Wiki+Works+Cont_Sep7

reviewed their Research Problem Statement

The ability to read and write is a basic skill that all individuals must possess to live in our society successfully. To teach literacy skills is a challenge for even the most seasoned teachers. Many learning styles are possessed by our students and each of the styles must be addressed to ensure that the learning potential of each student is tapped. When preparing our lessons, each teacher must consider the academic levels of each student and plan accordingly. It is often in our classrooms that we see that the traditional basal readers do not fulfill the needs of some of the students; other means must be used.Writing skills are lacking in many of our classrooms due to boredom and lack of interest. Technology is a very valuable tool in remediating and accelerating our students’ literacy skills.
 * **Integration of Technology in the Literacy Classroom**
 * Overview and Introduction**

I am researching various technologies that can be used in the reading and writing classrooms that would enhance instruction. Also, I want to research how effective that technology is on student achievement.

Therefore, the topic of my study will be Technology Integration in the Literacy Classroom

As Christiansen and Johnson (2008) states, a research problem must be identified that needs a solution. As I review material, I want to know if technology offers significant differences in learning, or are we adding unnecessary expense that does not add enough difference to warrant cost and attention. My direction for research is “Technology integration in the Literacy Classroom”. Also, as I research, I want to include ideas and reactions of teachers and students to technology. I am hoping I will find some information on how teachers need to be prepared for the use of technology. I am considering the question, “Does the integration of technology in the literacy classroom increase student achievement?” or “How does the integration of technology in the literacy classroom affect student achievement?”
 * Research Problem**

Both of the articles I read and discussed were supportive of adding technology into the reading and writing classroom. Podcasts were used to promote an increase in vocabulary awareness and the teachers commented that they were very successful. The other article discussed laptops for students in fourth grade classes. The laptops increased literary response, analysis and writing strategies..Both of the articles show improvement but I want to research teacher attitudes and student attitudes and scores of pretests and posttests in order to find my answer. || CRITERIA 1: Quality of Wiki Works (TOPIC) posted. (Please provide a thorough explanation to support your review) Your topic and research seem worthwhile and important. I would think that in your literature review, you will want to acknowledge the case against learning styles, even if you don't agree with it. I think providing a wide perspective on it gives you an opportunity to strengthen your arguments in favor. A couple of nit-picky things--I think you've misspelled Christensen's name, and you'll want to say "As Christensen and Johnson (2008) state" (not states). Oh, and I think Johnson is first author, so you'd actually put his name first in APA.

CRITERIA 2: Similarities of elements used in the Wiki Works submission to your own work. (Please provide a thorough explanation to support your review)

I, too, am interested in learning about ways in which technology can be used to enhance learning. My research will take a more distant, global view, but the questions you ask in your research are important.

CRITERIA 3: Differences of elements used in the Wiki Works submission to your own work. (Please provide a thorough explanation to support your review) I think that my research is comfortable with the assumption that technology is a delivery tool, so I don't really question it as you do at this time. As I learn more, however, that can easily change. Perhaps I will need to shift my focus to more directly asking the question you ask.

CRITERIA 4: Elements you would like to borrow from the Wiki Works submission you are reviewing or have not thought to add or include in your own work. (Please provide a thorough explanation to support your review) I am not going to borrow anything from your wiki works submission. I think it is a solid submission.

CRITERIA 5: Things you would like to change in your own work after seeing this Wiki Works submission. (Please provide a thorough explanation to support your review) The changes that I make in my wiki works submission come from my continued study of the Christensen and Johnson text, the course readings, and the research articles that I struggle to understand (boy, some of the stats, eh?). I am not at this moment aware of changes I will make as a result of reading this, although I do believe in the power of the the mind to do many things and make many choices, the origins of which we cannot trace.

D. What other comments related to this Wiki Works submission review that you want to share with your professor? I am not sure she knows what methods she intends to use. I think she may be confusing the literature review research (she says she's going to look for various attitudinal surveys) with the research project design. (Or maybe I am confused!) ||
 * =Kimberly Sharp=
 * MEDT 8484**

=Teaching Teachers - Best Practices for Professional Development=

What makes a professional development experience a good one? I believe that the answer to this question is a critical consideration for anyone who is expected to teach a teacher. As with most busy professionals, teachers are focused on many different things within a work day. They are consumed with teaching, lesson planning, administrative duties, meetings, student achievement, standardized test scores, student discipline and interactions with students and parents. In the midst of this, they are asked to attend training sessions that are often boring, not applicable to their teaching or overwhelming. It is no wonder that many teachers have negative feelings about professional learning. My goal is to identify the elements of professional learning that teachers find meaningful. I want to enhance the atmosphere of trust in my relationships with teachers. As I implement eight individual staff development sessions during this school year, I want them to recognize that I will always offer them something relevant to their teaching. I will not waste their time, but instead plan to teach them something that they can implement in their classrooms.

