Action Research Report Update

Action Research Project Update:  My Action Research Project revolves around the STAAR test and the use of on-line course remediation to assist the students in preparing for the test.  Originally, the TEA ON-TRACK system was the program to be used for those not passing the EOC tests at the High School.  This program changed to Plato's Edmentum when the district purchased the software program.  Use of this program along with a program named ALEKS will be the basis for the data that will be used in the final analysis of the project. The project has been progressing through June of 2013 to present.  Data has been collected on the passing rates of each STAAR test from May 2013 to present.  More data will be forthcoming after this spring's testing cycle.  Use of the on-line remediation methods is on-going and will be paired with the success and failure rates for each test.  I plan to interview the teachers that were responsible for teaching those students that failed to pass the STAAR test.  I really want to know what method, on-line or in classroom teaching, helped the students the most.  This will be a personal opinion and I plan to compare the responses to the data.

Web Conference Reflections for EDLD 5363

I will have to admit that the title of this course - Multimedia Video Technology - scared me a bit.  I quickly found out that I actually knew more than I thought.  I  also learned a lot about video production in this class.  The web conferences that I attended, and even those that I watched because I missed one, covered a mountain of information and helped me understand what the deliverables were on the class.  There was one that Dr. Abernathy even went into how to become certified through SBEC and the things to study in order to take the test.  I will definitely be looking into this more carefully this next week.  Google Hangout has been one of  the biggest and coolest part of this class.  I loved how my group was able to meet and plan with us spread across the state.  I have even passed this on to people I know in the corporate world.

Week 2 Podcasts and Scripts

This week our assignment was to create two podcasts - one on the Audacity and on a video editing software.  I choose the Microsoft Movie Maker as the video editing software. 

 

 

Audacity Script 

This tutorial will help you install Audacity.

To install audacity, use a search engine, like Google,  to search key word "Audacity.  (Show search results)

Click on the Audacity to begin download.  This is a large file and may take up to 5 minutes depending on the type of Internet connection.

When file is downloaded, click the "Run" button to begin the installation. (Show run pop up screen)  Choose English and proceed with the installation.

When finished, you may choose to have the icon on your desktop.  This is your choice.

Launch the program. The one thing that needs to be configured is the microphone.  If there is not a microphone on your laptop or PC, you may use an external mic - either a boom type mic or a mic that is included with a set of headphones.  (Show how to change the microphone setting)

To record, push the record button and the stop button to stop.  You may review the recording then save it.

Export the file by clicking File, Export.  Give the file a name and choose the file type you want.  The most common file type is either a MP3 or WAV. 

This is how you install and use Audacity.

 

 

Video editing script

 

Today I will review some of the features of Microsoft Live Movie Maker. 

 

Movie Maker allows for pictures and videos to be incorporated into one video. 

Inserting a title page is accomplished by a click and adding the title of the video.

A caption can be added to any picture or frame of a video by a click.

A credit page will be added at the end by clicking on the credit icon and add all of the credits needed for the video.

Music can be added to all or portions of the video.

Any frame of a video can be captured and saved as a photo.

Videos can be edited by using the Edit feature.

When the video is set the way you want it,  click the save movie at the top right.   

 

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.

My Journey

 

 

The story that is told here reflects my journey into the teaching world and why I am so excited to be completing my Master's as an Instructional Technology Specialist.

 

I have taken all of the great comments into consideration and have made some changes to reflect the great suggestions which are listed in green.

SCHOOL VISION: To ensure the success of all students taking the STAAR End Of Course Exams and graduating more than 90% of a class on the recommended diploma.

GOAL:  Deliver remediation to those students that fail to meet Level II on the End Of Course Exams.

OUTCOMES	ACTIVITIES	RESOURCES/ RESEARCH TOOLS NEEDED	RESPONSIBILITY TO ADDRESS ACTIVITIES	TIME LINE	Benchmarks/ ASSESSMENT
Initialize the study	Meet with the Principal, Counselors and Curriculum Director	Project Share and ON TRACK course information	Ginger Williams	April to May 2013
Set up the needed courses	Submit the request through project share	Internet and access to the courses via Project Share	Ginger Williams and Curriculum Director	April to May 2013
Identify the location	Identify the school personnel and equipment	PC, Location, Scheduling	Counselors, IT Department, Principal, Ginger Williams	April to May 2013
Identify the students that require remediation	Desegregate the results data	Test data from the November and December EOC Test	Counselors	April to May 2013	EOC results of Level I Students in all categories, Math, Social Studies, Science and English
Educate the High School Staff, especially core teachers, on Project Share	Utilize staff meetings or before or after school 30 minute meetings	Project Share	Ginger Williams and Curriculum Director	May 2013
Identify the students that require remediation	Desegregate the results data	Test data from the March and May EOC Test	Counselors	June 2013	EOC results of Level I Students
Deliver remediation	Summer Remediation through ON TRACK	Summer School	Counselors and Principal	June 2013	Monitor progress through the ON TRACK program on Project Share
Assign Courses	Assign Courses based on the highest low score	Test Scores	Counselors	June 2013
Student Success	Desegregate the results data	Test data from the July EOC Test	Counselors	August 2013	EOC results of Level I Students
Program Success	Evaluation of the ON TRACK Program	Prior test data	Ginger Williams and Administration	August 2013	Compare pass rates from the July 2012, December 2012 to current scores
Scheduling	Schedule times for students to continue the ON TRACK program	Individual student schedules and master schedule	Counselors and Principal	August 2013

Action Plan

SCHOOL VISION: To ensure the success of all students taking the STAAR
End Of Course Exams and graduating more than 90% of a class on the
recommended plan.

GOAL:  Deliver remediation to those students that fail to meet Level II on the
End Of Course Exams.

Based on SIP or PIP (SCHOOL or PROFESSIONAL IMPROVEMENT PROJECT) PLAN OF ACTION –
 

OUTCOMES	ACTIVITIES	RESOURCES/ RESEARCH TOOLS NEEDED	RESPONSIBILITY TO ADDRESS ACTIVITIES	TIME LINE	Benchmarks/ ASSESSMENT
Initialize the study	Meet with the Principal, Counselors and Curriculum Director	ON TRACK course information	Ginger Williams	April to May 2013
Set up the needed courses	Submit the request through project share	Internet	Ginger Williams and Curriculum Director	April to May 2013
Identify the location	Identify the school personnel and equipment	PC, Location, Scheduling	Counselors, IT Department, Principal, Ginger Williams	April to May 2013
Identify the students that require remediation	Desegregate the results data	Test data from the November and December EOC Test	Counselors	April to May 2013	EOC results of Level I Students in all categories, Math, Social Studies, Science and English
Identify the students that require remediation	Desegregate the results data	Test data from the March and May EOC Test	Counselors	June 2013	EOC results of Level I Students
Deliver remediation	Summer Remediation through ON TRACK	Summer School	Counselors and Principal	June 2013	Monitor progress through the ON TRACK program on Project Share
Assign Courses	Assign Courses based on the highest low score	Test Scores	Counselors	June 2013
Student Success	Desegregate the results data	Test data from the July EOC Test	Counselors	August 2013	EOC results of Level I Students