Standard 9: Teachers are able to evaluate themselves. The teacher is a reflective practitioner who continually evaluates the effects of his or her choices and actions on pupils, parents, professionals in the learning community and others and who actively seeks out opportunities to grow professionally.
In order to begin my action research, I needed to reflect upon my teaching and choose something that I wanted to change. I did not think my eighth grade students were motivated while learning vocabulary, so I came up with a plan to change it using technology, specifically the iPod Touch flashcard application. I created a research project and found that students were more motivated when using the iPod Touch rather than paper flashcards. After I completed the research and found my results, I reflected upon the research project in general.
I have developed a lot as a teacher while creating the action research. Reflecting on lessons is an essential tool to teaching and I needed to reflect continuously while writing the action research paper. From my research, I learned that using technology increases student motivation. However, while using the technology, the students actually performed worse on their quizzes. I learned that even though students are more motivated by technology, it does not necessarily equate to higher grades. I learned that there needs to be a balance between motivation and achievement.
My students actually achieved better when not using the technology to study vocabulary. However, the outcome of my research was that students were more motivated to learn. I will use my research to plan activities in the future that motivate students like they were with the iPod Touch.
KSD
9.K.3 The teacher is aware of major areas of research on teaching and other resources for professional learning (e.g. professional literature, colleagues, professional associations, professional development activities).
Before I completed my action research, I read a lot of other studies that related to using technology in the classroom to motivate students. I found in many studies that technology increased motivation and achievement, but no studies that involved the iPod Touch. After reflecting on those studies, I decided to do my own research on using iPod Touches to motivate students.
9.S.2 The teacher uses classroom observation, information about students, cultural, social, and philosophical frameworks, and research as sources for evaluating the outcomes of teaching and learning and as a basis for reflecting on and revising practice.
In the action research process, I used classroom surveys to see how students were motivated. I also used observations of off-task behavior in my own classroom to determine the motivation level while using iPod Touch flashcards and paper flashcards. I used these observations and surveys to revise my practice and create a plan to use the iPod Touches more in the future.
9.D.2 The teacher is committed to reflection, assessment, and learning as an ongoing process.
From my research, I created an action plan of what I will do differently in the future. I would like to continue to do action research to account for the limitations of my study. By reflecting on my current classroom, I want to improve by using strategies that motivate students more, such as using more technology.
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Standard 9: Teachers are able to evaluate themselves.
The teacher is a reflective practitioner who continually evaluates the effects of his or her choices and actions on pupils, parents, professionals in the learning community and others and who actively seeks out opportunities to grow professionally.
Evidence 1:
Action Research Report Discussion and Reflection
Rationale 1:
In order to begin my action research, I needed to reflect upon my teaching and choose something that I wanted to change. I did not think my eighth grade students were motivated while learning vocabulary, so I came up with a plan to change it using technology, specifically the iPod Touch flashcard application. I created a research project and found that students were more motivated when using the iPod Touch rather than paper flashcards. After I completed the research and found my results, I reflected upon the research project in general.
I have developed a lot as a teacher while creating the action research. Reflecting on lessons is an essential tool to teaching and I needed to reflect continuously while writing the action research paper. From my research, I learned that using technology increases student motivation. However, while using the technology, the students actually performed worse on their quizzes. I learned that even though students are more motivated by technology, it does not necessarily equate to higher grades. I learned that there needs to be a balance between motivation and achievement.
My students actually achieved better when not using the technology to study vocabulary. However, the outcome of my research was that students were more motivated to learn. I will use my research to plan activities in the future that motivate students like they were with the iPod Touch.
KSD
9.K.3 The teacher is aware of major areas of research on teaching and other resources for professional learning (e.g. professional literature, colleagues, professional associations, professional development activities).
Before I completed my action research, I read a lot of other studies that related to using technology in the classroom to motivate students. I found in many studies that technology increased motivation and achievement, but no studies that involved the iPod Touch. After reflecting on those studies, I decided to do my own research on using iPod Touches to motivate students.
9.S.2 The teacher uses classroom observation, information about students, cultural, social, and philosophical frameworks, and research as sources for evaluating the outcomes of teaching and learning and as a basis for reflecting on and revising practice.
In the action research process, I used classroom surveys to see how students were motivated. I also used observations of off-task behavior in my own classroom to determine the motivation level while using iPod Touch flashcards and paper flashcards. I used these observations and surveys to revise my practice and create a plan to use the iPod Touches more in the future.
9.D.2 The teacher is committed to reflection, assessment, and learning as an ongoing process.
From my research, I created an action plan of what I will do differently in the future. I would like to continue to do action research to account for the limitations of my study. By reflecting on my current classroom, I want to improve by using strategies that motivate students more, such as using more technology.