EDLD 5363 Web Conference Reflection 3

I attended the 12/9/12 5 pm web conference for Lamar EDLD5363 Multimedia and Video Technology course.It is obvious that Dr. Abernathy wants to work with us and help us every step of the way, and I have no doubt that the skills I will derive from this class will have a profound impact on my job as a classroom teacher. I do, however, wish the timing of this class was better, as this is a crazy time during the the last few weeks of school, particularly when we have mid-terms and CCA's. Despite the shortness of time, I will apply myself and do my best to create meaningful work which I can be proud.

In this conference we discussed clarification on the week 3 assignment. We talked about the details for week four, and how we should submit weeks 4 and 5 at the same time. Dr. A also talked about graduation and the traditions for Masters in Education students. She indicated that it was a wonderful time to me out professors and cohort's and that we should plan to attend.

EDLD 5363 Web Conference Reflection 2

I attended the 12/1/12 10 AM web conference for Lamar EDLD5363 Multimedia and Video Technology course. There was not many classmates in attendance to this particular conference so Dr. A. was able to answer each persons very specific questions. There was mostly talk about Audacity and LAME. We talked about how to use them and mostly how to download them. It seems as though we have several MAC users in the class and a student named Travis was able to give us some pointers regarding downloads. We also talked about finding groupmates, and the expectations for group size. Dr. A introduced us to our fellow classmate Bonnie, and tried to assist her in finding For next week's assignment, we must try using two different audio/video editing software packages; while they can be packages we or our district own, it is suggested that we try open source editors. A great site, www.osalt.com, was mentioned that helps recommend open source replacements for common pay or shareware applications.

EDLD 5363 Web Conference Reflection 1

I attended the 11/26/12 web conference for Lamar EDLD5363 Multimedia and Video Technology course. Today, I participated in an Adobe Connect videoconference with my Professor, Dr. Abernathy, and about 6 of my classmates. The experience is always enjoyable and beneficial. I was bumped off and had to reconnect about ten minutes into the conference. Overall, though, the audio I received was generally of good quality, and my interactions with Dr. A. and my classmates solely through the keyboard proved adequate.

Several key questions regarding the expectations for this class were answered. The most important answers and information I derived through this conference are:

• It is OK to post our videos to a site such as YouTube and then link into our blog and/or wiki, but Dr. A. would prefer us to try to embed the story within our blog.
• We also talked about Audacity, and how to download the software to a MAC computer.
• We talked briefly about the creative commons, but Dr. A indicated that we would talk in greater detail at the next web conference.
• We reviewd the Creative Common expectations for this course.

EDLD 5363 Week 2 Reflections

Creating a Podcast was a new exciting task that I was eager to conquer. I had no experience with any of the software that we were using for week 2. I had to start by doing the readings, and watching all available tutorials for Podcast, Audacity, and LAME. I was off to a scary start when it came time to for all of the downloads. The challenge was ultimately that I needed to run some OS X software updates on my Macbook.
Once I successfully got the software on my computer is was easy sailing. I chose to do a tutorial on Apple's iMovie, because I am most familiar with it. I enjoyed recording my tutorial take after take. My personal dilemma was the sound of my voice. I had to practice my one and pitch, and disguising my strong Texas accent and draw.
I enjoyed the week 2 task, and will positively implement podcast tutorials into my social studies classroom. As a member of my campus tech team I will also try my hardest to persuade other to use this exciting technology. I think that podcast tutorials could be amazing with math and science.

If you want to check out my podcast on easy video editing with Apple iMovie visit the the below link.
http://jenniferwinston.podbean.com/

EDLD 5363 Week 1 Reflections

I enjoyed week one of EDLD 5363. I love learning new uses for technology, and new avenues for integrating technology. I used iMovie to create my digital story, and I feel this is something that could easily be used in the classroom. I have had the software available for years, and this was the first time I used it. I was amazed that the embedded microphone on my Macbook was so effective when doing the voice over narration on my digital story. I decided to make my story about why I teach. I feel that the images I selected were effective and thought provoking. If you want to check it out, please click on the below link. Thanks!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNAYvqf57i8&feature=youtu.be

EDLD 5301 Research - Week 5 Reflections

The past five weeks have flew by. I have really enjoyed my time in Research 5301. I have gained a wealth of knowledge while in this course.
 

My greatest insight over the past five weeks was the process of action research as a whole. While I knew that campus leaders had a method to making decisions, I never dreamed there would be a whole genre of research that one could use. I was oblivious that there were different methods available when researching education related topics. Action research is a platform that campus leaders can use to make sure they are making data driven decisions. In my opinion, action research helps to provide data needed when implementing change.

I would like to know more information about analyzing the change after it has been implemented.  I would like more information about analysis once the research is done and the campus leader has instituted a change. I was wondering if one should start a new action research or if the research for the topic can be on-going.  I also wanted to know what a action researcher should do if change is instituted and the results do not correlate with researchers predictions  and data.

I plan to build on my applied knowledge in this area by continuing to discuss action research with my intern supervisor, and other campus leaders that I know. I also plan to continue reading books and research that specialize in the topic of educational action research.

 I plan to continue to update this blog, so please check back often as I complete this program.  I am excited about my next class, and the future!

EDLD 5301 Research - Week 3 Action Research Plan

As part of the week 3 assignment , we were to generate our action research plan. My action research topic addresses the new master schedule implemented at my campus. This school year each content teacher has 2 planning periods each day.

