Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Kindergarten and Tablets
I believe that technology can be very instrumental in education. Our teachers their Promethean boards when instructing the students, but I want to give students the power. So, I have narrowed my action research plan down to integrating technology, more specifically tablets, in a kindergarten classroom. I plan to use a pretest and a post-test as part of my data collection. My hope is to find applications that can be used by students in a small group setting during rotations. I will be focusing on reading and math. My administrators are also interested in this research plan. We have had many discussions to determine if we should buy tablets for the classrooms. My goal is to determine if using the tablet would increase the academic skills in a kindergarten classroom.
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I think you've got a very good topic to research. Just out of curiosity, since you want to determine if the tablet would increase the academic skills in the kindergarten setting, will you be comparing to another kindergarten class that is not using the tablets?
ReplyDeleteI will more than likely be looking at their area of weakness on a pre-test, targeting those skills on the tablet, and then see if those are raised on the post test. There are also going to be some students that are pulled out by other teachers so they would not be in there for that time. I can use their data if needed as my control group. I still need to talk to a couple of my kinder teachers and see who is willing to participate. That is my plan right now, who knows how many times it will change!
ReplyDeleteSounds good. The part I am struggling with in regards to looking at data personally is if I do a study with one group of students and that study is successful, how can I assume that applying the same method to a different group of students will produce the same result?? We've all know as educators that each student is different, so why does it seem (to me personally anyway) that this "action research" approach is trying to be more of a cookie cutter philosophy as opposed to applying for individual needs?? Hopefully this process will provide more answers than questions for al of us.
ReplyDeleteI TOTALLY understand what you are saying. I think if you wanted to see if it applied you would have to do it multiple times with different groups. Hopefully I will read or hear more information about that. Thanks for commenting!
DeleteI like that you have narrowed your topic down to using just the tablet to assess and increase skills. I have my first grade students utilizing iPad/iPod/computers in my math tubs and Daily 5. Their excitement of using the technology is overwhelming. I feel that you will gain some good data. After you gather your results and if you find there is success in using the tablets, are you going to propose conducting the research in another kinds class or furthermore, in another grade level? I wonder how much a difference there would be between kinder and fifth grade. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteAssuming that there is success, I would love to try it out in another grade level. I think administration is going to have to take at least a small leap of faith and get some more tablets. I think that once there is success in one grade level you can't take that away from them. I might be able to suggest buying some for the kinder and fourth grade team. That way if it doesn't work for the fourth grade team then we can try another grade level. If it doesn't work for anyone else then we can take that second set and give them to the kinder team to double the amount that they have in a classroom. I could also see giving one to our support team that works with our lower students.
ReplyDeleteOur school district is in the planning stages of providing an iPad to every student. Of course, it would start with only a few grades at a time, and I'm not sure which one(s) they are considering first. There is a neighboring school district that they are looking to as a guide...sort of like data collection in an action research plan. That district started with the middle school level. Of course, the main issue is money, but I've been told that districts can lease the iPads with the choice of purchasing those at the end of the lease or leasing new ones. I guess that's one way to keep up with the latest gadget.
ReplyDeleteSteven...I've had the same thoughts as you mentioned. How do I know what works for one group will work with another? I guess its an ongoing process of continual action research until you get it nailed down. Hopefully, by actually doing a project and not just reading about it, we will all see a little more clearly!
Alise,
ReplyDeleteI think that this is an excellent topic for action research. I know that technology is very important nowadays in education and that the kids really seem to be interested in it. I think that gathering the data that you are looking for will show the importance of using technology in the classroom. I am still a new teacher so I am learning different ways to integrate technology in my classroom. It is also hard to find all of the tools that I need to use since we have such a limited supply. I can't wait to hear how your action research goes!
Would you mind responding to my blog! Thanks!
I think you've chosen a great topic for your action research! Antyhing involving technology and its correlation with increased academic success is definetly worth looking into. I'm really curious as to how the little ones will respond tho the use of tablets in the classroom. I know that nowadays technology is a big part of their lives, so it'll be interesting to see how big an impact they have in their day to day learning in the classroom. Great topic, and I can't wait to hear how your researc goes!
ReplyDeleteI like your topic. It seems that kids have a natural gift to use technology and can really run with it. I am all for it if it truly does increase their desire to learn and helps them engage at a deeper level. I am researching the use of ipads by teachers. I am already starting to find that there is a lot of research material out there to help me get started.
ReplyDeleteI agree Scott. I just posted that I not only want to find out if it increases their scores, but will using technology, tablets, increase their desire to learn. Any good sites to suggest on the research part of it?
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