Intro to Xtranormal Podcast

Click on the image to visit my Xtranormal Podcast 

Video Conferences - Learning in an online class

Today I thought about the Jetson's and how Jane would put on her "Jane face" if she got a call too early in the morning.  I wish I had a one...because it was too early this morning, after Thanksgiving, to do anything.  I just chose to leave my video off while I participated in the discussion.  While probably dating myself, I thought it was quite amazing that we have gotten to this point in our technology.  Having the ability to communicate with others across vast distances while being able to see them is something that was pure science fiction just a few years ago.  But it is here now and I think that it has led to the overwhelming numbers of online programs that are now available.

I have found it to be useful to be involved in the video conferences as I am able to ask questions in an open forum and get answers and feedback from the professor, but also from classmates with similar questions.  While video conferences are recorded, I don't think that reviewing the scripts offline is quite as beneficial as participating - especially if no one asks the questions that you need answers for.  Being involved directly gives me an opportunity to ask questions directly and hopefully get the answers that I need to be successful.

Video conferencing adds another level to distance learning and I hope that it continues to enrich my learning process.

Becoming a Teacher

Becoming a Teacher tells my story.  It is a short pictorial about the journey I have taken to get where I am and the people that have influenced me.  Working on the video gave me a chance to reflect on who I am in a fun and interesting way.  I enjoy taking pictures and compiling them into a story was revealing. 

Creating this type of video presentation was not new to me, but I did have a chance to improve my skills with sound editing software to create the track for both voice and music.  I'm looking forward to learning more about available presentation programs and how they can be utilized to pass along information.

Action Research Plan - revised... a lot!

Update 09/27/13

Number of AR Project Documented Hours:  72 hours

AR Project Summary (at least 250 words):

The efficacy of Compass Learning as a tutorial program for 6^th grade math students

The action research plan has been completed as planned.  Students were selected to participate based on teacher recommendation as well as performance on the state mandated assessment, State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness (STAAR).  All students that had not passed the test as 5^th graders were invited to participate in an afternoon computer lab.  A group of students did not participate although invited and this allowed for a comparison group.  One group was working with interventions and one group worked individually without interventions.  Students that participated in the Afternoon Learning Lab were working with a software program from Odyssey Learning called Compass Learning.  The program is meant to assess student’s capabilities and after identifying areas of need through assessment, a learning pathway is established.  After students work on the learning path, then they finish the lesson with a post test.  The students were enrolled in the learning lab for the nine weeks prior to taking the STAAR test.  After the STAAR test, data was collected and the two student groups were compared.  I was interested in determining the effectiveness of the learning lab on the outcome of the STAAR.  Collection of information has been concluded and a detailed analysis of the information has been completed.

The first draft of the action research paper has been completed but the literature review is still pending completion.  To finalize the report, a review of best practices regarding after school tutoring will be completed.  The review will be conducted with a mind to support correlations between the action research plan and current literature on the topic.

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After reviewing the feedback given on my earlier post, I determined that I needed to make some improvements.  Hopefully this is a better plan on which to base my work.

Tool 7.1  Action Planning Template

How can a Compass Learning Computer Lab support teachers as they work with their lowest performing students, while maintaining a focus on historically low performing sub-groups for our campus?

Goal:  To improve student success while encouraging participation in a technology- driven district initiative.

Action Step	Person Responsible	Timeline	Needed Resources	Evaluation
1. Identify lowest performing students in Math and Science.	Mr. Salazar   Ms. Carrasco	11/05/2012	STAAR Results – 2011	Student List for Math and Science
2.  Invite students to attend afterschool Learning Lab.  Obtain parent permission through a student letter.	Ms. Carrasco  Mr. Salazar  Mrs. Cook  Mrs. Candelaria	11/12/2012	Letter to Parents	Returned letter, signed by parents.
3.  Create Pre-Test through Compass Learning based on identified TEKS identified by Math Department.	Mr. Salazar	11/12/2012	TEKS Compass Learning	Student scores based on Compass Learning.
4.  Open afterschool Learning Lab.	Ms. Carrasco	11/12/2012	Computer Lab
5.  Administer Pre-Test to students.	Ms. Carrasco	11/12/2012	Computer Lab	Student scores on Assessment.
6.  Share results.	Ms. Carrasco  Mr. Salazar  Mrs. Candelaria  Mrs. Cook	11/13/2012	Compass Learning Report
7.  Assign Learning Path through Compass Learning.	Ms. Carrasco	11/15/2012	Computer Lab	Progress monitored weekly through Compass Learning Progress Report.
8.  Monitor student sessions in Learning Lab.	Ms. Carrasco	11/15/2012	Computer Lab	Progress monitored weekly through Compass Learning Progress Report.
9.  Administer Post-Test to students.	Ms. Carrasco	01/28/2013	Computer Lab	Student scores on Assessment.
10. Compile results and analyze pre and post test data.	Ms. Carrasco	01/28/2013	Computer Lab	Student scores on Assessment.
11.  Interview Math Department for input on classroom success by students involved in program.	Mr. Salazar  Ms. Carrasco	02/04/2013		Interview responses.
12.  Present results to campus administration and campus faculty.	Ms. Carrasco	02/26/2013	PowerPoint

CARE Model: Planning Tool

I was really excited about using the CARE Model in planning my action research plan.  It felt very natural to respond to the questions of key points of this planning tool and thought I would share it with you...

Tool 8.1 CARE Model: Planning Tool

Identify Concerns that must change (look to the future)

1.  Struggling students in all socio-economic levels must be supported for success.

2.  Adoption of technology is important in the lives of 21^st century students.

3.  Success in Math and Science is important if the United States wants to remain competitive in a global market.

Identify Affirmations that must be sustained (look to the present)

1.  JDS maintains a Culture of Excellence on its campus.

2.  Teachers have a drive for all students to succeed.

3.  Once a student has been identified as struggling, most teachers want to work with students to help them be successful.

SMART Recommendations that must be implemented:

(Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Timely)

1.  Compass Learning is designed to add to the success of our Culture of Excellence.

2.  Improvement is demonstrable through student progress monitoring.

3.  With lab support, not relying on added teacher time, or lack of support at home, students can attain success.

4.  Culture of Excellence means we need to focus on strugglers to help them reach excellence too.

5.  Compass Learning is an available tool and an opportunity to change which can be monitored weekly for student success.

EVALUATE – Specifically and Often)

1.  Weekly reports are generated from the Compass Learning reporting student progress.

2.  Teacher surveys regarding progress of students in class would substantiate success of Learning Lab.

3.  Outcome on state assessment would be an additional indicator of success.