As this is a summer course, it is difficult to assess the effectiveness of any changes to my teaching practices or introduction of new technological tools. I believe that I have a certain advantage, however, in that prior to this course, I spent a good deal of introspective time considering what I could possibly change in my teaching practices that would have the greatest impact on my students. I decided that seating myself down at each student’s kitchen table each evening and helping my students on a “one on one” bases was the way to go. Unfortunately, while the prospect of a free supper was enticing, I sensed that inviting myself into my students home could have negative consequences. Never the less, my target goal of improving my student’s understanding of physics was undaunted and being a technogeek anyway, I decided that I would create a new approach to extending class time and providing a targeted, individualized lesson for each of my 180 students.
In early March I polled a dozen parents of struggling students using SurveyMonkey and phone conferences asking the following-
“If a self paced lesson that provided additional “one on one” tutoring were provided to your struggling student could be provided, would you ensure that your child attended the session?”
The answer was a resounding yes, but it was qualified with the comment that my child cannot stay after school because there is a transportation problem. A comment I had anticipated. At this time the parents did not know that I was intending to provide the additional help via the WEB.
The second question –
“Whose responsibility is it for your child’s education? 1. The Teacher; The student; The parent; The administration; All parties.” Most answered that they felt it was the student, the teacher and the parent. Follow-up questions usually stated that they would be happy to assist their student, but physics was intimidating.
The third question – How much homework does your student do each eveninging? ..physics? …all subjects?” I had asked my graduating seniors the same question and was surprised to find that they seldom did any homework. It is a malady that all teachers are contending with, especially for juniors and seniors.
Based upon the answers to these questions my WEB based tutorials that allowed student/parent study at a self paced tempo was designed.
(In order to answering the questions for this assignment, I consider the effectiveness of my WEB based tutorial initiative.)
How effective were your actions in helping you meet your goals?
Both students and parents have commented on the tutorials and while it is an evolving task, the feedback has been outstanding.
What have you learned so far (in the course) that I can apply to your instructional practices?
I have used WIKIs and Blogs in the past and their use is questionable. I am not a fan of digital assessment and question its effectiveness especially in diverse classrooms. I have learned that we must continue to strive for a better way of teaching and the WEB may have a great benefit.
What do you still have to learn?
Each day a new question arises. This, in part, is the joy of teaching. Teachers are continually learning something new. Each day there is new discovery.
How will you adjust your plans to fit current needs?
Teachers are continually modifying their strategies. I am often amazed at how a homerun in the 9:ooAM class can be a strike out at the 1:30 pm class. In order to adjust my plans, I must consider the abilities, likes and dislikes and the aspirations of my students. There is no "one answer-fits all" to this question.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Monitoring My Game Plan
(This post seeks to complete the assignment required for course 6713 – week 4 of Walden University. In order for the reader to appreciate what this assignment refers to, it will be helpful to review APP3 and the previous posts to this BLOG. http://mrcsphysicswiki.wikispaces.com/Extra+Credit )
This week’s assignment asks that students post their progress toward their individual game plans. As noted in the previous descriptor, Blogs and posted Applications (APP3), one element as noted in the previous BLOG stated that my classes tend to be a unique mixture of varying abilities. It goes on to say that this broad range of abilities and the lack of sufficient class time hindered my student’s ability to grasp key physics concepts. The solution I proposed was to develop, what I called an on-line “Tutorial Matrix” that was teacher generated and related to the subject matter of the actual class. I said that this matrix, started last March, seemed to have hit the mark and preliminary feedback was great.
In fulfillment of this assignment and based upon the enthusiastic feedback from both parents and students, I would like to report that I continue to generate these tutorials. Since much of the information required for this effort is self generated and specifically designed for my student population, there are few resources that I need call upon to reach my September goal of a complete first quarter tutorial matrix. Furthermore, I remain convinced that this approach of offering a self-paced home-study plan for both parents and students will yield good results and I need not modify my approach until me next student/parent SurveyMonkey poll in November.
This week’s assignment asks that students post their progress toward their individual game plans. As noted in the previous descriptor, Blogs and posted Applications (APP3), one element as noted in the previous BLOG stated that my classes tend to be a unique mixture of varying abilities. It goes on to say that this broad range of abilities and the lack of sufficient class time hindered my student’s ability to grasp key physics concepts. The solution I proposed was to develop, what I called an on-line “Tutorial Matrix” that was teacher generated and related to the subject matter of the actual class. I said that this matrix, started last March, seemed to have hit the mark and preliminary feedback was great.
