My action research will take place at Brazosport College, the Bachelor of Applied Technology department. Although Brazosport is known as a 2 year college, it has recently added a bachelors program. Because this is a new program, it is small. There are three full time professors and several associates that contribute to the program. My focus will be on these teachers and their upper level classes. In the future, the scope could include the rest of the school.
It has become very obvious that the students in this program gravitate to the on-line classes and are not as interested in the hybrid classes. In this bachelors program, there seem to be more digital immigrants than digital natives. Many of the students have started back to school later in life, hold part or full-time jobs, and balance family life and parenting. Because this is a relatively unique sample of students, the technology we will be introducing in the online classes may be just as new to the students as it is to the teachers.
I plan to first research what technology is available to teachers at the college, and then investigate, by developing surveys, what technology is being used. I will then familiarize myself with the technology and provide informative meetings, research, blogs, wikis, and presentations to demonstrate to the faculty what is available and what it can do for their classes. I am also working with Dr. Li to incorporate much of the technology in her on-line classes to use as examples.
After the information is disseminated to the faculty, I will work with IT to set up individual meetings with the faculty to have the appropriate software downloaded and hardware installed. I will try to create a climate of collaboration where teachers can discuss what they are doing in their class, including what works and what does not. They will be able to post their comments on the faculty wiki. At the end of the course, I will provide surveys to teachers and students to see what technology was added, and how it affected student learning.
The purpose of this study is to try to improve student learning. By capturing their interest and imagination through the technology, students will become better learners. The more the students enjoy learning, the higher their motivation to continue learning. Enthusiasm and motivation is contagious, bringing others into the program. Corporations, service organizations, government, educational, and non-profit organizations will all profit from the development of a motivated workforce that is engaged in learning. The school will benefit by increased student –teacher and teacher –student engagement. When this collaboration happens, learning will take place, and that is significant.
It has become very obvious that the students in this program gravitate to the on-line classes and are not as interested in the hybrid classes. In this bachelors program, there seem to be more digital immigrants than digital natives. Many of the students have started back to school later in life, hold part or full-time jobs, and balance family life and parenting. Because this is a relatively unique sample of students, the technology we will be introducing in the online classes may be just as new to the students as it is to the teachers.
I plan to first research what technology is available to teachers at the college, and then investigate, by developing surveys, what technology is being used. I will then familiarize myself with the technology and provide informative meetings, research, blogs, wikis, and presentations to demonstrate to the faculty what is available and what it can do for their classes. I am also working with Dr. Li to incorporate much of the technology in her on-line classes to use as examples.
After the information is disseminated to the faculty, I will work with IT to set up individual meetings with the faculty to have the appropriate software downloaded and hardware installed. I will try to create a climate of collaboration where teachers can discuss what they are doing in their class, including what works and what does not. They will be able to post their comments on the faculty wiki. At the end of the course, I will provide surveys to teachers and students to see what technology was added, and how it affected student learning.
The purpose of this study is to try to improve student learning. By capturing their interest and imagination through the technology, students will become better learners. The more the students enjoy learning, the higher their motivation to continue learning. Enthusiasm and motivation is contagious, bringing others into the program. Corporations, service organizations, government, educational, and non-profit organizations will all profit from the development of a motivated workforce that is engaged in learning. The school will benefit by increased student –teacher and teacher –student engagement. When this collaboration happens, learning will take place, and that is significant.
Comments
Post a Comment