Action Research Draft Report

Integrating Social Networking into Math Curriculum:

Does it Raise Student Achievement?

            Our world is so intertwined with technology and our students have been born into a world overran with access to the internet everywhere.  The need for using social networking came to me because our students already know how to use Facebook for posting pictures and notes to each other, but they do not understand the resource that is readily available to them for learning.  There is also a need for remediation in a short time period.  Reaching the students individually is sometimes extremely difficult because of the time it takes to work one on one for remediation.  Using a social networking site like Edmodo can give the teacher opportunities for remediation that he or she would not have during the school day.   Another issue that has brought on the need for using social networking with the students has been student communication.  Students are more open to ask questions when posting to a website as opposed to raising their hand in class.  There are also many interactive opportunities that the internet and social networking will provide for all content areas.  

            My vision for integrating social networking into my math curriculum is to raise student achievement by providing many more interactive opportunities for my students than the average math classroom.  Also by providing remediation through videos and interactive learning, open communication through direct posts, and engaging technology as a learning tool.  Using summative and formative assessments to collect data, I will analyze and compare data from  two math classrooms and two writing classrooms. One classroom in each content area will be integrating a website called Edmodo.com into their curriculum while the other two will not.   Comparing the data will allow me to see any significant student achievement in the two different approaches. 

            According to Rob James, the author of Engaging Students Through Social Media, "Students that use social media from an early age learn to view it as more than just a distraction."  Social media provides our students with creativity and real world experience that is not possible with the traditional methods of teaching.  Social media also provides our students the opportunity to gain online collaboration, networking skills, get personalized help at their own pace and convenience, and build professional skills that will benefit them in certain types of employment. 

            There were several items discussed when deciding on what topic to base my action research plan.  Parental involvement, student achievement, student involvement, and discipline referrals were all topics of discussion. Using social networking in the classroom seemed to be the topic that could boost student achievement and parental and student involvement.  It is also the direction for 21st century learning.  My site supervisor, my department head, and I decided that collecting data on the use of a certain technology in the classroom would give us the better knowledge in changing the direction of our math department and how we teach real world experiences to our students.  We are also considering going to a "flipped" classroom experience for our students, and using edmodo.com will give us a starting point.  After completely deciding on the topic, I had to go to my main principal and get approval for using social networking due to our district having a policy against it. I then had to get approval from out technology director, and our assistant superintendent.  Once the website was approved for use, I had to get our student profile internet filter adjusted so our students were able to access certain aspects of edmodo at school.  Working in a Title I school, many students do not have access to internet, and I was not going to assign any work that my students would not be able to complete at school. 

            Once I set up my students with logins and passwords, I sent out a newsletter to the parents on what their child will be expected to accomplish on Edmodo.  I also spent a class period introducing the site to the students, and all the different uses.  We discussed posting comments and videos, replying to others comments, and asking questions to the class or just to the teacher.  We discussed what is appropriate, and how all posts are moderated by the teacher.  We also compared the traditional homework to what our future homework will look like.  I continually show my expectations to the parents in a newsletter and in class to my students.  I also provide as many opportunities as possible to my students online so that they get acclimated to using the internet as a learning tool and not just as a social interaction.  Since this website is free, there was no cost for resources.  It is also a safe networking site for students, parents, and teachers. You can only be a part of a group if you have the code, and all postings are moderated through me.  I have all approval on what goes onto our math page. You can only post to the group as a whole so no one is left out of a conversation or if you do not feel comfortable with that, you may directly send me a post. 

             The website allows me to post assignments with due dates, and online interactive websites the students can benefit from on different concepts we are learning in class. It alerts the students when an assignment has been posted, or if I have posted an alert. It keeps all grades, and a student can watch a homework video, and hit turn in for a grade.  During our first 6 weeks of using the program, we experienced many conflicts with the students not being able to access certain areas of Edmodo.  During this time, we made other assessments that was equivalent to what a student could complete on Edmodo so the grade and experience could take place. We now have those issues worked out, and all students are able to access and complete all assignments on campus if not able to at home.  

            Differentiation is such a huge benefit in using Edmodo with the classroom. As a teacher, I can assign certain students different videos to watch, different quizzes to take, or different handouts to print out and complete.  Depending on a student's background, they will get very personalized assignments, and the same opportunities as other students.  We have addressed our ELL students with access to their first language and more visual aids and representations.  I can address a student's accommodations by shortened assignments, or extending time for completion. 