All of my staff development sessions will include a technology component. We are technology-rich with equipment and software. However, teachers have not been adequately trained on how to effectively use these materials that are available to them. Having access to technology is not enough. Teachers need to learn how to use what they have and how technology can enhance their teaching practice. By reviewing available research, I believe that I can enhance my knowledge and skills in the area of quality professional development. I also expect to find information about issues that negatively impact teachers’ perceptions about using technology. If I am able to recognize objections up front, I can anticipate questions and solutions before they arise. By applying all of this research as I prepare to teach professional development, I am confident that I will have a positive impact on the teachers I teach. || CRITERIA 1: Quality of Wiki Works (TOPIC) posted. (Please provide a thorough explanation to support your review) Isn't it great that you have this motivation to learn about this topic? There's nothing like the real world to make you want to really learn something so that you can do it right. Your write-up is very well written, easy to follow and professional. Probably, when you do the final write-up, you'll want to go over this and remove the personal touches such as the "I believe" in the first paragraph. I think that is more casual than APA stuff usually is. For now, you're doing an amazing job of getting it down, of making it make sense, and of explaining to us. Also, you'll want to be threading in some APA references at some point. I've noticed that not a paragraph goes by in an article where there isn't a reference or two or three. I am curious...what methods will you be using?

CRITERIA 2: Similarities of elements used in the Wiki Works submission to your own work. (Please provide a thorough explanation to support your review) The similarities between our submissions are that we are both interested in impact at a school level and not just in an individual classroom. As a part of my project, I may touch on professional development issues, too. I continue to watch your findings with interest.

CRITERIA 3: Differences of elements used in the Wiki Works submission to your own work. (Please provide a thorough explanation to support your review) Yours is better written than mine. I realize that part of that has to do with my struggle for focus. There is so much I can explore with mine, but I need to stay on target. I am having trouble knowing what needs to be said.

CRITERIA 4: Elements you would like to borrow from the Wiki Works submission you are reviewing or have not thought to add or include in your own work. (Please provide a thorough explanation to support your review) I am going to borrow from your effective writing style. I will attempt to emulate in my own posts.

CRITERIA 5: Things you would like to change in your own work after seeing this Wiki Works submission. (Please provide a thorough explanation to support your review) I've kind of already hinted at this, so to not be too redundant, I will just say your post has stood out to me as an exemplar to be revisited. It really helps when people know what they're studying. Sometimes when I read our classmates' submissions, I get lost. I think part of that is that they are struggling with making meaning of their topic (as I know I am!).

D. What other comments related to this Wiki Works submission review that you want to share with your professor?

I think I've pretty much covered what I wanted to say. || Research Seminar I Topic: **Computer Assisted Instruction**
 * Michael Wallace
 * MEDT 8484, Fall 2010**
 * Research Proposal**

//**Overview of topic selection**//

My research topic is the use of **computer assisted Instruction** to introduce, review, and enhance math objectives taught in the middle school. Will the use of computer assisted instruction help raise test scores of today's students? I will look at current research and data collected to measure the //effectiveness// of using computer assisted instruction to help students with concepts tested on the CRCT at the middle school level.

Problem: Can the use of computer assisted instruction increase students' test scores?

Extensive overview forthcoming || CRITERIA 1: Quality of Wiki Works (TOPIC) posted. (Please provide a thorough explanation to support your review) When you introduce your topic, I think it would help if you help us narrow our focus by speaking about the context of the problem. Why are you looking at CAI? Does your school or district have a high number of students who need it for some reason? Is it a problem outside of your district? I guess I need a little more frame of reference for the issue you're trying to address. Also, do you have any specific CAI programs in mind? Or, perhaps a type of CAI? Are you looking at all CAI or just a few types? CRITERIA 2: Similarities of elements used in the Wiki Works submission to your own work. (Please provide a thorough explanation to support your review) Our entries are similar in that we're looking at a school-wide intervention and its impact. You are looking at it from an adopter's perspective and maybe as an insider to the school. I am looking at mine as more of an outsider to the school, and my role is to help the adopters of an intervention.

CRITERIA 3: Differences of elements used in the Wiki Works submission to your own work. (Please provide a thorough explanation to support your review)

My wiki works submission is longer, but that doesn't mean it's good. I need to work on making mine say just what it needs to say and nothing more. I need to find my inner Hemingway.

CRITERIA 4: Elements you would like to borrow from the Wiki Works submission you are reviewing or have not thought to add or include in your own work. (Please provide a thorough explanation to support your review) I probably won't borrow anything from your wiki works submission at this point, but if I do in the future, thank you!

CRITERIA 5: Things you would like to change in your own work after seeing this Wiki Works submission. (Please provide a thorough explanation to support your review) I am not going to change mine as a result of seeing yours just yet.

D. What other comments related to this Wiki Works submission review that you want to share with your professor? I think Michael's submission was incomplete, so it's hard to talk about the methods involved. :) ||