Hold On Tight Here I Go!
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
My take away this week is that 21st century classroom teachers are preparing students for jobs that don't even exist yet. We must use the tools and technology of today to engage students in collaboration and meaningful discussion. Adora Svitak says, we must listen to the children and their needs to better support their learning. We must set the expectation high and watch them rise to it, or she says, they will drop to the low expectations you set.
Ken Robinson believes the three principles in which human life flourishes are curiosity, diversity, and creativity and unfortunately many current policies are mechanistic conceptions of education. We must create a climate of possibility in order to start the revolution. I find myself drawn to the metaphor he uses of education as organic. He has mentioned it in his TED talks before, but in his Death Valley example it made a huge impact on the way I visualized it. Humans thrive under certain conditions and us teachers have to be the rain that brings the flowers. University of Michigan- case study
A. The case study looks at implementing a strategy that includes engagement, collaboration and flexibility. Moving away from the traditional classroom set up and from teaching were the teacher does most of the talking and students just listen. Using a variety of classroom set-ups and solutions offer students a variety of classroom experiences while incorporating collaborative tools and technology. B. The students are able to engage and collaborate while using the multiple surfaces to write on and technology to share ideas. The flexible seating makes the transitions easy and quick. Multiple groups can collaborate simultaneously in the same space. C. The pedagogy is changing in the classroom. The teacher is incorporating the web, social media and videos to engage the students in meaningful collaboration. The technology and the flexible seating becomes the tool and strategy. D. Our school is looking at all the 21st century skills needed to get our students ready for the jobs of tomorrow. We are already being asked to increase student collaboration by making sure that there is more student talk than teacher talk. I have my desks arranged in a way that fosters collaboration and work student talk into all my lessons. I can't wait to have technology available for all the students its just a matter of time and my class will have chrome books for each of my students. I have not formulated my driving question as of yet but feel more confident after the assigned reading.
The research activity of my driving question has to be approved by the IRB. According to Mertler (2012), making sure that action research adheres to ethical standards is the responsibility of the educator-researcher. Most universities and school districts have some sort of review process for ensuring that a proposed research study is conducted in such a manner so as to protect the rights of the human subjects involved. Your need to knows must completely as possible describe the situation or problem that you want to change or improve. In chapter 3 of Mertler's, Action Research Improving Schools and Empowering Educators we are asked to consider the following on our topic:
Some ideas for my driving question are: How can classroom community building help my English learners feel more included? How can classroom community improve literacy for English language learners? |
Marisabel OlguinNVLA 4th Grade Dual Immersion Teacher at Napa Valley Language Academy Archives
June 2018
Categories |