web Conference 3/31/2013

Today I had a web conference for EDLD 5326 - Community Relations. The main focus of the web conference was to see if we had any questions or concerns about our Week 5 assignment or the program as a whole. Some students had questions about how many reflections we had to write for the weekly assignment and about our Internship. Dr. Abernathy answered the questions and let us know that she was here for us if we needed anything else. This conference was fairly short (It's Easter Sunday), but helpful.

The web conferences throughout this program have been very beneficial. I really like the opportunity to communicate with my professors of my Lamar classes via web conferences. One of my main concerns when I entered the Lamar Academic Partnership Program was that I would not have the interaction I needed since I would not be in a traditional classroom. This has not been the case. The web conferences and discussion boards have given me ample opportunities to communicate with my classmates and my professors.

Thank You Lamar for such a Great Program!

Update on My Action Research Plan

For my Action Research Plan, I have worked to create a computer lab curriculum to improve student behavior in computer class. With the help of my principal, I came up with the idea to see if a more structured computer lab curriculum would increase student behavior and keep students more focused and engaged in computer class; and it has. I have completed the three original activities that I had planned to implement and one other activity; teaching students about virtual tours, learning keyboarding, creating an Animoto video, and viewing and posting on a Wiki. As a teacher, I do not usually attend computer class with my students because we have a computer lab instructor. Though, for my Action Research, it was important that I attend computer class with the students so that I could show them how to do each activity I had planned. This really opened my eyes to how well students “soak up” technology. It is almost as if they “feast” on it. The students were mostly fascinated with creating the Animoto video and I was quite impressed by their ability to create such amazing videos. I feel that as I continue to implement more activities into the computer lab curriculum students’ academic success will increase. We live in a digital world and our students need to be engaged in a way that is conducive to their needs. A few more activities that I plan to implement into my Action Research Plan are having students do more things with Wiki’s and use the internet more often. This Action Research Plan has been a success so far, and I have high hopes for it in the future.