Month 10: LMO Blog

Is there a connection between the data produced from your Cycles and the research reported in your Literature Review?

In the areas of engagement, motivation and student-centered classrooms, yes, there is a connection between my literature review research and my AR. My findings fell right in line with those that I found. Creating personalized learning environments,  by using Web 2.0 tools, for each student in my classroom increased their motivation and engagement in their activities and assignments. In addition, by using various Web 2.0 tools, I put the students in charge of their own learning, thus creating a personalized learning environment that was student driven. In the area of using Web 2.0 tools to increase reading comprehension – there was not a wealth of literature out there. I found a few case studies and peer reviewed articles, but nothing compelling. Furthermore, the research I did find was geared more to younger elementary students and older high school students – nothing touched on middle school students.’

 

How did your AR project turn out for you? Describe as a practitioner, how did this project improve your practice.

Overall, my AR project was a success. Statistically, I showed an overall improvement in non-ficiton reading comprehension skills. I also feel that I was able to help each student individually with their weaknesses. Cycle 2, I believe, had a larger impact on their learning than Cycle 1. I changed the main project to gaming, which really peaked their interest. I had students tell me, “I loved this part of my research much better than the other stuff we did!” And this showed in their enthusiasm for class and their complete engagement during the 45-minute class. The students thought I was crazy to let them play games for my research, but when they saw their non-fiction comprehension reading scores go up – they were convinced. This project showed me that I don’t have to stick with conventional – tried and true- research to make a difference. I need to step out of my confort zone, and force my school to do the same, if we want middle school students to learn. I struggled at first how to make the games work in glass and make them a valid part of the reassert project, but once this clicked – I never doubted for a minute that gaming to learn was the way to go.

Is a personal learning environment or an LMO something that could be part of your AR project in the future? Why or why not.

Most definitely! I used Edmodo all year long. I began using it before implementing my AR. The students are do adept to using networking platforms, it is second nature to them. However, they all thought it was cool to use in school. I will also work on creating stronger personal learning environments for next year’s students. This was my first year in my position as computer technology teacher that I was struggling with what and how to teach the students. This AR research has given me a solid foundation for years to come.

 

Month 9: GSM Blog

1) Describe in detail the methods, quantitative, qualitative, or mixed approach, you used for Cycle 1 data collection.
I used a combination of both data collection methods during Cycle 1. I used qualitative data collection to record engagement, motivation, and attitude. I walked around the room on 5 different days making notes on body language, facial expressions, conversations, and tone of voice of the students. I also conducted interviews with several different students making sure I chose students from various reading levels. I used quantitative data collection to show whether or not the students had an increase in their non-fiction reading comprehension. I gave a pre and post test where I recorded students scores and compared how each student and groups of students did on their pre and post test. I also gave a survey over student internet usage and availability and calculated the responses.

2) Describe, synthesize, and compare the data found for Cycle 1 and Cycle 2.

Cycle 2 is not complete, mostly due to the interruption of our standardized state testing. However, I predict that Cycle 2 will be met with more enthusiasm than Cycle 1. I changed one of the Web 2.0 tools and I believe the students will really like it. Therefore, I anticipate the outcome for motivation, engagement and attitude to be similar in Cycle 2 as it was in Cycle 1. As far as seeing an increase in their non-fiction reading comprehension, I am really not sure if my change in Cycle 2 will make a difference. I am going to guess that I will continue to see an increase because I am continuing to make a consecrated effort and focus on their non-fiction reading skills.

3) Describe the ways GSM contributed to your AR and this class.

At first, I struggled with this connection, but I found a link that I am excited to dig into. After looking around Facebook at all the different styles of games and what was the most popular, I stumbled upon a game I had not played before, but was very popular. I was taken back to my childhood and Highlights magazine and the Hidden Picture page. Gardens of Time on Facebook is a hidden objects game and as I started to play I thought about all the skills I had to utilize – concentration, focus on detail, following direction, and so on. This is when it hit me. These are the areas that my students struggle with in reading – especially focus on detail. I thought this would be perfect. Would playing this type of game help them to focus in on the detail and would this translate into reading. I began look for research in this area. So far, I have found lots of website that state that playing hidden object games increases concentration and attention or focus to detail, but I haven’t found any peer-reviewed articles or professional journals. I am also going to have the students play a variety of hidden object games each day instead of creating a WikiSpace page for Cycle 2. The students are very excited and I am anxious to see what the results will be.