            Implementing this project has been the most difficult part so far.  My students were very excited when I introduced the website, but getting 100% participation so far on my assignments has not happened, but I will continue changing my approach until I find something that motivates them. I assign videos that cover concepts we are going to cover. The idea is to introduce the students to the concepts before they come to class, so that we may spend more time in class getting to the practice and depth of the concept. Another part of their assignments are quizzes that I use for spiral review. I also post websites, games, helpful hints, and more on the website for the students to access. The students also use the website for communication after school questions about homework or concepts they are having trouble with.

            After each assessment, my PLC team and I compare our student achievement. We compare the percentages on each standard, and decide what interventions need to be put in place for those students who were not successful. This is another area that I will be using Edmodo. The students that are not successful will be reviewing through online videos and problems.  I will continue collecting data through our 2^nd benchmark in March.  

            The resources used for my research project are the computers on campus, and our campus Wi-Fi.  The website is also free and so at this point there has been no cost for my action research project.  My personal and professional time has been the used the most in developing the quizzes, assignments, and resources for the students. I have also had to take some class time to guide the students on what is expected of them, and how to use the website effectively. When I introduced Edmodo to the the two other teachers that are being used for this project, it took no time at all for them to be motivated and on board in trying this type of instruction. The students that we shared had already motivated them by sharing their excitement for the website in class. 

            At this point in my action research project, I have not gathered enough data to survey any of my stakeholders in this project to get their opinion. When completed, I plan on helping my staff members by assisting them in the setup of their groups in Edmodo, and be available to all who is interested in using this technology in their classrooms. Overall, my goal is to help our students and staff realize the learning tool that is most accessible to them.  The internet provides more ways than ever before to meet the needs of EVERY student in EVERY classroom. 

WOW!! UPDATE!! Totally different topic!!

My action research plan has changed drastically over the past few months.  I changed to a new district and gained a new site supervisor.  I am going to research the use of social networking to teach students math. I have 2 other teachers in other subjects using the same social networking site with their curriculum, and I am going to compare our student achievement at the end of the semester to the teachers who are not using social networking with their curriculum.  I have been using this site for about 2 weeks posting videos, a quiz, and also helpful websites for my math class. I have about 25 students out 100 that log in about 3-4 times a week.  I am hoping to get the other students more involved once they can access the material on our campus. They can log on to Edmodo, but it won't allow them to take the quiz or turn in an assignment under their student profile.   This is going to be a great opportunity for me to reteach and remediate to individual students with videos, and other materials that I can load as a file.  I can differentiate instruction with individual students, or I can assign one assignment for the whole group.  The students can't send a post just to one person, but they can post to the group or to me.  I have several ask questions in the evening on homework, and other students reply on how to work a problem.  I also am going to post extra credit assignments, and have given steps for certain problems on their homework to give them incentive to logon. It's a great website and there is an app that some of my students have downloaded on their phone!  The videos I have been using are off of teacher tube, so the students can watch them at school, and some are watching them on their phones.  I know this has been very exciting for me, and I get to see a side of my students I would not see just talking to them during school hours.

EDLD 5301 Reflection!

Lecture Reflection: The lectures to me seemed to repeat too much of what we already read.  In most cases, I felt that it was reading to me the bullets as opposed to giving me more details about the bullets. They were informative, but I didn’t feel they were more informative than the readings.

Reading Reflection: I have totally enjoyed the readings since I started this program. All of the leadership books that I have read or that has been required to read, have all benefited my views and perspectives in a positive manner. They have also given me some rejuvenation in areas that I needed it the most because I have had a really rough year on my campus.  These leadership books have made me feel like I could have the power to change positively starting with myself. 

Research Reflection:  I didn’t realize the benefit of research as a professional development and how much it could benefit me in my professional growth.  I have found so many different ideas like the use of EDMODO, a facebook like website for teachers and students, that will help benefit my parental involvement in my classroom.  It is so interesting to me to read the surveys that our campus teachers took, and now the ones that our parents are taking. Data has so much insight to the reasons on why we have issues on our campus, and research provides me with ways to impact those issues!  I feel like I can’t get enough research, but yet I am overwhelming myself with research at the same time!

Assignment and Activities Reflection: I feel the activities and assignments for this course have been very knowledge driven. They have kept me on track and busy, but it has been for my benefit, not just for a grade. I like activities and assignments that I can use the discoveries later.  The only thing to me that was a little confusing was exactly what was needed to be put on TK20.  Sometimes I am not sure what parts of the assignments and activities need to go there.  Also, I wish there would have been more examples in our document section that showed what templates we were using filled out. 

