I may add the teacher survey results too. This is so cool because it is EXACTLY what I was working on in my school now anyway, so the project was time well spent! Thanks for your ideas, it's been fun.--Sue