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 2nd 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.
No comments:
Post a Comment