Discussion Board and Blog Reflection: I love discussion boards. I really enjoy being able to add comments on my own time, and have actual discussions about important issues without having to find a time to meet in person. It also takes away the intimidation factor of someone that might be shy with great advice!  I found myself always checking to see what others had posted about my discussions so that I could improve what I am working on!!  I felt the same way with the blogs.  I love the use of the blog! I do feel that we don’t need both.  I think using both for the same purposes and discussions kept either from being as effective as they could have been.  To me, blogs would have been the better way to go, because they do allow us to show some of our own personal style, and they are a little more fun to read! 

Week 4 Reflection

I feel like I am learning at such a great rate that I don't know how large my brain will actually be when I graduate! I may not be able to fit through my classrom before long!! j/k..... With that note, I really enjoyed learning some strategies on sustaining improvement. I feel like I can use those three strategies at any point throughout any changes that are being made.  I feel the Delphi Model and the Nominal Group Technique are great ways to make your fellow teachers and staff feel they all have a voice in the decisions of change.  Speaking from experience, change doesn't go over well when you feel it is being done to you instead of you being a part of it.  If any of you are like me, I feel my mind is never shutting down all the improvements I would like to see on our campus.  And then I get overwhelmed because I am not sure where to start and which one to tackle first! So far this course has made me realize to make successful changes, you have to tackle on specific issue at a time, and  that I my wonderings will never cease to exist, just change form!!! 
  

Action Research Plan

Action Planning Template
Goal: Increase academic success by increasing parent involvement on our campus.
Action Steps(s):	Person(s) Responsible:	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
Teacher survey on parental involvement.	Myself	April 26-28,2012	Survey Monkey	Review Data
Parent Survey on parent involvement on our campus	Myself, Leisa Boswell-Web Site Coordinator	April 27-May 11	Survey Monkey	Review Data
Create Wiki for collaboration.	Myself	May 12	Wikispaces
Discuss Data with Team on Wiki	Wiki Team	May14-May 30	Wikispaces, Survey Monkey Data	Discussion
Research Articles on Parental Involvement and Discuss findings on Wiki	Wiki Team	May 31-July 1	Wikispaces, Literature, electronic searches	Reading, Discussion, Active Listening
Decide what strategies and opportunities to be implemented at the beginning of the year to boost parental involvement.	Wiki Team	July 2-August 10	Discussions on articles, wikispaces	Discussion, Active Listening
Present Strategy to Principal	Myself, Mr. Ashby-Principal	August 15	Wikispaces discussion and research
Implement Strategies	Campus Staff	1st 6 weeks	Not sure yet. Depends on our findings from our research.	Surveys, observation, feedback, Parent Sign-ins, field notes
Review of Data from 1st 6 weeks	Wiki Team, and campus principal	Beginning of 2nd 6 weeks.	Data from observations, surveys, feedback
Review of Discipline Referrals	Wiki Team, Mr. Willoughby, Assistant Principal	End of each 6 weeks.	Referral Data for current 6 weeks, and last year's 6 weeks.	Compare to Last Year's Data at this time.
Provide opportunities throughout 6 weeks for parents to be involved.	Campus Staff	Throughout each 6 weeks.	Not sure yet, depending on the opportunities we offer	Parent Sign-ins, teacher feedback, surveys
Review Failing Percentages for Semester 1	Wiki Team	January 2013	Semester 1 Grades and Last Year's Semester 1 grades.	Quantitative Measures, Reflection
End of year evaluation of program	Wiki team, principals	May 2013	All data throughout year	Quantitative Measures, Reflection, Surveys, Interviews, Field Notes, Parent Data

 

Format based on Tool 7.1 from Examining What We Do to Improve Our Schools

(Harris, Edmonson, and Combs, 2010)

Reasons parents are not involved!

OK, so as you know my research topic is beginning of the year activities and procedures that will increase and boost our parent involvement.  So I am wanting  some different opinions on why our parents are not involved!! PLease leave your opinions in a comment!!

Thank you!!

Reflection for Week 2

     Week 2 for me was full of great thoughts. I have read so many interesting research topics that all could be used on my current campus.  Week 2 has also made me realize even more the importance of great leadership on a school campus, and without it, there is little success.  As a teacher, I am wanting to step up and play a more leadership role than I have in the past, and I feel like I can make some great changes on our campus using the process of action research. I also can't wait to share with my colleagues the ideas in my head! I feel like I am almost exploding with thoughts about how much better our campus could be with the development of action research on site!