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Marisabel's Blog
What is the educational context for your Driving Question?
According to the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress(CASSP)(2016) results show 56% of students tested have not met the reading standards. Teaching practices must use 21st century tools and the Common Core State Standards to ensure students are prepared for the 21st century hi-tech jobs of tomorrow. Since 2009 Napa Valley Language Academy has been increasingly implementing Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) throughout the grades as an AVID elementary site. Now as of last year all elementary sites in NVUSD are AVID elementary schools. NVLA has been leading the schools on its own for eight years. Lastly the NVUSD has set a goal to instill 21st century skills in all of its students. If we are to accomplish this goal we must increase technology in the classrooms. Students must experience the environment they will enter as 21st Century workers. The online component of the curriculum used in the classroom will hopefully develop the higher order thinking skills, effective communication skills, and knowledge of technology that students will need in the 21st century. The article, “Adding Value: Online Student Engagement”, by Donna R. Everett (2015) proclaims that, continuing research into online student engagement strategies is needed to add value to student learning. She continues to say, in order for instructors to choose instructional strategies and activities, a student engagement perspective is needed. Everett lists the following factors as proffered by Finn & Zimmer(2013): Engagement behaviors should be understood as essential to learning (not just “busy” work), Engagement behaviors parallel later behavior; e.g., they are directly relatable to “on and off the job behavior” (connecting to the appropriate work place), Remaining engaged (persistence) is an outcome of being in school ( value is seen in completing the activity), Engagement behaviors have the possibility of improving academic achievement (the value of learning is reinforced). Additionally, student engagement behaviors have adjusted instructional dimensions and outcomes for social and emotional learning that provide motivation to learn and achieve. Students are able to identify with the activity and “see” the value for themselves. Therefore my research will help me and others gain further insight into whether using an online source like TumbleBooks as a strategy during SSR will help students actively engage in reading increasing their success at answering a writing prompt. Everett reports from the 2014 eLearning Industry Report that says, According to a recent study conducted by The Research Institute of America, e-Learning has the power to increase information retention rates by up to 60%. She also defines engagement by quoting Finn, 1989 with the following: The learning activity should include observable behavior that affects the internalization of the content, with social and emotional implications and an intentional decision to engage.
2 Comments
Amanda Olson
9/25/2017 05:45:34 am
I am very excited about your driving question and am very much looking forward to the results of your research! There are such an abundance of online resources in existence that teachers can implement on a daily basis and across all curriculum areas that can truly enhance student engagement and student learning. I think what you're researching is of the utmost importance because I think often times in classrooms today technology is used in a manner that is not connected to the curriculum and is rather used simply to incorporate technology, not to enhance the concepts actually being taught. It is so important for students to be able to identify the correlation between what they are doing technologically and not only the curriculum covered in class but a significant connection must be made to a real-life context and to their futures as well. With these meaningful applications and connections being clearly identified with students, it seems as though student engagement and student learning will most definitely improve! I look forward to hearing about the outcomes of your research!
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9/26/2017 08:24:32 pm
Marisabel, your research is something I am very much interested in. Student engagement is the key ingredient to success in the classroom. But sadly to say, kids don't have that excitement when it comes to reading. I think technology is the only way we are going to be able to win them over. I can't wait to learn more about Tumblebooks and read how this program can bring about positive change in your classroom!
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Marisabel OlguinNVLA 4th Grade Dual Immersion Teacher at Napa Valley Language Academy Archives
June 2018
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