My action research question or inquiry question is:

Is the new master schedule at Holub Middle School beneficial to teachers and students?

Sub questions include:

Are the teachers happy about this new schedule?

Does this schedule help to increase student achievement?

What effect does this schedule have on class sizes?

What effect does this new schedule have on the school budget?

Does this schedule allow for more collaborative time for content and interdisciplinary teams?

Action Planning Template
Goal: To determine if the new master schedule at Holub Middle School is beneficial to teachers and students.
Action Steps(s):	Person(s) Responsible:	Timeline: Start/End	Needed Resources	Evaluation
Create online survey for teachers to complete that will asses teacher’s true feelings about schedule, and class sizes.	Jennifer Winston will create survey. Site supervisors, R. Morgan and J. Smith will approve final survey before it is revealed to staff.	November 15, 2012- January 4, 2012.	Internet access, a computer, and survey monkey software. **Staff will be instructed about survey via district e-mail, and newsletters.	Online survey is accessible and completed by staff.
Interview Content specialist face-to-face to determine if they have more collaborative meeting time.	Jennifer Winston. Site supervisor, Roy Morgan will set up interview time during a ILT meeting.	January 15, 2012 – January 31, 2012.	Designated time during ILT meeting when all content specialists are together to ask interview questions.	Interview transcript and report.
Interview building principal about budget implications of the new schedule. I will also request hard copies of last year and current year budgets.	Jennifer Winston Site supervisor, Roy Morgan Building principal, Pauline Beckley.	February 1, 2012- February 28, 2012.	Time to meet with the building principal, and hard or electronic copies of 2012 and 2013 budgets.	Report detailing if the new schedule had any impact on budget.
Compare 2012 and 2013 8th grade STAAR results to determine any gains or gaps in achievement due to new schedule.	Jennifer Winston Site supervisor, Roy Morgan Building principal, Pauline Beckley.	May 31, 2012- June 15, 2012.	Hard or electronic copies of current year and last years STAAR results.	Definitive determination and report of which years STAAR results were better.
Dissemination of findings	Jennifer Winston	June 30, 2012	Electronic and hard copy of findings.	Report of findings

Format based on Tool 7.1 from Examining What We Do to Improve Our Schools

(Harris, Edmonson, and Combs, 2010)

EDLD 5301 Research - Week 2 Reflections

During Week Two of my Lamar Research course, I was impressed that both of the scholar interviews I chose to analyze for my assignment, Dr. Johnny Briseño, Principal, Rancho Isabella Elementary, Angleton ISD and Dr. Timothy Chargois, Director of Research, Planning and Development in Beaumont ISD, discussed the various uses of action research. I enjoyed hearing some of their proposed topics of actions research, and I plan to read their dissertations.

After having a hectic week, I was able to meet with my site supervisor to discuss my proposed research topics. I was happy to discover that he like my topic choices. My site supervisor talked with me about the time necessary to do research in my proposed subjects. Due to time, one of my topics was not a good choice. The other two topics were approved, and I am excited to narrow my choice to one topic.

Week 2 was insightful in helping me to realize the various topics and uses of action research. Campus leaders, as well as teachers and specialist can benefit from performing action research.

EDLD 5301- Research- How educational leaders might use blogs.

A key part of action research, as with any research, is sharing the findings of one’s work. The immediacy of today’s ever-changing administrative environment, coupled with the time constraints modern principals and administrators find themselves under, creates a need for a flexible, easy-to-use discourse and feedback tool. Blogs (weblogs) ideally fill this need; as many principals already use blogs to communicate school and professional information, and to keep their colleagues informed, this tool is familiar and informal enough to promote frequent use throughout the action research process. Blogs can be used to clarify and accurately express the action research process, and through the feedback provided by discussion postings to the blog, new questions or unanticipated solutions may arise, refining the research while providing the potential for improved solutions addressing the identified needs.

EDLD 5301 Research- What I have learned about action research.

During the first week of my EDLD 5301 Research course, I have learned to identify several key factors that differentiate action research from research in general. First and foremost, action research can be best characterized as practitioner inquiry; unlike traditional academic research performed by outsiders to the subject or scenario, action research is performed by insiders, educators and administrators who are themselves, according to Dana (2009), “Focused on providing insight into an administrator’s own practice in an effort to make change and improve the school.” As Dana elaborates, practitioner inquiry takes place in typical school and classroom settings during the course of everyday administration, and stems from a desire to better understand and improve a process, or to establish a new process, ultimately designed to improve instruction and thereby improve the school. Traditional research in contrast is generally more scientific in nature, conducted by researchers (scholars, scientists, professional researchers or other “outsiders” to the school) in a controlled and objective setting.

Secondly, action research is also differentiated from traditional research in that it answers a relevant and pressing question or need in the administrator’s specific school or setting, whereas scholarly research, while it may answer a question, is more broad in nature and applied to a larger question on a grander scale not necessarily impacting or improving any specific immediate need in any specific school or setting.

Finally, action research typically results in a synergistic outcome in which current practices are combined with and transformed by the research findings, resulting in an immediate transformative situation improving the school. Action research builds on ongoing feedback as new methods are applied and results observed firsthand; it is both interactive and practical, driven by and responding to the dynamic need and the intervention process itself.



References:

Dana, Nancy F. (2009). Leading with Passion and Knowledge: The Principal as Action Researcher. Thousand Oaks, CA:Corwin.