Evaluating Research Methods

Scenario 1: Ten students are available for in-depth interviews. Participants will be selected based on their involvement with the peer mediation program. They will be observed over three weeks. Analysis will attempt to determine issues concerning peer mediation.

In this scenario the qualitative method would be the best research method to use. This scenario is a case study design where "the data focuses on one phenomenon" ((McMillan & Schumacher, 2008,
p.136). This scenario is looking at the interviews of the students rather than number data. For qualitative research, "most of these data are in the form of words rather than numbers"(McMillan & Schumacher, 2008, p.26).

Scenario 2: Two classrooms of students are selected. There are 30 students in each class; each group will have similar demographics—age, sex, race, socio-economic background, etc. Classes will be randomly divided into two groups of 15 students. Of these two groups, one randomly selected group will get training on peer mediation and the other group will not. Thus in each classroom there will be one group that is trained in peer mediation and one that is not. Analysis will occur on which groups have the fewest office referrals.

For this scenario quantitative research would be best used to answer the question. Within quantitative research the experimental design with more specifically being a true experimental design would seem to be the fit best. The reason for this is that there are two groups being looked at: one a controlled group and the other an experimental group. With a true experimental design there are random assignments. With this being a random assignment it "helps to ensure that there are no major differences between subjects in each group before intervention begins" (McMillan & Schumacher, 2008, p.24). Since the researcher is manipulating who will receive the training the results will conclude which group has the fewest office referrals without any interferences.

Scenario 3: A school counselor is interested in knowing how student attitudes affect the value of peer mediation to decrease the number of office referrals that are being filed for inappropriate interactions.

This scenario would use the mixed-method design. The mixed-method design "combines quantitative and qualitative methods" (McMillan & Schumacher, 2008, p.27). The counselor in the school is going to be collecting data on the attitudes of the students then will look at the data of the number of office referrals that are being filed.

Scenario 4: Peer mediation has become widely used in many schools. The feelings of those involved in the process are little known—either from those doing the mediation or those receiving it. The ZASK-R Acceptance Preference Survey will be given as pre- and post-tests to 40 students participating in mediation. Follow-up interviews will be conducted on a bi-monthly basis.

I also feel that this would be mixed-method research with a explanatory design. The research is still using qualitative and quantitative data. The researchers would first give out the survey and use the data that was collected (quantitative) and then the qualitative data would be collected second to "elucidate, elaborate on, or explain the quantitative findings" (McMillan & Schumacher, 2008, p.28).

References:
McMillan, J., & Schumacher, S. (2008). Research in education: Evidence-based inquiry (Laureate custom edition). Boston: Pearson.

Research Questions

My focus will be the impact of laptop use for student achievement with every student in the classroom having their own laptop.

I will be using the quantitative research method and the following questions will guide me in my research:

-Do students prefer to use laptops to learn rather than using the paper pencil method?

-Is there a difference in student achievement when using technology (i.e laptops) during classroom instruction?

-Does using laptops while learning keep the students motivated and engaged while learning?

Here are a few questions form this weeks discussion that will also guide me in my research:

-What is the best ratio for student to laptop? Is it 1:1?

-What happens to collaboration when each student has a laptop? Increased? Decreased?

Problem Statement

Problem Statement:
I plan to determine what the impact of student achievement is on third graders when every student is given their own laptop in the classroom for learning purposes.

Who: 3rd Graders

What: The impact of student achievement when each student is given their own laptop for learning purposes

Why: Impact of student learning

Class Reflection

Bridging Learning Theory, Instruction, and Technology has opened my eyes to many new ideas. I have been exposed to numerous technology tools that can be incorporated into my classroom. I have learned that technology is a great way to instruct students and there are many tools that can be used that are fun and interesting to students. This class has opened my eyes as a teacher on the importance of having technology in the classroom. We are a technological world and our students should have the opportunity to use the technology while they learn.

An adjustment that I would like to make immediately in my classroom is the amount of technology that is being used by my students. I felt that I used some technology in my classroom but when I really stepped back to look at what was being used I noticed that I was using majority of the technology and not my students. I would like to have my students using the technology more and having me as a facilitator. I would like to start incorporating Voice Thread as well as more virtual field trips being used in my class. Voice Thread is a great opportunity for the students to make the learning more meaningful by creating a project and the virtual field trips allow for students to go places they may never get to go to in person.

Two long term goals that I would like to set in my classroom would be the following
1. Start next year with one technology lesson a week and then build from there. By the end of the year I would like to be incorporating more technology in my lessons a week.
-In order to achieve this goal I will be using this summer to plan out different technology that I could incorporate into lessons that I plan on teaching. Since I taught the same grade last year I know what lesson I will most likely be teaching so I can start to think which technology would go with which lesson.
2. Have the students monitor their own progress.
-To achieve this goal I myself must be familiar with the spreadsheet layout that I would like my students to be using. I will begin this summer by finding a spreadsheet that is kid friendly and practicing on how to use the program so that I can have my students monitor their own success next year.

Here is my Voice Thread...Just copy and paste the link below.


voicethread.com/share/1196650/

Social Learning

Social learning is a great way for students to discuss topics with one another and learn from each other. An activity that I do with my students is jigsaw activities. This is where certain groups or students are experts on their particular topic and then share to the rest of the class. This activity is very beneficial in a lot of ways. For one students are able to become experts on what they are talking about so that they have the best understanding possible. Instead of students trying to cramp in everything they are able to focus on one topic and then listen to others discuss their topics. This allows for the students to do more of the teaching and allow for the teacher to be the facilitator.

Another activity that our county actually uses all the time is think, pair, share. My county has all the teachers complete the I do, We do, You do model of teaching. This allows for the teacher to model the skill, the students to work on the skill together, and then allow for them to work on it on their own. This is a great way to have the students communicate their thoughts and ideas to one another before really being on their own. It is a perfect time for them to ask any questions that they might be having and allow for their peers to help them better understand the topic.

Social learning is very beneficial for students to interact with others in their class or even around the world through technology while they are learning. Students will be faced with interactions in their work area so now is the best time to have them use the skill. Allowing individuals to communicate while learning is beneficial because it allows for more questions and discussion. As the saying goes, two heads are better than one!

Constructivism and Constructionism in the Class

According to Dr. Orey, constructivism is the idea that individuals construct their own meaning. The constructionism approach is where individuals learn through building or creating and sharing with others. The authors of Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works, identified the strategies of generating and testing hypotheses, which correlates with the constructivist theory. Students who generate hypotheses are enhancing their understanding of the content by using a complex mental process.

I learn best through building and constructing things in order to grasp what is being taught. When someone is trying to lecture me I tend to zone out and not pay attention. However when I am able to construct something and bring meaning to the lesson I tend to grasp the concept much more. When students are able to build on the information that they are being taught their understandings of the material is better grasped.

Technology allows for students to be involved in the learning process. Students are able to create wikis, blogs, power points etc. These projects allows for the students to build projects that enhance their learning while working with others. When teachers have engaging interactive lessons students are more likely to be attentive and willing to participate and be engaged. For a field trip that my class recently went on I had my students use flip cameras to understand how we are helping the Chesapeake Bay. With the help of the flip cameras students were able to document what they learned on the field trip to make a movie. This now has not just become a lesson that they learned on a field trip but something they can keep with them.

Technology is a great way for students and teachers to create lessons that are meaningful. With technology lessons can be more meaningful and interactive. The constructionism theory allows for more participation and engagement in the classroom.

References:
Pitler, H., Hubbell, E., Kuhn, M., & Malenoski, K. (2007). Using technology with classroom instruction that works. Alexandria, VA: ASCD