 

Month 8: FPE Blog

• What changed in your set up from Cycle 1 to Cycle 2?

The overall change in Cycle 2 is that it will be shortened. The students are taking longer than expected with creating the WikiPages. This is a plus and minus. I am excited that they are really engaged and working hard, yet on the other hand, this has put me behind schedule. I do have to remember that overall, it is the learning that is the focus, not my AR project.

• What’s happening that you did not expect?

Although I am trying to make these activities interesting and engaging, I didn’t expect the students to really get in to them based on the underlying content of reading. Before starting many students complained about reading the RSS feeds. But as we got into creating our Popplets and they began breaking down the stories, the students were able to understand them. Overall, my 7th grader are my complainers – about everything. So I expected them to bulk at creating the WikiPage, but I was wrong! They love it. They are really trying hard to find information, pictures and they want to tell all they can about the subject. I have had a few students change their topic, but overall the students picked something they found interesting and are going above and beyond.

• How are you tracking data differently?

The first time around I focused mainly on their engagement and motivation, and less on the details of their Popplets and WikiPages. This time around, I am focusing more on their accuracy of finding the main idea with supporting details and the content and details of their Wikipage.

• How do you foresee FPE contributing to your capstone project?

I am not sure if this class will contribute to my capstone project in a significant way in terms of my students. I do think this class will be a lifesaver for creating my final capstone project. In addition, I teach a video unit with my 8th grade students and I believe this class will provide with wealth of information for me.

 

Month 7: MTA Blog

At the beginning of Month 7, I printed my timeline and checked off what I have completed and circled those items, that I am still working on.

Are you still on target to complete both implementation activities?

It looks like I am on target for the most part. There were a couple of small activities or items that I did not get completed during the month of January. I still need to interview students, and I have only taken a couple of pictures. My student population changed for second semester and I had to complete all of the “beginning of class items.” Now that is complete, I am able to dive right into the AR implementation. I had planned to start my AR research at the beginning of January, but it is not starting until February. However, looking at my research, I and my lesson timeline, I am in good shape. I need to remind myself to take photos, videos and talk to the students.

Estimate how long will each implementation take to complete.

I will have to be completed with both cycles by the end of May when school is out of the summer. My plan is to be done with Cycle 1 by the first week of March (before spring break), and start Cycle 2  near the end of March or beginning of April. We have our state tests during this time, so I allowed for extra time during the second cycle. I will need to be done with Cycle 2 by the second week of May.

Will you be completed with the implementation process by month 9? If not, why?

Yes, I will be completed with the implementation process by month 9 or end of May because it is the end of school.

 

Month 6: DAE Blog

How is your AR project unfolding for you? When will you begin Cycle implementation in your environment?

So far my AR project is unfolding nicely – no major wrinkles yet, only a few minor ones that were ironed out quickly. I will be able to begin by implementation around the first week of February. I am a little behind on this. I was hoping to have it started already, but with a new group of students, I needed to go over beginning of class items and get them started with some other projects first. All of the students have completed the survey I created and I have that data compiled.

How are you planning to track your data?

I will be able to track lots of the data via Edmodo. I am using this classroom management tool to keep track of the student’s blog postings. I am also entering the information into a Google spreadsheet so I can follow pre and post quizzes and keep track of who has which blog or assignment done.

What happened in your research that you didn’t expect? Explain.

The only thing that has happened that I didn’t expect was the delay in time. I received a new group of 200 students in January. I thought I would have the beginning of class housekeeping items completed. Not the case. I am still working at getting everyone up and running with using Edmodo.

How has this month’s course (so far) helping in shaping your ARP?

This month class has helped me think about the visual aspects of my assignments a little more. I want to incorporate more visual instructional material but haven’t figured how yet. I am working with middle schoolers to increase their reading ability and asking them various questions about their reading, so I am not sure how I am going to add visual to this. Although I might be able to add more graphics and visuals to their WikiPages. Since they have not used the program I can add more visuals to help them learn it.

 

Month 3: TMD Blog

 Who are your critical friends?  What role do you anticipate your critical friends will play with regard to your AR project?

Terra Cortta statue "Circle of Friends" - I picked this up in Juarez, Mexico, about 20 years ago. I dug it out, dusted it off, and placed it by computer to remind me to utilize my critical friends!

Most of my critical friends are local, and I have a few that are spread out across the United States. Locally, I would say my husband, Drew, and my oldest daughter, Paige, are at the top of the critical friends list. They check over and help with almost all of my assignment. They are definitely my extra eyes and ears.

