Action Research Planning – 8th Grade Technology Proficiency
Mary Angel – Education Technology Intern
Goal: What can Austin Independent School District do to assure that all 8th grade students have an opportunity to complete the 21st Century Skills Assessment (technology proficiency test) and to increase the scores of the 8th grade students in order to meet the goals set in the AISD E-plan and AISD Strategic Plan?
Background
The Texas Long Range Plan for Technology states, “No Child Left Behind Title II, Part D Requirements—all students must be technology literate by the end of 8th grade …”
In order to meet the requirement set by No Child Left Behind legislation and the Texas Long Range Technology Plan, the Austin ISD E-Plan offers objectives, strategies and evidence to address technology literacy of all learners by the 8th grade.
The Austin ISD E-Plan’s Goal 1 states, “Teaching and learning focuses on the instructional needs of teachers and the learning needs of students in meeting the vision of technology in education. All Learners have access to relevant, 508-compliant technologies, tools, resources and services for individualized instruction 24/7; use 508-compliant information and communication technologies to collaborate, construct knowledge and provide solutions to real-world problems use research based strategies in all subject areas to improve academic achievement; communicate effectively in a variety of formats for diverse audiences.”
The plan continues by listing objectives, strategies, timelines, and evidence to assure the goal will be achieved. There are several such evidences that pertain to this action research topic.
Objective 1.1 – “Integrate the Technology Applications TEKS and ISTE/NETS within the core curriculum at each grade level.”
Strategy 1.1.3: “Campus Improvement Plan/Campus Tech Plan details plans for Tech Literacy instruction, for all students, including students with disabilities, across the grade levels and subjects within a campus.”
Evidence 1.1.3 –- Students in Elem K-5 and MS 6-8 are tech literate by the time they reach 5th or 8th grade. Tech Literacy Assessment given at 5th and 8th grade validates proficiency
Objective 1.4 - Develop strategies to monitor and document progress of technology integration and to monitor and report student proficiency to state and federal agencies.
Strategy 1.4.1 – Require all 5th and 8th grade students to take the online Technology Literacy Assessment developed by a previous grant in partnership with Learning.com.
Comments: Currently approximately 50% of students were proficient.
Evidence 1.4.1 - 100% of 5th and 8th grade students take the online TLA in May. 70% of students will receive a "proficient" score.
Strategy 1.4.2 – Report and analyze results of 5th and 8th grade Technology Literacy Assessment paying attention to performance gaps between student groups.
Comments: Gaps have been identified. Students with higher levels of poverty do not perform as well on the Tech Literacy Assessment. Extra effort will be made to increase tech access at these campuses.
Evidence1.4.2 - Results of performance reported to campuses and district leadership including annual report to the Board of Trustees. TLA Result available online via AIMS reports
Strategy 1.4.4 - Students use EasyTech online curriculum to learn and master Technology Applications TEKS. Suggested scope and sequence provided for all teachers K-8.
Strategy 1.4.4 - Campus Technology Plans published annually and available for review. Plans detail approach for integration of Technology Application TEKS in foundation courses.
The Plan:
The Plan:
Action Step(s)
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Person(s) Responsible
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Timeline: Start/End
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Needed Resources
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Evaluation
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1.
Copies of:
· AISD Strategic Plan
· AISD E-plan
· Status Reports
· Results of 2011- 5th and 8th grade
technology tests results
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Mary Angel
Josephina Hughes
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March 2012-March 2012
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Copies, records, time
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· Not all 8th students completed the test
· Not all 8th grade students were Proficient
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2.
Interviews:
· Information Systems Administration
· Network Support
· Technology committee members
· Education Technology staff
· Executive Director of Career and Technical Education
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Mary Angel
John Alawneh
Josephina Hughes
Guy Butler
Annette Gregory
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March 2012- May 2012
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Copies, data records, time
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· Does the district Technology Committee have a plan to address
concerns of the research?
· Does the Technology Committee see a value in this study?
· Does the Technology Committee approve this research and the
quantitative data that will be used?