In fulfillment of this assignment and based upon the enthusiastic feedback from both parents and students, I would like to report that I continue to generate these tutorials. Since much of the information required for this effort is self generated and specifically designed for my student population, there are few resources that I need call upon to reach my September goal of a complete first quarter tutorial matrix. Furthermore, I remain convinced that this approach of offering a self-paced home-study plan for both parents and students will yield good results and I need not modify my approach until me next student/parent SurveyMonkey poll in November.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Resources Necessary to Implement My Game Plan
(This post seeks to complete the assignment required for course 6713 – week 3 of Walden University. In order for the reader to appreciate what this game plan refers to, it is helpful to review App 3. see link http://mrcsphysicswiki.wikispaces.com/Extra+Credit )
What resources will you need to carry out your plan (video, reading, experts or colleagues, etc)?
In order to carry out my plan:
1. it is imperative that all students have access to the WEB. In a recent poll, 85% of all students do have access and the remaining students will have access through the use of the library computers during study hall.
2. Since only a portion of each period of my class involves theory, a video projector is required to allow for WEB visual reinforcement.
3. In order to replace traditional homework with home study time, online tutorials which can be accessed via the WEB must be geberated. Each tutorial lesson will track in class work.
4. For this particular lesson, students will be introduced to a WIKI to facilitate student interaction toward a common assignment goal.
5. Close collaboration with parents, encouraging a multi team approach of teacher and parent will be encouraged, via email correspondence and parental access to the tutorials themselves. Parents will understand that the ongoing (perpetual) homework assignment is to access the tutorial as often as required to understand concepts, supplement in class notes and learn how to study.
What steps have you been able to take so far?
1. Thus far, I have begun to generate my online tutorial matrix.
2. I have tested the effectiveness of this new approach and polled parents and students as to their opinions of the effectiveness of the new approach. Initial polling is encouraging.
3. I have generated an on line polling process using SurveyMonkey®, a WEB based survey tool, to encourage parental feedback in order to modify my pedagogical approach as required.
What resources will you need to carry out your plan (video, reading, experts or colleagues, etc)?
In order to carry out my plan:
1. it is imperative that all students have access to the WEB. In a recent poll, 85% of all students do have access and the remaining students will have access through the use of the library computers during study hall.
2. Since only a portion of each period of my class involves theory, a video projector is required to allow for WEB visual reinforcement.
3. In order to replace traditional homework with home study time, online tutorials which can be accessed via the WEB must be geberated. Each tutorial lesson will track in class work.
4. For this particular lesson, students will be introduced to a WIKI to facilitate student interaction toward a common assignment goal.
5. Close collaboration with parents, encouraging a multi team approach of teacher and parent will be encouraged, via email correspondence and parental access to the tutorials themselves. Parents will understand that the ongoing (perpetual) homework assignment is to access the tutorial as often as required to understand concepts, supplement in class notes and learn how to study.
What steps have you been able to take so far?
1. Thus far, I have begun to generate my online tutorial matrix.
2. I have tested the effectiveness of this new approach and polled parents and students as to their opinions of the effectiveness of the new approach. Initial polling is encouraging.
3. I have generated an on line polling process using SurveyMonkey®, a WEB based survey tool, to encourage parental feedback in order to modify my pedagogical approach as required.
Friday, July 9, 2010
National Educational Technology Standards (NETS-T) - course 6713
The National Educational Technology Standards (NETS-T) and Performance Indicators for Teachers (see URL below) has been designed to enhance and enrich the learning experience of students through an integration of standard teaching best practices augmented by state of the art digital enhancement.
Reflecting upon the standards within NETS and with a desire to implement a new educational modality, I have developed a G-A-M-E plan that I hope to implement this September. It utilizes WEB based tutorials on all key points covered in my physics class. Because these tutorials are directly related to my classes, students find them more relevant the easier to digest. The idea is that class time can be extended painlessly via the WEB and key points can be emphasized as the individual student requires.
Proposition
As a nation, we must improve the quality of education if we are to compete globally.
There are few who would disagree with the stated proposition. How we improve the quality of education requires a satchel of tools that can be called upon as the nature and characteristics of the individual student are determined. One area that could be improved upon is “class time”. If we could extend class time and offer more one-on-one support, the student would certainly benefit. My WEB-Based Tutorials are intended to supplement class-time offering individual help at the student’s own learning pace.
Goal – I have identified one goal within my G-A-M-E plan that I intend to address first. That goal is the flexing of lessons to meet the needs of the individual student. Through self paced, internet based home tutorials, I intend to extend my classroom creating a virtual WEB based classroom that mirror what my physics students have done in class.