Next on my friend list, would be my parents (Herb and Lorraine Austin). They offer lots of moral support, childcare, and even some editing.

Now, my Full Sail friends would be next on the list. Each month, this section of my list is growing, but for now I would include Cherylee Gruber, Debbie Patsel, Joe Bishop, and Michele Grevensen. Two others, I still keep in contact with although they dropped out of the program are Jennie Powers and Kendell Tew. Probably last on the list (but not last my any means) would have to be my students. They are my guinea pigs this year, and I share with them what I am doing. However, my 8^th graders have been great to get me thinking outside the box, offer ideas, and provide some extra time in their day for me. Thus far, all of these critical friends have offered insight and collaboration time through the Full Sail journey.

I need these critical friends to help me through this program. Some are needed for moral support, technical support, idea support, and editing and research support. I plan to use these people in various ways throughout this 12 month program.

 

Calendar Timeline for Action Research (AR)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Stage 1 – The journey begins

“The journey of a thousand leagues begins with a single step. So we must never neglect any work of peace within our reach, however small.” - Adlai E. Stevenson

Month 1 (MLR):  August 1-28, 2011

Monthly Focus:

To begin your Action Research project, you will need to determine your area of focus.

• The area of focus is something within your control
• The area of focus is something you feel passionate about
• The area of focus is something you would like to change or improve

Evaluate your professional environment – What problems exist? Ask yourself: “How can I improve my practice?” Once you select an area of focus, you will begin gathering research for your Literature Review. The objective of your research is to locate valid and reliable resources to help inform you of the academic conversation surrounding your topic and prepare you to contribute to future discussions.

Monthly Goals, Objectives, and Important Dates:

• Begin Literature Review
  • Determine focus and choose Big Idea for literature Review (Personalized Learning)
• Attend AR Wimba sessions
• Write AR subtopic 1 with introduction and conclusion – August 14
• Back to school workdays at Kirksville Middle School – August 15-16
• KMS begins – August 16
• Create AR website on http://www.Wordpress.com – August 21
• Peer reviewed AR subtopic 1 with critical friends – August 21
• Revise and submit AR subtopic 1 to professor – August 28

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Month 2 (MLT): August 29 – September 25, 2011

Monthly Focus:

This month you will continue gathering resources and begin writing your Literature Review. As you explore the academic literature, notice the themes evolving from your area of focus and organize your notes to create a synthesized review of the research.

Monthly Goals, Objectives, and Important Dates:

• Populate the welcome page of your AR WordPress website
• Continue adding to literature review: subtopic 2 (Brain-Based Learning with Technology) all through month 2
• Set up Diigo account – September 3
• Labor Day holiday – September 5
• Attend AR Wimba sessions – September 8 and 12
• Post AR Capstone Area of Interest blog on AR website – September 19
• Peer review AR subtopic 2
• Revise AR subtopic 2 and submit to professor

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Month 3 (TMD): September 26 – October 23, 2011

Monthly Focus:

This month you will complete the first draft of your Literature Review. This draft will be peer-critiqued. You also will begin developing your Action Plan by creating assessment tools to distribute to your target audience.

Monthly Goals, Objectives, and Important Dates:

• Populate the resources page of your AR website with 20+ AR resources – October 7
• Supervise KMS fun night – October 7
• Begin developing your Action Plan – Creating assessment tools
• Write AR subtopic 3 and submit to peers – October 15
• Create AR 10-question survey using the online tool freeonlinesurvey – October 15. Click here to see my survey.
• Get feedback on survey from critical friends, share sites and ideas
• KMS Grades due – October 18
• KMS Parent Teacher Conferences – October 19-20
• Create an AR forecast video – October 20
• Post AR blog entry and timeline – October 20
• KMS no school – October 21

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Month 4 (ETC):  October 24 – November 20, 2011

Focus:

This month is ALL about the Literature Review. You will revise your working draft based on feedback received from the peer-critique and finalize the document for submission.