· How much time is allowed for a student to work on the assessment
· What is the district policy and plan for the 8th
grade Technology test?
· What is the procedure for testing?
· What is the plan for completing unfinished tests?
· Should those students be counted as “not proficient”? Since they did not complete in allotted
time?
· Who is responsible for making sure the student completes the
test? (Teacher/administrator or
student )
· What is the accountability for not testing “all 8th
grade students?”
· How many students were counted absent during testing?
· How many started and did not finish?
· How many never started?
· How many were considered exempt?
· Should students be exempted?
How is that addressed in Texas Long Range Plan or by NCLB?
· How many students were unable to test because of lack adaptive
technology?
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3.
Historical data: 5th
grade / 8th grade enrollment
Technology/21st Century Skills tests
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Mary Angel
Carol Pazera
Josephina Hughes
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March – April 2012
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Copies, records. time
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· Compare enrollment and attendance on days of testing.
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Hi MaryAngel,
ReplyDeleteIt seems to me that your timeline draft has a pretty short period of time to complete all the activities you have planned... I suspect you will revise it accordingly right?
What I liked the most was the evaluation questions that you typed. I couldn't think of any for my project though... and the teachers has not followed my site... I don't know what's going on... see you!
Hi Mary! I am behind this week on my comments but I wanted to let you know that I read over your plan. I like your background information that you give, but along with the above comment, I thought it seemed like a short timeline. I did read your comment below and could see why :) I may not have read thouroughly enough, but what is your projected outcome for the research. Will it be to find ways for students to complete or improve their scores? Great job and thanks for the comments :)
DeleteSara - I was our the original tech committee that wrote the Tech E-Plan for AISD, so I have some vested interest in the outcome and renewal in 2013. Also, in my current position in the CTE department, we are concerned that many students are not getting the technology training they need before entering high school CTE courses that have industry certifications and articulate with our community college workforce courses. (college credit while in HS).
DeleteSo one of our goals in the middle school CTE courses is to prepare them for the advanced work in high school. I began looking at those Technology Proficiency scores, and was shocked at the results.
So when we were assigned an action research, I immediately decided to use this opportunity to dig deeper, since our department can use the information in our planning for the next year.
There are actually 3 changes I would like to implement
a) Every 8th grader at every school is given the opportunity to complete the test.
b) All technology learning and testing barriers for special populations are identified and removed
c) Increase the technology proficiency of all students
Does that clarify? The second change is my personal crusade. Educational technology is some how ignoring the accessibility issues for ELL, mobility or sight impaired student. "Equal access to all learning" does not mean "pair them with another student".
Thanks for you input. My timeline is short because we are making lots of changes in our district. I found out today that the Technology Proficiency Testing has been moved from Desktop Support/ Technology to the Curriculum Department. In addition, our CTE department is driving some of the technology solutions in the district.
ReplyDeleteI am not in the classroom, I work in central administration and the scope of my work allows me to multi task and hopefully implement change.
Have you followed lots of other of our group? Safety in numbers! Dr. Abshire suggested we follow all that attended the last web conference. Are you attending the one tomorrow night at 8 PM? They are helpful and establish the personal relationships that encourages collaboration.
Also, take a look at how your plan looks on the blog. It is difficult to see because it loaded in a small window. I could not find a way to enlarge to full screen so I could see all parts of it.
Good Luck
Hello Mary Angel,
ReplyDeleteWhat is the goal of your action research plan? There is a lot of information on there, but I don't understand what it the change you are implementing? Looks like a lot of thought has gone into this action plan...
Hello Mary,
ReplyDeleteYour plan looks good you came up with some great questions. From what I am reading it looks like you are doing your research on technology testing in your school to analyze all aspects of the test from scores to who missed and why. I will continue to follow so I can see how it unfolds.
Looks like a lot of time went into creating your plan, but it would help to have the goal included. Falling behind in keeping up with technology- it multiplies exponentially daily - I did not fully understand it.
ReplyDeleteIt looks great. I like what you have changed in your project. I hope to be able to see the results.
ReplyDelete