Action – By creating self paced tutorials that target the student and the parents, I intend to improve student support through greater parent/guardian involvement in their child’s education. Furthermore, because the tutorials are self paced, the student can revisit the lectures and demos as often as necessary to assure a grasp of the physics theory the lesson targets.
Proposition 2
Traditional homework and the standard physics question and answer sessions may not yield the desired results.
The debate continues regarding the benefit of homework. Traditional homework may not be the answer. If, however, students can extend class time as required to grasp key concepts, notes and understanding should improve. Furthermore, by making the tutorials available to parents, parents can more readily assist their student.
Monitor – I am pleased to report that a test run of the WEB based Home Tutorial program has resulted in overwhelming student and parent feedback. In order to ensure continued student understanding and growth, I will monitor student progress through formative and summative assessments and continue to poll both parents and students via telephone surveys and On-Line Digital Surveys.
Evaluate – As note traditional assessments of student progress will be tracked. I remain excited and encouraged with the progress of my students during the initial trials last semester. I continue to publish my plan with the hopes that other teachers will try my approach and provide feedback.
The NETS Indicators that have been addressed in this exercise were: 1. Models Digital Age Work and Learning and 2. Design and Developes Digital Age Learning Experiences and Assessments.
Please find my Tutorial Matrix attached. It is a work in progress, but indications are that it is working. As I improve the generation and recording techniques, I will revisit my initial efforts and republish.
The National Educational Technology Standards (NETS-T) and Performance Indicators for Teachers http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForAdministrators/2009Standards/NETS-A_2009.pdf
My WEB page intro to parents. http://www.schoolrack.com/JohnChaco/physics-tutorials/
Tutorial Matrix http://mrcsphysicswiki.wikispaces.com/Tutorial+Matrix
Reflecting upon the standards within NETS and with a desire to implement a new educational modality, I have developed a G-A-M-E plan that I hope to implement this September. It utilizes WEB based tutorials on all key points covered in my physics class. Because these tutorials are directly related to my classes, students find them more relevant the easier to digest. The idea is that class time can be extended painlessly via the WEB and key points can be emphasized as the individual student requires.
Proposition
As a nation, we must improve the quality of education if we are to compete globally.
There are few who would disagree with the stated proposition. How we improve the quality of education requires a satchel of tools that can be called upon as the nature and characteristics of the individual student are determined. One area that could be improved upon is “class time”. If we could extend class time and offer more one-on-one support, the student would certainly benefit. My WEB-Based Tutorials are intended to supplement class-time offering individual help at the student’s own learning pace.
Goal – I have identified one goal within my G-A-M-E plan that I intend to address first. That goal is the flexing of lessons to meet the needs of the individual student. Through self paced, internet based home tutorials, I intend to extend my classroom creating a virtual WEB based classroom that mirror what my physics students have done in class.
Action – By creating self paced tutorials that target the student and the parents, I intend to improve student support through greater parent/guardian involvement in their child’s education. Furthermore, because the tutorials are self paced, the student can revisit the lectures and demos as often as necessary to assure a grasp of the physics theory the lesson targets.
Proposition 2
Traditional homework and the standard physics question and answer sessions may not yield the desired results.
The debate continues regarding the benefit of homework. Traditional homework may not be the answer. If, however, students can extend class time as required to grasp key concepts, notes and understanding should improve. Furthermore, by making the tutorials available to parents, parents can more readily assist their student.
Monitor – I am pleased to report that a test run of the WEB based Home Tutorial program has resulted in overwhelming student and parent feedback. In order to ensure continued student understanding and growth, I will monitor student progress through formative and summative assessments and continue to poll both parents and students via telephone surveys and On-Line Digital Surveys.
Evaluate – As note traditional assessments of student progress will be tracked. I remain excited and encouraged with the progress of my students during the initial trials last semester. I continue to publish my plan with the hopes that other teachers will try my approach and provide feedback.
The NETS Indicators that have been addressed in this exercise were: 1. Models Digital Age Work and Learning and 2. Design and Developes Digital Age Learning Experiences and Assessments.
Please find my Tutorial Matrix attached. It is a work in progress, but indications are that it is working. As I improve the generation and recording techniques, I will revisit my initial efforts and republish.
The National Educational Technology Standards (NETS-T) and Performance Indicators for Teachers http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForAdministrators/2009Standards/NETS-A_2009.pdf
My WEB page intro to parents. http://www.schoolrack.com/JohnChaco/physics-tutorials/
Tutorial Matrix http://mrcsphysicswiki.wikispaces.com/Tutorial+Matrix
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