 

Monthly Goals, Objectives, and Important Dates:

• Get critical friends to read and edit literature review before submitting
• Attend AR Wimba sessions as offered
• Special Olympics Area Bowling Tournament – November 5
• Daylight Savings Time ends – November 6
• Veteran’s Day Holiday – November 11
• Missouri State Teacher’s Association (MSTA) State Delegate Meeting (out of town) – November 17-19
• Update AR WordPress website as needed
• Ask 8^th grade student to complete my survey before Thanksgiving break
• Thanksgiving Break – November 23-25
• Compile results of survey over break. Look to see what questions did not work well, and see about creating additional surveys or questionnaires
• Create any additional surveys or questionnaires for 8^th graders. Have informal class meeting to obtain more data
• Post Reflective Blog
• Circulate literature review amongst critical friends for editing again – choose different ones this time!
• Submit final draft of literature review

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Month 5: (EDE) November 21 – December 18, 2011

Stage 1 Ends

Focus:

This month you will transform the content of your Literature Review into a script or storyboard. You will also be finalizing your Action Plan – Make sure the assessment tools you identified in previous months are capable of producing the desired outcomes.

Monthly Goals, Objectives, and Important Dates:

• Look into Adobe story and see how I can use this for my storyboard
• Create a script or storyboard from literature review
• Continue to populate Action Plan page of your AR website
• Post reflective blog
• Attend AR Wimba sessions as offered
• Update AR WordPress website as needed
• Brainstorm AR Plan for Cycles 1 & 2
• My birthday – December 16 (Big 4-0 Whoo hoo!)
• KMS fun night supervision – December 9
• Full Sail University winter break – December 19-January 3
• Have all information such as surveys, questionnaires, chat records, and other student data ready to take home and put into charts, graphs, etc.
• Make sense of data collected. Can I use it? Do I need more? Is it in alignment with literature? Any surprises?
• Make arrangement with critical friends to review and update storyboard or script over break
• Brainstorm for multimedia version of literature review over break – possibly begin
• Brainstorm Action Plan cycle 1 and 2 to be ready to implement after break
• KMS end of semester – December 21
• KMS winter break – December 22-January 3
• KMS grades due January 2

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Month 6: (DME) January 3, 2011 – January 29, 2012

Stage 2 Begins

Focus:

It’s time to start implementing your Action Plan with your target audience. This fluid process will continue over the next few months as you complete Cycles 1 and 2.

Be sure to document your experience through photos, videos and interviews, surveys and notes for future evaluation and reflection. As you prepare for your final presentation in Month 12, you will need these multimedia assets that you’ve collected over the course of the year-long project.

This month you will also transform the script or storyboard you created last month into a multimedia version of your Literature Review.

Monthly Goals, Objectives, and Important Dates:

• Full Sail University resumes – January 3
• KMS resumes – January 3
• Begin implementing your Action Plan in Cycles 1 and 2 (begin right after break). Place reminders to take pictures, and journal success and failures.
• Set up interviews with 8^th graders (and possibly 8^th grade parents) for AR
• Have critical friends review multimedia version of literature review before submitting
• Submit multimedia version of your literature review
• Post multimedia version of literature review AR website
• Post reflective blog
• Attend AR Wimba sessions
• Update AR WordPress website as needed
• Martin Luther King holiday – January 16

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Month 7: (MTE) – January 30 – February 26, 2012

Focus:

This month you will continue implementing your Action Plan. This fluid process will continue over the next few months as you complete Cycles 1 and 2. When Cycle 1 is complete, reflect upon the experience and tweak your Action Plan as necessary for the implementation of Cycle 2. Again, be sure to document your experience (photos, videos, interviews, surveys and notes) and elicit feedback from your critical friends and colleagues, as well as your target audience.

This month you will also develop original music to use as the soundtrack for a 2-3 minute video trailer you will be creating in Month 8.

Monthly Goals, Objectives, and Important Dates:

• Continue implementing your Action Plan cycles 1 and 2 – watch for bumps in the road, journal problems and successes, and allow extra time for snow days!
• Create original music for month 8 video trailer and obtain help from critical friends in this process
• Get feedback from critical friends on Action Plan and music for video trailer
• Brainstorm big picture ideas for AR project
• Populate the Action Plan page of your AR website
• Post reflective blog
• Update AR WordPress website as needed
• Attend AR Wimba sessions as offered
• KMS fun night supervision – February 10
• President’s Day holiday – February 20

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Month 8: (FPE): February 27- March 25, 2012

Focus:

This month you will continue implementing your Action Plan. This fluid process will continue until the end of Month 9. Again, be sure to document your experience (photos, videos, interviews, surveys and notes) and elicit feedback from your critical friends and colleagues, as well as your target audience.

