Action Research Complete

Action Research Project Title:  EFFECTIVENESS OF ACCELERATED READER

ON INCREASING READING PROFICIENCIES

Blog URL: http://colleenjros.blogspot.com/

Number of AR Project Documented Hours:  30 hours


Action Research Summary:

At this point in time I have finished collecting data on the reading levels increasing throughout the year and analyzed how much they read in regard to how much their reading level increased.  In EDLD 5397 I wrote the abstract, background, literature review, research design, data collection and reference sections of the paper.  My main focus at this time needs to be on analyzing the data and finishing the findings and conclusions parts of the action research project.

From the beginning glances I have taken at the data I can see that the action research project was successful and this year we are fully implementing the Accelerated Reader program across all grade levels.  The other big change we have made this year is that district wide we are using web based AR.  By switching to web based AR we are expanding our library of 320,000 books which 2% had quizzes to 80% of our books now having quizzes.  We are hoping that by allowing a much broader choice in reading material and the school wide store that student motivation will greatly increase.

We are going to expand the AR store from being offered only to sixth graders to all grade levels.  The other issue that we have discussed is having the store offer a lot of items that don’t actually cost us money but would have a large buy in from the students.  These examples would include dance tickets, Root beer Float parties, and Magic Show tickets (a show we already have coming).

Week 5 EDLD 5366 Final Reflection

The Importance of Student Reflection

First, I would like to explore a change in belief that I had while reading from ETE (2005) which was that "reflection can occur at any time in the learning process.”  I was under the impression that reflection was an ending process the summary of the lesson, and now I see that reflection can be integrated throughout a lesson, as a learning tool.  I also saw merit in the idea brought forth by Herbert (1995) that there are many different approaches to reflection at times it may be necessary to be “blunt” and at other times a “gentle” approach may be best depending upon the individual student.

The group web site experience is always a bit out of the box for me.  I am a very individual student who likes to have control over the end product. It is always a growing experience for me as I allow others to complete tasks on their own time frame and also allow others choices in work to be the final product.  I do see value in the personal growth as well as learning how to communicate online as I see that area growing rapidly in the near future.

As I move forward with my learning and research I would like to explore how to help a student transfer a mathematical mistake into a meaningful mistake where they are able to make a connection between the errors that they made as to not make that error in the future.  This week I came up with a reflection piece in which a student must write a complete sentence with appropriate content vocabulary either stating what they did correctly to solve the problem or where they made an error.  I guided students through this new process and found it very exciting to see true reflection of the test.  I was guiding students through their thought process and helping them to see where the error occurred.  I will continue to explore this new thought process throughout future lessons.

       Websites have a very valid place in a k-12 classroom on many different levels.  As a teacher they hold a great value as a learning tool to show case videos of lessons that both parents and students can engage in.  They also provide a learning opportunity for colleagues as they are able to see a snap-shot of a lesson and integrate pieces into their own lessons to allow the school to develop a consistency across the subject matter in the delivery.  As Herbert (2001) discusses the importance of electronic portfolios as a “learner centered” activity it is essential to see the use of a student blog as a “assessment for learning” as opposed to an “assessment of learning”. Blogs can be used as a vehicle for learning as a way to see their thought process of weekly lessons and they could further serve as a great portfolio of student growth throughout a school year.

References:

ETE Team. (2005). The reflective student. Retrieved from www.cotf.edu/ete/teacher/reflect.html

Hebert, E. (2001) The Power of Portfolios. Jossey-Bass

Herbert, T. (1995). Experiential learning: A teacher's perspective. 

1997-2004 by Wheeling Jesuit University/NASA-supported Classroom of

Team Believe Web Page

My Group Web page

I have worked with my group on this web page for my masters in technology.  

I did the parent page and the cyber ethics page as well.  It is exciting to make a web page that the whole world can access and think about the endless possibilities that a site leads to.

Check out our TEAM BELIEVE web page:

Team Believe Webpage: click here

My First Animation Video with Stykz

Brought back memories of the old flip books.

Analysis of Ancient Manuscript

I analyzed all four ancient manuscripts, The Bible of Ethiopia, Lisbon Hebrew Bible, Baybars’ Magnificent Qur’an and the Outstanding 15^th- Century Church Book I was amazed by all four texts.  The design elements that were present even at the 15^th century were astonishing.  Every manuscript had an incredible amount of alignment, good use of color and great use of contrast with the very different but limited colors.  I also observed a staggering amount of repetition for the time period in which these pieces were written.  The ancient manuscripts were a work of art.  It is shocking that in all the time we have improved our graphic abilities that in many ways these ancient works are better than our new pieces.  I was astonished by the magnificent geometric patterns and how well they understood the importance of all the graphic elements of contrast, repetition, alignment, and proximity.