This month you will also develop a 2-3 minute video trailer visually depicting your Action Research project through a montage of images. You will use the original music you created last month as the video’s soundtrack. This multimedia piece (both music and images) can be repurposed in Month 12 as you prepare your final presentation video.

Monthly Goals, Objectives, and Important Dates:

• Plan ahead this month! Several out of town trips scheduled
• Continue implementing your Action Plan cycle 1 & 2 – remember to document
• Develop a 2-3 minute video trailer depicting your Action Research Project and elicit help from critical friends and obtain feedback on trailer
• Post reflective blog
• Attend AR Wimba sessions as offered
• Update AR website as needed
• KMS spring break – March 5-11
• Daylight savings begins – March 11
• Special Olympics Regional Bowling (out of town) – March 16 – 17
• KMS end of 3^rd quarter & grades due – March 16
• Ash Wednesday – February 22
• KMS no school – PDC – March 23
• Special Olympics Regional Basketball (out of town) – March 23-24

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Month 9: March 26– May 6, 2012

End of Stage 2

Focus

This month you will complete the implementation of your Action Plan, if you haven’t done so already. Be sure to document your experience (photos, videos, interviews, surveys and notes) and elicit feedback from your critical friends and colleagues, as well as your target audience. Begin organizing and analyzing your data. You should populate the Cycle 1 and Cycle 2 Data pages on your AR web site at the conclusion of each cycle.

 

Monthly Goals, Objectives, and Important Dates:

• Wrap up implementation of Action Plan – find the holes
• Make time for any additional photo shooting, interviews, surveys, data collection needed
• Seek feedback from critical friends on outcome of Action Plan before spring break
• Populate the Cycle 1 Data page of your AR website
• Post reflective blog
• Attend AR Wimba sessions as offered
• Update AR website as needed
• Full Sail University spring break – April 9-16

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Month 10:  May 7-June 3, 2012

Stage 3 begins

Focus

Now that you’ve completed the implementation of your Action Plan, your Cycle 1 and Cycle 2 Data pages should be populated with the data collected from your pre/post assessment tools, as well as with rich-media observations/evidence of the cycle’s activities. You will use this data to draw conclusions about your AR project. This month you will continue to organize your data into charts, graphs and written reflections.

 

Monthly Goals, Objectives, and Important Dates:

• Populate the Cycle 2 data page of AR WordPress website
• Add any additional data to the Cycle 1 page of AR website
• Post reflective blog
• Attend AR Wimba sessions as offered
• Update AR website as needed
• Brainstorm about the implementation of your project – conference or journal article?
• Anniversary (19 years and ticking!) – May 22
• KMS last day of school (hopefully) – May 24
• Memorial Day holiday – May 28

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Month 11: June 4-July 1, 2012

Focus

You’re nearing the end of your Action Research project. This month you’ll take the content of your project and transform it into a conference presentation or a journal article in the Publishing Leadership Project. You will be required to submit your presentation to an educational/industry conference (state level or higher) or submit your article for publication consideration. This requirement is designed to help you elevate your project to the next level and share your findings with a larger audience.

 

Monthly Goals, Objectives, and Important Dates:

• Transform your project into a conference presentation or journal article
• Submit your presentation for conference consideration or article for publication consideration
• Populate the Summary page of your AR website
• Post reflective blog
• Attend AR Wimba sessions as offered
• Update AR WordPress website as needed
• KMS summer school – June 4 – 29

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Stage 3 ends – The light at the end of a fantastic journey

“The road of life twists and turns and no two directions are ever the same. Yet our lessons come from the journey, not the destination.” -Don Williams, Jr.

Month 12:  July 2-29, 2012

Focus

In month 12 you will look back on your AR project and your journey through the EMDT program, reflecting on both your personal and professional evolution. You will create a final presentation video encapsulating your entire project, highlighting the design and development of your Action research project and how the EMDT courses helped to make it a reality.

This month you will also be required to share your project with a final review panel made up of EMDT Course Directors, EMDT alumni and your peers. This is not a defense of your project, but rather an opportunity for you to share your expertise with some of your biggest fans. It’s a celebration!

 

Monthly Goals, Objectives, and Important Dates:

• Prepare final presentation video
• Obtain feedback from critical friends before submitting final video
• Populate Final Presentation page of your AR website
• Post reflective blog
• Attend AR Wimba sessions as offered
• Update AR WordPress website as needed

 

AR Captstone Project Survey

My survey audience is my 100 8th graders. The purpose of my survey is to find out about how they use the Internet, and if there is a favorable change in their view to how I teach their computer class and and the curriculum I use compared to the previous teacher and curriculum.

Below, I have included the title and introduction to my survey.

Click on the title below to be taken to the full survey.

Stuff I Need to Know About Your Use of the Internet

As you know by now, I am working on a degree from FullSail University online. Part of my degree program includes completing an Action Research Project. In order to complete my project, I need to ask you some questions about how you use the Internet and your attitude/opinion about my computer class. Please answer honestly, as the survey will be completely anonymous (I will not know which student completed what survey).

Plus you will get some extra credit points for doing this!

 

 

 

Action Research Capstone Areas of Interests

Month 2,  MLT – Action Research Capstone Areas of Interests Blog Entry:

1. After evaluating your professional environment, what area(s) of interest have you focused on for your Action Research Capstone project?

After 10 year as a 6th grade English teacher at a rural middle school, I switched to teaching Computer Technology for grades 6-8 (at the same school). With this new position, I have jumped into an area that is both familiar (the computers) and unfamiliar (teaching a new curriculum and using web 2.0 tools). I really want to focus my AR project in an area that will benefit my students, and me as well. I have so many areas of interest. I have not entirely narrowed it down yet. I know I want my big idea to be personalized learning at the middle school level. Now, from here… I have several ideas swirling around in my head. I am currently looking at using technology (specifically web 2.0 tools) to engage students in their learning process. Recently, I came across several peer-reviewed articles discussing brain based learning strategies to enhance personalized learning. These articles were rather fascinating and informative.  I am also interested in looking at the topic of collaboration in a web 2.0 environment. Right now, I really see a need for this in my own classroom.

2. Why have you chosen this direction?

I choose personalized learning because I believe all students learn and interpret information in various ways. I can’t say that all students should learn or “get it” while I am lecturing to the class. To me this is an old-fashioned mind set. Today’s young society is continuously on-the-go, impatient, and technology savvy and teachers need to tailor their curriculum to fit the needs of this society. I am also the mother of two highly gifted girls, and 1 severely delayed girl. I am not sure I could tell you what “normal” looks like. Although gifted, my oldest and youngest have two very distinct learning styles, proving that they don’t learn and absorb information in the same way. Just like my middle daughter who is severely delayed can’t be taught in a cookie cutter method either. She is different from all the other special ed students she is with. I have always been a big believer of personalized learning – even as a student in middle school and high school, I remember thinking, “If I could only do it this way, it makes more sense to me.” I am a computer-a-holic – if there is such a person. I really like the idea of using the computer to be able to learn and learn at my own pace, in a way that I understand. For me, the recently discovered web 2.0 tools I am currently using in my classroom are really neat. I can’t wait to use more. However, i need to use them correctly in order for my students to obtain the most benefit. The brain-based learning theory has been around a while, I remember studying it 10 years ago as a new teacher. I have forgotten most of the ideas and don’t really implement any of the theory or strategies. After reading the articles, I found a renewed interest or maybe even passion. I want to find a way to combine all of these together, and that is why I have chosen this direction to go in… for now.

3. Describe your target audience. How do you anticipate them playing a role in ensuring that your results will make a difference in your environment?

My target audience is 6th – 8th graders or 11-15 year olds in a rural farming community. I also need to say that 61% of the schools population is free and reduced lunch. We have two universities in town and cater to an abnormally large gifted student population. Lastly, our population is a transient one. The universities bring in new people frequently, along with the local factories and large farming operations, but these people (especially the professors) usually only stay 1-3 years. I really think these students will be open to what ever I throw at them this year since it is my first year in this position, and 2) I have already changed the curriculum from the past. My 8th graders have been wonderful guinea pigs. They know we are going to have epic failures and wonderful success this year and they have already signed on for the ride. They tell me that they like the direction I am going with the class so far.

4. You should have started researching the current literature surrounding your topic, please describe any challenges/difficulties you are having with this process and/or any helpful hints/tips that you have discovered to make this process easier.

One of my biggest problems is that there is so much literature out there. I am feeling overwhelmed at having to read it all. I know I don’t have to read it all, but I am afraid I might miss something “really good.” Time is another struggle, especially with working on rewriting and implementing a new curriculum. I will get it figured out – in time to graduate. On the up side, I love to research and read about new ideas, strategies, and concepts that will make me a better teacher and help my students be more engaged and learn more.